| Are you Engaging or Not? |
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I read something yesterday that I believe puts eloquently into words what I believe we are and should be trying to accomplish as a worship team. It is a two fold mission. Here it is: "As a Worship Team we want to engage the eyes and ears of unchurched people while providing an authentic worship experience for believers." How do we do this… Be engaging to those who do not have a value for God and worshiping him through song and then also engage those who are supposed to want to worship Him? I strongly believe that we can accomplish this through excellence. Read this from Malachi 1…. 6The LORD Almighty says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. I am your father and master, but where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have despised my name!”
"But you ask, `How have we ever despised your name?'
7"You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.”
"Then you ask, `How have we defiled the sacrifices?'
"You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 8When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty.
13You say, `It's too hard to serve the LORD,' and you turn up your noses at his commands," says the LORD Almighty. "Think of it! Animals that are stolen and mutilated, crippled and sick--presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?" asks the LORD. 14"Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is feared among the nations!” Malachi 1: 6-8, 13-14
Malachi's word from God to these priests is pretty blunt. These words are convicting to me because I sometimes forget that when we sing and play music, it is our offering back to God through the talents that he has given us. God does not want us to offer him left overs. Especially with the talents that he has called us to use for Him. Bring something of value and honoring to Him. Many of us can come to Worship team practice and make it through without listening and practicing the songs, but it is our responsibility to develop the gifts that God has given us and offer him our best. We all have different abilities and talents. What do you need to do to offer God your best?
While I believe that we should strive for excellence by giving our personal best, I don't want anyone to think that I am holding our team to perfection. Be prepared and give your all at Thursday night and Sunday morning practices, and give your all during the Sunday morning service. God takes care of reaching people through His Holy Spirit, we are just the instruments through which he works. We are not personally responsible for how the people respond to Him. I don't want anyone to feel disappointed when a mistake is made during the service. Remember that if you are giving your best, God is pleased with your offering. Mistakes and blunders happen, but they decrease as we strive for excellence by always giving our best!
As for engaging the people, Christians or not......Excellence exists in our culture today, in fact it is demanded. Because of our technology today, the standard for excellence is high. The church must keep up with this demand for excellence, or it will be deemed irrelevant by the exact people we are trying to reach.
"Excellence honors God and inspires people"-- Bill Hybles
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