Bob Kauflin has taught me more about worship than anyone else.
Which is why I asked Bob to answer a few questions about the what, why, and how of corporate worship. If you don’t know Bob, he is the director of worship for Sovereign Grace Ministries and also blogs at Worship Matters. Bob is a wise man, and worth listening to.
So without further ado, an interview with Bob Kauflin in three parts.
So often I come in on a Sunday morning and I don’t feel like singing. How would you encourage someone in my place?
When I don’t feel like singing it’s usually because I haven’t been thinking much about who God is and what He’s done for us in Christ. Some situation, relationship, or event seems more important to me than the fact that Jesus came into the world to save rebellious sinners and reconcile them to God, and that I’m one of them. How can I not want to sing about that!
So the first thing I’d do is confess my distraction to God. I can tell him that I haven’t been loving him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then I’d receive his full and complete forgiveness through Christ. God doesn’t hold my sin against me. Jesus bore it on the cross. Then, I’d start to think about the words I’m singing and direct my thoughts towards the greatness and goodness of God. If for some reason the lyrics aren’t helping me, I’ll start rehearsing the basic truths of the gospel and the promises of God. Before too long, my perspective changes and I feel like singing again.
TO BE CONTINUED…
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Stephen, Bob has also taught ME more about worship than anyone else! How about that! Also about speaking with "clarity and charity" (can't remember who coined that phrase). He writes clearly, biblically, and graciously. His blog and messages have been a tremendous means of grace in my life. Thank you for featuring Bob's wise and biblical counsel.
(and when I say "more than anyone else" I don't mean that he's taught me more than he's taught anyone else but that he's taught me more than anyone else has taught me. I'm sure you meant that too.
)
When I'm distracted in worship, or if the "want to" is not as big as it should be, I've taken the following approach.
1. Realize that I "need to" worship (because He is worthy)and confess and repent that my "want to" is not bigger.
2. Take the song and turn it into a prayer. Literally a singing prayer. Often times the content of the lyrics is about things that need to be big "want to's" in my life. So for example, if the song is "Be Thou My Vision" I will sing the song as a prayer, asking God to be my all in all, my sole desire, to change my heart/mind, etc. Even if I don't have these big overwhelming emotions about it, I persevere in praying it.
3. Speak truth to myself. Remind myself of the promises of God and how good He is. I remind myself of the obvious work of Jesus in my life that has already happened, and then pray/sing with great hope. Knowing that as He has done in the past (in my life) He will do in the future. I try to stop focusing so much on "I don't feel like singing" or even "why don't I feel like singing?". I confess and then move on. It's easy to get assaulted with the fiery darts of the enemy if you navel gaze for too long. For myself I know I can get overly introspective and then my focus is not on Jesus.
Hope this helps.
When I don't want to worship, it reveals that I am too big and God is too small.
What if you genuinely just don't like to sing or ever really feel anything from it? I can count the number of times on two hands that I have felt closer to God through musical worship. Reading His Word or looking at His creation does more than singing ever has. It definitely isn't that I'm distracted, that my heart isn't focused, or I am not thinking on Christ, I just don't enjoy it.
Kim, thanks for asking. There's nothing in Scripture that says musical worship will necessarily make us feel "closer to God." Generally, music tends to affect people's emotions. Of course, if the music is being performed badly, or if the arrangements aren't very good, or if there are sound problems, music may not be that effective.
But singing is something I do myself and it's meant to engage me in the act of declaring God's praise with other believers. Sure, I can do it alone, but Jesus came to redeem a people, not a group of random individuals. Another benefit to singing is that it helps me remember the words. That's a characteristic of music that is undeniable. And when the words are based on eternal biblical truths, singing becomes a form of biblical meditation.
So, rather than being concerned about feeling closer to God during musical worship, I'd continue to see singing as a way of meditating on the glories of Christ, the works and worthiness of God. I'd also be thankful that God has joined you with other believers to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.