Are You Outraged?

As you know if you’ve read any of my stuff, I spend a lot of time on the road, and therefore see A LOT of bumper stickers. Recently, I saw one that that stated, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not looking.” Now as anyone who watches the news knows, that lack of outrage is not the problem in society today. It seems everyone is outraged at something. Iraq, the president, Paris Hilton, I’ve even noticed people who are outraged about people who are outraged… Now I know you’re wondering right now how this relates to worship. Well, as I tossed these things in my head, I began to see a pattern. You see it is our human nature to feel so strongly about something that we can’t possibly see how anyone could disagree. Living once again in Alabama, I’m so reminded of this every football season. One side can’t understand how the other side could possibly see things differently. And unfortunately, this same attitude often makes it way into our church worship.

My wife and I are quite opposite in almost every way. I’m a rock and roll, meat and potato (unless there’s more meat!), night owl and my wife is a country, veggies and salad, early to bed type. However, we learned long ago that our differences (when acknowledged) complemented one another. In too many churches I’ve been in, there seems to be an attitude of different is bad. Now don’t get me wrong, we’re not talking about selling out or compromising (although those words often come up when we feel our position is threatened), we are talking about understanding that God is bigger than us and our ideas. One of the most liberating truths I’ve come to realize is that everyone can teach me something. Getting past the thought that only my style of music, or only my way of doing things works, opens up doors and opportunities to learn and grow as a worship leader. There was a time that I felt that if my worship team wasn’t doing the hottest, newest worship songs and arrangements, we were somehow missing God. I have met others who swung the pendulum in the complete opposite direction. Thankfully, I’ve grown up a bit since then, and understand that style is not nearly as important content.

Recently I was asked the question, “What does God think of our worship?” The speaker went on to explain that people in the congregation comment on the worship service every week, but seldom do we ask or wonder if God was pleased. Many times our worship services become our outlet for creativity or for doing our favorite songs. Worship should be a time of touching the Father’s heart. A time of bringing a gift that pleases the Creator. Understanding that God is diverse enough to create the thousands of personalities and tastes that we have, helps us understand that He is not limited to our personal tastes.