Why Worship is More Than Singing

I attended a Christian college for my undergraduate studies and along with it, a significant amount of chapel services. As a result, I have heard my fair share of speakers, one of my favorites being an ex-convict-turned-preacher named Randy Brown. He had some of the best stories – some of which were from his time in prison – but there was one he told about worship that I will never forget.

He was going to be preaching in a little backwoods country church one evening when he bumped into one of his motorcycle-riding-Jesus-loving friends whom we’ll call Sully. Sully asked Randy what he was up to these days and he had to confess that he was now a preacher and was actually preaching that evening. Sully laughed and asked where the meeting was being held and what time he should be there. Doubting he would actually come, Randy reluctantly shared the time and location of the service. 

That evening as the church began to fill with the usual crowd, Randy kept his eyes open for Sully. Ten minutes till, five minutes till – still no Sully. Finally it was time for Randy to take his seat on the platform and begin the service. It opened with the usual welcome and congregational prayer, and then the song leader  – somewhat lacking in musical ability, yet filling a need in the church – selected a rather obscure hymn found on page 283 and off they went.

As they were about half-way through the second verse, in walked Sully, leather-clad and chains dangling, with a huge smile on his face. He marched right up to the front pew and picked up a hymnal. Without actually turning their heads to stare, every eye in the congregation had fixed on this unusual-looking, unexpected visitor. 

Sully opened his hymnal, pointed to it and silently mouthed to Randy, “What page?” Randy, a bit embarrassed, mouthed back, “two-eighty-three.” Randy said what Sully did next pierced him to the heart. As soon as Sully had found page 283 and before he even knew what verse they were singing, his hand shot high into the air, praising God. You see, Sully had come on purpose and he had come to worship. 

Thanksgiving Leads To Worship

Sometimes we find ourselves in church – or just in our ordinary, workaday lives – and thanksgiving and worship are the natural outpouring of our circumstances and/or emotions.

Yet at other times they feel unnatural, like a forced and hollow “I love you” to someone you hardly know or like. I am not saying we can’t acknowledge our emotions or circumstances and come before God honestly.

He invites us to do that and he wants that. But we can learn an important posture from the psalmist (Ps. 57) and from Sully: no matter how we feel, we can set our hearts to worship God, and thanksgiving is a great starting point. 

It’s The Little Things

Thankfulness is the act of recognizing that you received something from someone else, and you appreciated it. A heart-posture of thankfulness keeps us in a place of humility before God (and with our fellow man), and reminds us of who we are: finite beings dependent upon the mercy and benevolence of God.

My mom would always say to us (and still does, in fact) that there is always something to be thankful for: food to eat, clothes to wear, a healthy body and a healthy mind, the fact that you even woke up this morning, are aware of who God is, or that your colon works properly. 

There is a Jewish prayer called Asher Yatzar which is still recited by observant Jews after using the bathroom (and is framed on my bathroom wall):

“Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and many hollows. It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory that if even one of them ruptures, or if even one of them becomes blocked, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You (even for a short period). Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.” 

If you’ve ever had any kind of stomach or GI issues, this prayer will resonate. And if you haven’t, yet ANOTHER reason to give thanks. 

We are all frail. We get cranky. And unless we put the work into our spiritual formation and learn “to give thanks in everything” (1 Thess. 5:18 – in, not FOR), we will find our emotions and circumstances dictating our capacity to authentically enter into worship. 

May I therefore encourage you, my brothers and sisters, to focus on what you can be thankful for today. And on Sunday, get in there and get your hand up, even if you don’t like the song.