Pilgrim Soldier

Today I seem to have had a day revolving around thinking about worship. Peter Lublink has an interesting post about worship values and then I had a chat with Patrik over coffee about worship as well.

Over the years I’ve been a Christian I’ve seen a total transformation in worship within The Salvation Army. From very traditional Army worship (hymnbook, band, songsters) through to a more contemporary style (multimedia, worship bands, gospel choir) and have been equally at home in both. I’ve also been privileged to attend a variety of other churches or worship situations and have experienced from ‘high’ Anglican to spontaneous jamming sessions.

I’ve come to realise that the style is totally irrelevant and that really only two things matter in worship. The first is the God who we worship. He never changes and therefore we should be able to connect with him every single time we worship him in a corporate setting. The truth is though that sometimes this doesn’t seem to happen. This brings me to the second thing, which is myself.

All too often the barrier between a real worship experience is me. When I don’t come prepared to worship, or with bitterness in my heart, or simply can’t be bothered, my worship of God is seriously affected. The simple fact is that there is always something available to experience in every worship service if only we are totally open and prepared to give something of ourselves to the worship.

It is that bit that is the important part as well. I fall into the trap of looking to get something out of worship, whereas I should really be looking to give back to God. Worship is not about me, but about God. He is the focus of my worship and He is the only one who deserves to receive anything during worship. If He chooses to give something back, and it’s amazing how often He does when I’m prepared and in the right heart, then that should be received as the gift that it is.