Respecting My Younger

Worship wars have been a big deal in the American church for quite awhile. Lots of churches try to escape them through various methods, but it seems that avoiding them completely is about as likely as Republicans and Democrats agreeing that we should “all just get along.”

One of the big issues that comes up again and again (at least in my experience) is the problem with songs that focus on us (the humans) and our desires and responses to God rather than on God Himself (the Divine One) and glorifying and worshiping His name. It always made sense to me that worship should be focused on God and his attributes, not what I need from Him or necessarily even how much I love Him (especially if it’s repeated 63 times per chorus).

Today I was having a delicious gyro with my brother at a little family-owned shop here in Littleton and he said something about this that I never thought of before.

“Part of the problem I’ve always had is that churches sing songs focused on us and our response to God and call it worship. I see those songs as prayers. I don’t think the songs are the problem, just that we think of them as worship when they’re really prayers.”
“That’s a great insight, I’ve never heard of that!!” (I made myself sound extra excited here to add dramatic flare.)
“Yeah, I am awesome (okay, so he didn’t say that). Just like not all worship is musical, all prayers don’t have to be spoken. Prayers set to music can be very powerful, we just need to call them what they are.”

So let the wars rage on, but I learned something to help me navigate a little better in the future today. Thanks bro!