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What Should Worship Look Like? ~ Emmett Bryant

 Ever since the establishment of the Church there has always been the question, "What should worship look like?". Whether it be meditative worship, voice-led worship, or instrumental worship, there has always been the argument of what constitutes worship. I think we have to understand that all things were created by God and for God, including music. Music is another one of God's tools to speak to us and interact with us. Worship was used all throughout the Old Testament to soothe the soul and influence emotions. With that in mind, I must critique St. Augustine for thinking that being moved by the music used for worship is a sin. The people who use their talents to worship the Lord through voice or instrument are using those avenues to worship just as equally as we, the crowd, are using our voices to worship. It is nonsense to think that finding pleasure or beauty in the worship of a brother or sister to be a sin. Worship is not a static, emotionless action but a vibrant one. Worship is meant to move the heart and bring us into communion with God. Worship is most absolutely meant to be a form of knowing God which is why Paul told the Church to admonish each other with "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19, ESV). Worship is a place for our heart to deeply commune with God and is meant to be charged with emotions that are in line with the Scriptures. Contrary to fundamentalist thought, worship was never meant to be and never will be, a dry, liturgical exercise. 

I commented on Braylan Stringfellow's post and Madalyn Dillard's post. 

Comments

  1. Abigale BellJanuary 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM

    Hi Emmett! I really enjoyed reading your post! You made a very good point when you spoke of music as a beautiful thing created by God. I think it is important to remember that our worship doesn't originate within ourselves. I also think it is important to understand that worship can become simply a liturgical experience if we do not keep our focus on growing closer to and glorifying God.

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