I’ve been thinking about the subject of worship (big surprise, that) and the role that we, the Body of Christ, should play.  Sincerity in worship is of great concern to me.  I frequently examine, as a matter of discipline, the way I worship.  I desire to always be honest in my worship as I serve my King.  Being paid to lead others in worship puts me in danger of sliding into a state of hypocrisy, a state of play-acting.  Fake. 

Worship music in the Church can be very horizontal, singing about God in the third person, referring to God as “Him.”  We could say that songs were “about” God.  Historically, much church music was like this.  In reality, our hearts can truly respond to who God is through focusing on His amazing attributes.  That sort of horizontal focus can be very worshipful.  It also shows the truth to people who do not yet have a relationship with God. 

More recently, writers and worshippers discovered that it’s not presumptuous to sing to God, as if He was in the room.  This is Biblical:

 “Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” (Ps. 139:7-8) 

Singing a love song to God as if you were singing to your spouse was no longer off-limits.  The end result was a great sense of connection with the Saviour in worship.  That connection opened up the movement of the Spirit through worship in a different way.  Intimacy entered into the vocabulary of worship, as though we were whispering our worship into the ear of Jesus—which is wonderful.   

Focus is such an important element of worship.  Ps. 103:1, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.”  Focus can mean concentration.  Focus can mean clarity, “in focus.”  Focus can mean intensity.  All of these definitions, and others not mentioned here, are appropriate when talking about focus in worship.   

The worst side of horizontal worship is that it can become sterile entertainment.  We evaluate the worship as if it were a concert production.  If we don’t engage, focus, and seek to touch the heart of God, the focus is misplaced.   The focus can be placed on the tightness of the band, the intonation of the vocals, or the ‘coolness’ of the lighting and video.  This is nothing short of idolatry!   The worst side of “vertical” worship is that it becomes self-absorbed navel gazing.  When the focus shifts onto ourselves, worship is no longer happening.  The scary part of this experience is that it looks the same on the surface.  Someone lifts their hands, falls down on their knees, or begins to weep—it appears as though someone is really worshipping.  A genuine encounter with the living God is emotional; it would be foolish to say otherwise.  But we can also have an emotional response independent of the movement of the Spirit.  We sing stirring songs, we put a passionate expression on our faces, and presto! God must be touching our hearts.  The purely emotional response looks the same as the Spirit-inspired emotional response.  And that is really dangerous.  We wind up with another form of idolatry:  the worship of worship. 

The solution is to refocus.  And refocus.  And refocus.

“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling… (Phil 2.12)”

“Jesus was asked once, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment (Mat. 22:37-38).”  

Make that commandment your focus, and watch the Spirit do something completely unexpected in worship--and in your life!