When I hear a worship song that I don’t connect with, this is what goes through my mind, not always in this order.
“What a hokey song. I really don’t like this.”
“It’s not all about you. Get over it.”
“Worship is not about style. Don’t get hung up on how they’re doing a song.”
“What are the words trying to say? I don’t know that I totally agree with this song.”
“That vocalist is getting way too excited about this song.”
“What chords is the guitarist playing? I bet I could play this song; not that I’d want to.”
“Phew, it’s over…”
Sometimes the thoughts vary, but this is the basic gist.
I know that I can’t connect with every worship song. It’s just not going to happen. There are going to be songs I don’t like, music that is hokey, or words that seem weird. I suppose my problem is trying to figure out what to do when I hear a song that I can’t connect with. If I continue having the above train of thought, I’m pulling myself into myself and focusing on me quite a bit, which isn’t what worship is supposed to be about.
Do I just sing along and pretend I’m into it? (I’m not real comfortable with that.)
Do I shut off, stop singing, and wait for the next song which I might connect with? (That doesn’t seem like a good way to worship.)
Do I attempt to pray and focus on God even though all the lights and sounds around me are distracting me and making it really hard to? (I think I’m becoming ADD as I grow older.)
How do you deal with a worship song that you don’t really connect with?
I try to pray loud to block it out. Is that bad?
Out loud, or in your head? If it’s out loud, probably. 🙂 But I kind of like that tactic…
The truth is that what might inspire one person might be a bit boring to the next. Our souls are different, so different things speak to me than to you. Too often we forget that the next person is not our carbon copy. Internalizing this idea is at once a humbling experience and profoundly elevating. How wonderful is the idea that each of us is our own beautiful world, with our own unique path? A major step in loving ones fellow man is the recognition that we all walk different paths yet we are all headed toward the same destination. So perhaps this is an opportunity for you. You loved the song before, and really felt connected to it. That was your path. Now you can look around and watch others walking along their own individual paths – to reach the same place you did! This song is someone else’s path. Instead of tuning out, use this as an opportunity to tap into the realization that each person was created an entire unique, beautiful world, yet though we walk different paths, we’re all headed to the same destination.
End ramble.
I like this thought process. My problem is some days I can’t connect with ANY of the songs and then I just get frustrated and angry. But that’s probably just me trying to make it all about me.
Thanks for a challenging thought. I will try my best to do this next time that hokey song starts.
Do you remember the time I wigged out because a song reminded me of a traumatic event in my life?
I do.
If I find myself not being able to connect, its for this reason: I’m a musician. ANY time I am watching live music being performed, I am constantly sizing up the musicians on stage. I can’t passively listen to music. Whether I like it or not, my brain wants to pick apart every song I hear. I can’t sleep while music is playing for that reason. Just going on the various thoughts you listed here, perhaps since you are a worship leader and a musician, you can’t help but analyze the worship music. I know that when I do that, it makes it incredibly difficult to worship. As far as how to deal with it…who knows… I’d say what might come across as hokey or weird or whatever might have, at least at some point, been somebody’s sincere attempt to express their love for God. As for the musicians currently executing the music, I have to remember what my Sunday school teacher always says, “God doesn’t pick people for their ability, but rather, their availability..” I don’t know.. just my $.02…
SUCH good points. It’s true, I’m constantly analyzing music too. I try not to, but it’s really hard. Glad I’m not the only one.
“I’d say what might come across as hokey or weird or whatever might have, at least at some point, been somebody’s sincere attempt to express their love for God.” I love this.