Why I'm Excited About Church Planting in South Carolina - Part 2

It seems for the past twenty years, in evangelical circles, discussions have centered on worship.  By this people typically mean the act of singing that occurs when the church gathers on Sunday mornings.  And because some churches have done that with hymnals and robes, while others have done it with jeans and rock bands, church-planting conversations devolved into petty discussions revolving around style of music and dress.

While it is clear that these discussions still happen in our culture, I am pleased with how little they occur within the ranks of most church planters today.  Rather than petty discussion built around personal preference there seems to be a shift towards a better theology of worship.

On the one hand, worship does involve music.  Throughout the Old Testament we are commanded to praise God musically (1 Chronicles 16:23-35; Psalm 33:1-3; Psalm 98:4-6; Psalm 150).  The witness of the NT is similar; we are instructed to sing “psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16).  While we do not know the format of early church services, we do know that praising God was a priority (Acts 2:47). And Revelation indicates that worship through joyful singing and shouting will be the eternal paradigm. 

But worship is not just musical; it actually comes in many forms.  Simply put, worship is anything we think, say, or do.  Every action we do and every word we speak glorifies something or someone.  While we are dead in our sins, our selfish motives cause us to seek our own glory. But once God raises us to new life, we are empowered to carry out the command to live lives of sacrificial worship, glorifying Him (Romans 12:1).  The authenticity of the songs we sing on Sunday (verse 16) is determined by our obedience to God’s commands throughout the week (verse 17).  And it’s all worship.

Maybe more important than the style of music we sing or the types of clothes we wear is the heart of the worshipper…every single day.

Worship well.