C. S. Lewis on Worship, Part 2

June 16, 2010 Leave a comment

Here’s another great quote on worship from Lewis’ Letters to Malcom, Chiefly on Prayer:

“Novelty may fix our attention not even on the service but on the celebrant. You know what I mean. Try as one may exclude it, the question “What on earth is he up to now?” will intrude. It lays one’s devotion waste. there is really some excuse for the man who said, “I wish they’d remember that the charge to Peter was Feed my sheep; not Try experiments on my rats, even, Teach my performing dogs new tricks.”

“Thus my whole liturgiological position really boils down to an entreaty for permanence and uniformity. I can make do with almost any kind of service whatever, if only it will stay put. But if each form is snatched away just when I am beginning to feel at home in it, then I can never make any progress in the art of worship. You give me no chance to acquire the trained habit–habito dell’arte.” (pg. 5)

Lewis is making the argument that change is worship style or format is a hindrance, rather than a help, to authentic worship. He seems to be annoyed with church leaders who are constantly tinkering with worship (what he calls the “Liturgical Fidget” later in the chapter). I wonder if his thoughts are more of a reflection on his personality and culture, or some kind of broader principle whereby the default setting for worship should be a fixed order or format, with little room for change.

Every church has a liturgy of some kind. It’s how the people approach worship. That approach can be rigid and fixed, or it can prescribe various levels of change from week to week. The Bible doesn’t give us any firm guidance on how much change we should introduce in worship–only that “all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14.40). It will depend on a variety of factors, including our tradition, culture, and the people in our church.

Questions: Do you agree or disagree with Lewis? How much change is too much? How does your church approach the question of what changes to introduce in worship, and what to keep the same?

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C. S. Lewis on Worship

June 15, 2010 4 Comments

One of the reasons I love C. S. Lewis’ writing is that he is so brilliant, yet so down to earth in his thinking. In Chapter 1 of Letters to Malcom, Chiefly on Prayer he talks about corporate worship, a subject he barely feels qualified to write about (!). He makes these observations about innovation in worship (and remember that is writing about the Church of England about a half-century ago):

“Novelty, simply as such, can have only an entertainment value. And they don’t go to church to be entertained. They go to use the service, or, if you prefer, to enact it. Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best–if you like, it “works” best–when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count, the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.” (pg. 4)

Questions: What do you think about innovation and change in worship today? Do we have too much, or too little? Is it sometimes distracting, or do we need more?

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Evaluating a Worship Song: Is It Biblical?

May 25, 2010 2 Comments

One of the most important responsibilities of a worship leader is choosing songs for corporate worship. For those not involved in worship ministry, this may seem like a simple task: just throw together a few of your favorite songs and bada-boom, you’re done, right? But it’s not quite that simple. Choosing songs is (or at least should be) an involved process that requires us to ask several important questions. This week I will begin a series highlighting several key questions we should ask about the worship songs we use. We can apply these questions to help select new songs, or to evaluate songs we already use.

Here’s the first question we ought to ask about a worship song: Is it biblical? Does it adhere to, reflect or contain truth found in Scripture? Christians are people “of the book”–we believe the Bible is the revealed Word of God, and that it’s our guide for faith and life. Therefore, the message and meaning of a worship song must align with biblical truth. Read more of this post

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Reading

May 22, 2010 Leave a comment

I’m continuing with the theme of reading from earlier this week. (You can check out my summer reading list, Part 1 and Part 2.) Over the years I have tried to stick with several principles to help get the most out of my non-fiction reading. (I don’t read a lot of fiction.) You may find one or more of these helpful. I also invite you to add your own thoughts in the comments section.

  • Read with a pen in hand. I underline, write question marks, and make notes as I read, then go back and review what I’ve highlighted when a book is finished. I very rarely read borrowed books; I almost always buy a copy (used if possible) so that I can write in it and make it my own.
  • “Pre-read” the text. This is a speed-reading technique where you quickly scan the layout of a book before reading it in-depth. Within less than five minutes you can scan a non-fiction book and tell if it’s worth your time. You can also scan headings within a chapter. This is a quick way to get familiar with the contents before diving in.
  • Use a “regulator” to increase your reading speed. I often use my finger or a pen to go down a page, line by line, as I read sentences. Your eyes follow your finger (or pen), and you have less eye strain as a result. It’s a grade-school technique, but still very useful. (If you’re worried about how you’ll appear to other people, just remember that you will be reading and retaining more information than them.)
  • Keep notes on good quotations or illustrations. I heard about this technique from John Maxwell and have adapted it for my own use. After reading a book, I scan through it again and write down the page number and topic for material I want to file. I usually write the topic and the page number of the quote in the back of the book. Then I have someone copy those pages and file them accordingly. For example, when I read a book of quotations from Disney, I marked and filed several dozen great quotations on a variety of topics.
  • Most important: Take a book with you wherever you go. I have literally taken a book to a Cardinals ballgame, to Six Flags (to my wife’s embarrassment) and just about everywhere else. You would be amazed at how much reading you can do in the spare moments waiting for things to happen. Last year I went to the DMV to renew my license plates, knowing I would be waiting for about an hour. There were several dozen people in the area, and they were all staring at the wall or playing with their phones. But I got about an hour’s worth of reading done that day.

As the saying goes, “Leaders are readers.” One of the best ways to grow in your personal and professional life is to read good books. You may want to check out this great post by Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers), entitled “In Defense of Books.”

Questions: What other tips for effective reading can you share? Have I missed anything?

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Great Songs: “Hotel California” by The Eagles

May 21, 2010 2 Comments

“Hotel California” is one of the most well-known songs recorded by the Eagles. Released on their 1976 album of the same name, the song tells the story of a traveler who enters a mysterious hotel in the desert, and finds more than he expected. The song has been the subject of controversy because of its cryptic references to what some believe are witchcraft and devil worship. Read more of this post

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My Summer Reading List, Part 2

May 19, 2010 1 Comment

Yesterday I posted Part 1 of my summer reading list. Here is Part Deux.

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, and A Patriot’s History of the Unites States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen. People’s History is from a liberal viewpoint, and Patriot’s History from the conservative side. I’m working through both at the same time, getting a different take on each period of U. S. History. I hope to finish these this year.

Every Man’s Marriage by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, and Hedges by Jerry Jenkins. My marriage is important to me, and I need to grow in my ability to love Melanie as Christ loved the Church. If you want to grow in leadership, ministry, music, or whatever, you need to read. Marriage shouldn’t be any different. Plus, I have personally known enough Christian leaders who have done really stupid things with their lives and marriages, and it has scared me into being more pro-active about keeping my marriage healthy. (And that’s a good thing.)

Culture Making by Andy Crouch. The sub-title is, “Recovering Our Creative Calling.” I’ve chosen this as a required text for my Introduction to the Arts classes this fall. I want students to understand how the Church can make a difference in culture through the arts. (I figure I should read the required texts also!)

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell. Maxwell’s stuff is usually good and this one looks like a real winner. Who couldn’t use some help connecting with others? Plus, they included my picture on the inside cover, so I’m “connected” to the book.

How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. This is the classic work on getting the most out of your reading. I’ve read snippets of it, but need to go through the whole thing. As much as I read, this can only be helpful.

Linchpin by Seth Godin. I read Seth’s blog every day, and I loved Tribes and The Dip. Looking forward to this one that came out earlier this year.

Questions: What books do you plan to read this summer? If you have read any of these books, what did you think?

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My Summer Reading List, Part 1

May 18, 2010 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again–time to decide how I will spend my reading time this summer. I read all year round, of course, but summer is a special time to get a good deal of reading done because of my unique teaching schedule. As usual, this is kind of an eclectic list. I have included links to Amazon so you can check out any books that pique your interest.

Worship Words by Debra & Ron Riestra. This is a book on how we use language in worship. This was an assigned book for a get-together of graduates from the Worship Studies program at Lincoln Christian University. It’s not a book I would have necessarily chosen, but it’s been very insightful so far.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I received this from Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program and need to post a review. I’ve heard great things about the book.

You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned by Swen Nater and Ronald Gallimore, and A Brief Guide for Teaching Millennial Learners by J. Bradley Garner. Each year I try to read some things that will help my classroom teaching. The first book is all about Coach John Wooden’s principles of teaching, and the second is about how the current generation of college students learn. Both are fairly short and look great. (The link to the Wooden book is for a new edition, but there is no publication date listed. I would recommend the first edition if you can get it.)

On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. A little early church theology is good for the soul. The introduction by C. S. Lewis is absolutely phenomenal.

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. This is one of the greatest Batman graphic novels. I read it a few years ago and plan to revisit it. I love a good story told visually. Plus, you just need to have some fun once in a while.

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko. I’ve heard Dave Ramsey talk about this one for years, and now would be a good time to read it.

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. I’m using this for a required text for a worship leading class this fall. This is probably the most balanced yet thorough book on worship leading I have seen in a while.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2!

Questions: What books do you plan to read this summer? If you have read any of these books, what did you think?

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What If You Don’t Like the Music at Church?

May 17, 2010 Leave a comment

Here is how I look at music in church: churches are like restaurants, and worship music is like the food they serve. No matter what kind of food your restaurant serves, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it. The problem is that you have to choose something–you can’t satisfy every taste (unless you offer multiple services with different styles).

What happens if you’re a mature Christian who loves your church and wants to support your pastor, but you dislike the music?  I have a good friend who hates Chinese food, and I know that if we went to a Chinese place for lunch, he would not enjoy it. What do you do when you’re the person who doesn’t like Chinese food? Here are a few questions for those who want to support their church and would like to deal with this issue in a positive, godly way. (These would apply in a range of situations, whether your church uses a traditional hymn-based style or more modern music.) Read more of this post

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“Sunday’s Coming” Worship Parody

May 15, 2010 Leave a comment

UPDATE: James Emery White has a great post with his thoughts about the video and the implications behind it.

Check out this satire video from North Point Ministries. It’s the funniest and most true-to-life thing I’ve seen in a while. It’s not mean-spirited, but is done in a spirit of love and fun. If you would describe your worship style as contemporary or relevant, you will probably see a little bit of yourself here.

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Great Songs: “Hosanna” by Hillsong United

May 14, 2010 Leave a comment

The Australian worship band Hillsong United has been around for over a decade, but their popularity has exploded in just the last few years. The band is an outgrowth of the youth ministry of Hillsong Church in Sydney (the church home of another influential worship leader, Darlene Zschech). The band has contributed a great number of songs to modern worship, the most well-known being “Mighty to Save.” Hillsong United’s album Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls is one of my favorite albums of any style of music. Most churches doing any kind of contemporary music are probably using some songs by Hillsong United. We certainly sing a lot of them in our SLCC Chapel services.

“Hosanna” was written by Brooke Ligertwood (formerly Brooke Fraser) and is included in Hillsong United’s 2007 album All of the Above. It’s a great song because it creatively combines meaningful lyrics with interesting music. I suppose all great songs have both components, but worship songs can be a special challenge because they have to musically and lyrically interesting, able to be learned and sung by the average person, and they have to express a very familiar story in a new, fresh way. That’s a tall order!

Verse 1 of “Hosanna” contains imagery that is almost prophetic, speaking of the “King of Glory coming on the clouds with fire,” with the whole earth shaking. (It’s reminiscent of scenes from Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4 & 5. Here is a link to the lyrics if you want to have a look.) The chorus is a simple expression of praise, and verse 2 speaks of God’s love and mercy washing over our sin. The bridge is a plea for God to “break my heart for what breaks yours,” and is a call to surrender everything for the cause of God’s kingdom. This is a sort of modern version of “I Surrender All,” except with more electric guitars, and a lot louder.

The blending of the minor key tonality, haunting feel and cryptic imagery complement each other well. The song is also a great example of how to effectively use electric guitars (and digital delay) in modern worship music. Many props to Hillsong for a job well done on this one.

Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!

(Psalm 24.7-10)

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