Vintage21 Church Worship

Admittedly, that should be the title of this blog; every other day is about this topic.

Over the last two weeks in January the daily posts on worship.vintage21.com were geared towards preparing for corporate worship on Sundays. These posts included the scripture we would study together, thoughts on preparing our hearts, and songs we were going to sing. The intent behind these posts is to ask Him to soften our hearts for his words during that powerful time together. Because our call is to worship to God in each moment with every action and thought, not simply an hour on Sundays through singing songs, I hope these posts become more than preparation.

When we recorded the album “All Things Praise” our goal was to take a cultural understanding of worship – music and singing on Sundays – and broaden it to a more biblical view – living every second of every day as an appropriate response to Jesus Christ. One of the main reasons behind recording an album was in hopes that the congregation of Vintage21 Church would take their praise through these songs out of the Sunday service and into the world. The idea is that as you sing songs and psalms, read and memorize scripture, God’s truths will be woven into your heart and mind. His desires become your desires, his ways your ways. This process of making us more like His Son is called sanctification, and is led by the Holy Spirit. Sadly, the Western church often ignores this, defining “Christ follower” as someone who attends an event each week, while living unchanged the rest of the time. Through these posts we will attempt to weave the language of response, truth of God, and posture of humility into our daily lives. We will come prepared on Sundays, but more importantly our lives will begin to change; we will grow to worship God in every moment.

Today, spend time in prayer, remembering what God taught you specifically yesterday, asking Him to make it a reality in your life. Repent of your selfishness, pride, and any other sin that you are aware of. Thank God for his faithfulness in sanctifying you.

Tomorrow: A new song for Vintage21 Church.

Today’s post comes from a conference called Verge in Austin, Texas. Pastor Nate Williams and I traveled here to learn more about “missional communities”, or how to live as the church. The teaching has been challenging on some levels, and on other levels affirming to how we are seeking to live out the gospel at Vintage21 Church. To watch online, visit verge2010.org.

A bonus of attending conferences is being able to worship through singing in an environment that is not Vintage21 Church. As much as I love worshiping with my church family, it’s difficult to turn off the radar of responsibility while there. I have no complaints- my job is an honor and a joy- but it is enjoyable to attend a conference where I can worship through new songs with a musical style or approach that is unfamiliar, without thinking about the logistics of the service. Being away, among believers from all over often reminds me that I’m a child of God who has received immeasurable mercy, and his movement is much larger than my small brain comprehends or selfishly tries to compartmentalize.

Just as I’m able to worship God at Vintage21 while dealing with the responsibility of the role of leadership, it’s impossible at conferences not to think about the experience of worship, the methodology of the bands leading and not consider Vintage21 in light of it. During some songs I sit back and watch, listen, think and dream. Just like the teaching at conferences, the music is challenging on some levels and affirming on others.

What God has done with music at Vintage21 is unique and real. We have gone through phases of methodology, but thankfully our focus has always centered on glorifying Jesus. We’ve developed methodology not as a carbon copy of what other churches do or what the Christian music industry defines as “worship music”, nor have we defined ourselves in reaction to the shortcomings of christian culture. In addition, the musicians of V21 can be defined in one word: humble. They do not seek their own glory but that of Jesus Christ’s. I am honored and thankful to be at Vintage21 Church, and praise him for each musician.

But…

When I attend other conferences or churches, there is something illuminated at Vintage21: our reluctance to worship God with abandonment. Is it fear? Pride? Ignorance? Before you dismiss this accusation with the thought, “It’s just the way I worship – don’t judge me”, go with me for a moment. Consider whether or not there is pride, fear, or unconfessed sin. Ask yourself whether or not the revealed glory of Christ, the good news of the Cross, and the freedom, mercy and forgiveness compels you to respond in the way you do. Or, are you practicing worship first by what makes you comfortable, and second by what God is worthy of and/or calling you to?

I’m not calling for an awkward environment where non-believers are confused and unwelcome by our practices. But we should be challenged – I am challenged and convicted – and the result of prayer, repentance and humble seeking will not leave us in the same place.

This is an ongoing issue at Vintage21 Church among both the musicians and congregation, and will be a prominent topic next week as we prepare to worship together on Sunday, February 14th.

Know this, Vintage21: I love you deeply, and am driven not by a certain model or method, but a desire to see you free from sin, pride and fear. Praise God that He will draw us out of these.

This past weekend’s snowstorm and subsequent freezing temperatures left us no choice and for the first time ever, Vintage21 Church cancelled our services. We take this seriously, as each weekend is a chance to reflect Jesus to a lost world. I’m curious as to how this affected your view of worship. Did you see it as a “day off” from God? For me, it was a day off from leading others in worship, which I was not excited about – my role is a joy, and I am excited to be a part of what God does each Sunday in healing us, encouraging us by His Spirit, and drawing us to Himself through His Son. On the other hand, it was a blessing to have another day with my wife and two daughters, and I loved every minute of it. The heart perspective was different from a normal day, though, as I had the “missed worship” on my mind. How would we worship God as a family? How would I worship God without leading, singing, playing?

As written in the last post, it came down to my heart more than my actions. For the most part, our actions were normal for our family – playing, dancing, making food, praying, cleaning up, etc. – but the difference was an intent to worship God in that. Was this “less worship” than if Sunday had gone on as planned?

If you were at a church service, singing songs with a self-righteous belief that God would perhaps give you what you want since you were there, is that more worshipful than if you were home with your family, cooking breakfast with a thankful heart to God?

There’s no reason your worship would not be as pure, righteous and pleasing to God at home than if you were at church, singing in response. While the gathering includes prescribed and normative forms of worship- singing, communion, preaching of the Word, giving tithes – it is through Christ that we can know God, respond to Him in worship, and be seen as righteous. The Holy Spirit of God literally lives within us – our entire lives are to be lived as a worshipful response, whether we have a church service at Vintage21 or not.

Did you worship God yesterday? How did the cancellation of V21 services affect this? Comments and questions are always welcome.

A deep issue in Western Christianity is the teaching and practice of worship as singing for an hour on Sunday morning. Even if the church you attend or previously attended teach that worship is more than that, what does their practice betray? Would the evidence point to the belief that worship is mainly singing on Sundays? This incomplete definition of worship affected me for many years. When I began teaching middle school, it was a constant struggle to figure out what it looked like to worship God while doing my job. I mean, how does one teach about the lasting effects of North Carolina lacking deep water ports while still singing “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High” in my head?

While the Pharisees catch flak from our arrogant hindsight, we’re often similar in our approach to God. In their mind, the “what” you do mattered more than the “why”, or the heart behind it. For instance, it’s much easier to worship God when you define that as a quantifiable law or event. In our case, that’s attending church on Sundays and singing to God. We believe if we really concentrate on the words, sing as well as we can, we’ve worshiped Him. Jesus spent a great deal of time addressing their distorted view. Matthew 15 is a particularly convicting passage, as Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 right in the face of the Pharisees:

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”

A common theme in Jesus’ teaching is the examination of the heart, and the change needed in order to honor and worship God. Arguably, our heart is more important than our actions. Hold onto your tights, Brother Hood; Before you rob a bank to give to the poor, keep reading. Christ does not give us license to do whatever we want, as long as our hearts are right. In any case, when your heart is right, your actions and desires will be as well. This is behind Christ’s command in John 15:7 to “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

As we seek to worship God outside of singing on Sundays, we often get hung up on our actions instead of examining our heart. This line of logic leads many to the conclusion that a person working for a church worships God much more than a bank teller. Let me assure you, having a job in ministry does not make you any more holy, any more righteous with God, or does it mean you worship God more. All it does is provide another method of legalism for those who would distortedly purport to be holy by their own actions. For all of us, worshiping God in each moment is not what you’re doing, but why. Are you serving yourself or God in this moment? Am I writing this blog entry out of a selfish desire to gain attention, or a humble obedience to God? Are you doing your tasks at work just to keep your boss or co-workers off your back, or are you humbly seeking to honor your boss in what’s been asked of you, because your worth is found in Christ? Your heart is what matters most. Give it to Christ, and ask the Spirit to sanctify you, that is; make your heart like Christ’s.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” – 1 Thess. 5:23-24

The remaining two songs we’ll sing this Sunday are And Can It Be That I Should Gain and Thank You. As you read the lyrics below, consider just what God has done for you, and ask Him to make them the natural response of your heart. Enter this Sunday thanking God for what He’s done and who He is.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday, and continuing our worship of God together.

- Matt Stevens

Imagine what our lives would be like if we actually believed what we were singing on Sundays. Before you think “I do believe what we’re singing” and click away to watch that hilarious monkey on a segway on youtube, read the lyrics below and ask yourself, “Do I believe this about myself?”

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea, a great High Priest whose name is love, who ever lives and pleads for me.

If you believe this, does it affect you? Is it something you believe in your head as fact, while your heart remains unchanged? Believing this means you will stand before a Holy God with confidence, your guilt replaced with a complete sense of forgiveness and righteousness. Personally, this is something I understand in my head, but it comes and goes in my heart. If I truly believed that I am already right before God, why do I try to earn righteousness? Why do I play a game of religion, where I justify my actions by comparing myself to others “not as good as me”? If Christ’s name is Love, and he ever lives and pleads for me, why do I treat him like a boring old man rocking on a porch thinking a Werthers will solve all my problems?

Chances are, when we’re honest we realize our belief in God is shallow, limited to our own terms, and doesn’t quite penetrate our heart. This is part of the reason corporate worship is so beautiful, so essential. Often on Sunday I’m brought to tears in an instant, unable to sing. In that moment when my mind is not centered on myself, God speaks to me, saying “I am satisfied to look on my Son and pardon you. Be forgiven and believe.” I long to feel that peace and joy each day.

In preparing your heart for Sunday and worshiping God today, read the lyrics below and listen to the song. Ask yourself, “Do I believe this?” Pray to God that you would, ask Him to make that a reality in your life. “His compassions never fail, they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). If we believe these words, in our heart, so much of that joy you’ve been longing for will be found in Him.

Before The Throne Of God Above
Words by Charitie Bancroft, 1863
Arrangement by Sojourn Church

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is “Love,”
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav’n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God
with Christ, my Savior and my God

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
to look on him and pardon me.

To purchase this song by Sojourn Church, visit iTunes. To listen, here’s a link for last.fm.