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Worshiping Worship
- 07/05/09
- 13
This morning, as most of the readers of this site head to church to worship the Lord, it seemed appropriate to post a few words on worship. These words come courtesy of D.A. Carson and his book Worship by the Book. Here Carson has just offered a definition of worship and he is now expanding upon it, challenging the reader to pursue true worship.
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In an age increasingly suspicious of (linear) thought, there is much more respect for the “feelings” of things - whether a film or a church service. It is disturbingly easy to plot surveys of people, especially young people, drifting from a church of excellent preaching and teaching to one with excellent music because, it is alleged, there is “better worship” there. But we need to think carefully about this matter. Let us restrict ourselves for the moment to corporate worship. Although there are things that can be done to enhance corporate worship, there is a profound sense in which excellent worship cannot be attained merely by pursuing excellent worship. In the same way that, according to Jesus, you cannot find yourself until you lose yourself, so also you cannot find excellent corporate worship until you stop trying to find excellent corporate worship and pursue God himself. Despite the protestations, one sometimes wonders if we are beginning to worship worship rather than worship God. As a brother put it to me, it’s a bit like those who begin by admiring the sunset and soon begin to admire themselves admiring the sunset.
This point is acknowledged in a praise chorus like “Let’s forget about ourselves, and magnify the Lord, and worship him.” The trouble is that after you have sung this repetitious chorus three of four times, you are no farther ahead. The way you forget about yourself is by focusing on God—not by singing about doing it, but by doing it. There are far too choruses and services and sermons that expand our vision of God—his attributes, his works, his character, his words. Some think that corporate worship is good because it is lively where it had been dull. But it may also be shallow where it is lively, leaving people dissatisfied and restless in a few months’ time. Sheep lie down when they are well fed (cf. Psalm 23:2); they are more likely to be restless when they are hungry. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus commanded Peter (John 21); and many sheep are unfed. If you wish to deepen the worship of the people of God, above all deepen their grasp of his ineffable majesty in his person and in all his works.
We do not expect the garage mechanic to expatiate on the wonders of his tools; we expect him to fix the car. He must know how to use his tools, but he must not lose sight of the goal. So we dare not focus on the mechanics of corporate worship and lose sight of the goal. We focus on God himself, and thus we become more godly and learn to worship—and collaterally we learn to edify one another, forbear with one another, challenge one another.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (13)
Thanks for posting this. I had just re-read that section this week and was contemplating its implications for our congregation. I am asking all my platform leaders to read Carson’s chapter and think on how we can purposefully be more focused on God instead of just the overwhelming emphasis on performance.
Timely article. I have read it just in time to attend a “Patriotic Worship Service”. As a church leader (NOT a Senior Pastor) I am almost at a loss when I consider how such a “Worship” service should be addressed.
Having been a pastor and lay leader for over thirty years I am deeply disturbed with what is going on in evangelical [is that still appropriate?] churches in our present day. We have been to a number of churches in the past few years, primarily Baptist, and have found the “happy clappy” atmosphere abounds. One cannot even sit quietly for a few precious moments before a service without a melee of laughing, loud music et al completely eradicating whatever reverence may be in place. Recently having been asked to preach in a small open brethren assembly, we began to attend on a regular basis. The one hour communion service before the regular preaching service has been wonderful as we sing the great hymns of Zion, pray and take time to focus on our Heavenly Father. It’s a wonderful time and we highly recommend it to all who are seeking to spend time in His presence - quietly, reverently and in an attitude of worship.
I have found that the fearful “dead space” so many worship leaders dred can be a very helpful silence in which to contemplate God. We certainly need to forget about forgetting about ourselves and think about the absolute wonder of Him. Someone rightly said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Thanks for an excellent post.
So true!
By the way, I think you left out the word “few” in the sentence “There are far too choruses and services and sermons that expand our vision of God—his attributes, his works, his character, his words.”
Thanks for a timely post, as usual.
This speaks to the silly term, “worshipful”, which I have often heard in reference to a “successful” worship service. If ever there was a term that wrapped up Dr. Carson’s argument that we tend to worship worship, this would be it.
Excellent Quote. I hate that I read it BEFORE going to our “happy clappy” church service this morning. I guess that raises another question. Can I (anyone) still worship, as Carson suggests, amongst a group that isn’t?
The mystery here is the paradox that Carson presents. In a latter sentence he tells us that contented sheep lie down where they are being fed but in an earlier sentence he tells us that “young people” leave a congregation where there is excellent preaching and teaching. Seems contradictory but I believe it is true none the less.
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.
I couldn’t agree more with Carson’s assessment . The church I attend leaves much to be desired when it comes to its worship . But its the only type of evangelical church in our area. People wonder in as the service starts , there is no formal call to worship , too many times there is a long spill about some new program or plan and the music is typical of the new worship , I Love Jesus , clap your hands drivel.The observation that we are worshiping worship is so true. I think what Carson also meant about young people leaving church to find that worship “feeling” , as to the meat of the word is bang on . I would take a slow and quiet worship (yes without drums and electric guitar) to have Christ centered preaching any day. Sad to say it exist in very few churches around here . That around here is Nova Scotia .
One of the people who taught me what it means to pursue God in worship is Walt Harrah. I think he does a good job of weaving together song, scripture, and voices of past theologians to create a clear and consistent theme that greater enhanced my vision of God.http://www.waltharrah.com/ might be helpful to that end.
Thanks for the post Tim as I’ll be preaching on worship in about 2 weeks. Very timely…
Excellent insight from Dr. Carson. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for posting this. I had a very disturbing lunch last week with a couple of co-workers, one a claimed Christian and the other a seeker. They basically exluded me from their conversation as they chattered among themselves what they think churches should be like. There were many remarks, one being that a liberal Catholic church allowed the non-believer to take communion so that she may “see what it’s like.” A primary thread that ran through the conversation (which basically over talked or ignored any comments I had) was that church should be an “uplifting” experience, and how much fun it was to go to a church that “sings, dances, etc.” rather than some boring one. Of course the uplifting church taught a feel good version of the gospel, but why should that matter…as long as it was fun. I am saddened that our culture today seeks a God that will pander to man and his desires. It is all about God, not me, but that wasn’t gonna fly across the table without getting slapped down. It was a bit depressing, admittedly. But I know that others have experienced the same and I am glad to know that there are those out there who see God as sovereign and worthy of all of our sacrifices and worship, not the other way around. Thank you for this post.
>>>>”There are far too [few] choruses and services and sermons that expand our vision of God—his attributes, his works, his character, his words… .”
One solution is returning to traditional hymnody. Many if not most of the “true hymns” (as opposed to the “Gospel hymns”) expound on the character and attributes of God, with Scripture as their foundation, and in well-crafted poetry. Additionally, these hymns are set to music that is majestic and reverent, where the *words* and the *melody* are emphasized. Here are several examples.
** “O Worship the King” — based on Psalm 104; six original verses. First verse: O Worship the King, all glorious above; And gratefully sing, His power and His love. Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise. (Note the impeccable poetry: Every phrase rhymes—not just the last words of lines.) The phrase “Ancient of Days” comes from the book of Daniel.
** “Immortal, Invisible” —- based on I Timothy 1:17 and many other Scriptures. Four verses; here is the first: Immortal, invisible, God only wise; In light, inaccessible, hid from our eyes;Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days;Almighty, victorious, Your great Name we praise.
** Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” — based on Psalm 103. Five verses; here are the first three: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven; to His feet your tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who, like me, His praise should sing? Alleluia, Alleluia, Praise the Everlasting King.
Praise Him for His grace and favor, to our fathers in distress; Praise Him, still the same forever, slow to chide and swift to bless. Alleluia, Alleluia, Glorious in His faithfulness.
Father-like, He tends and spares us, well our feeble frame He knows; In His arms He gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia, Alleluia, Widely as His mercy flows.
I have seen this hymn set to several different tunes; I think LAUDA ANIMA is the most singable.
And there are so many more hymns similar to these three: hymns that are compressed doctrine and theology - in the form of well-crafted poetry (making them easy to memorize) - and set to majestic and singable music. Nothing encourages me more than to dwell on our great God through the singing of the great hymns of the faith.