Worship is making much of Christ

Well, I have just done something that I thought I would never do...That is to say, never do again...I have submitted my name for consideration to my church...We are soon to have a need for a 2nd service (contemporary) worship leader/pastor...

It has been almost 5 years since my last gig/shot at this "worship" leading. But as I look over the last 10 years of my life, especially spiritually, I can see that "worship" is a topic that I have passionately pursued and studied for a decade now...Thanks be to God that I have stopped short of "worshipping worship". The first time I heard the phrase - "worshipping worship" - I thought it was the dumbest thing I had ever heard, now I get it...But...

In my circles and in my life, I can say that I have been a part of, in some form, the "worship" movement that has taken place since 1997 or so...It did not take long, however, before "worship" ceased to be a verb and turned into a noun and almost a proper noun at that...And the moment worship became a noun, it became an idol...And it turns my stomach...

The mistake that has been routinely made is leaders thinking that "worship" can be done the same way everything else is - man-made and manufactured....The problem is that God does not work that way and He never has. The fallacies in our thinking are many but a couple of large ones that cripple our worship and quench the Spirit of God would include:
1). Man is the audience
2). God needs our help
3). God is required to 'show up' at our whim and on our time
4). Worship should be entertaining and friendly

Again these are just a few of the fallacies that have run rough-shod over the church the last, who knows how many years...

Simply put, worship is showing people Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit work from there...We are to make much of Jesus Christ and we are to plead with the Holy Spirit and let Him know that we want Him and need Him in our meetings and services...

May we make much of Christ. May the Holy Spirit allow "worship" to flow freely amongst us. We rebuke man-made performances that are sold to us as true, authentic worship...

Seeking the Light that has been shown in our hearts, revealed to us by the Father in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

Soli Deo Gloria

JW