Years ago, when I first became a Christian, worship meant happy. I equated it with warm fuzzies and an emotional high tied to the music. If worship didn’t have those basic ingredients, something was wrong, and it obviously wasn’t worship.
It never occurred to me that worship might have the opposite effect.
My husband and I have been certified lay speakers in the Methodist Church. We sat through a weekend of classes that then qualified us to stand at the pulpit in our church and share a message. My husband preached more than I, and he is dang good at it. After one sermon, he expressed a frustration. Everyone came to him after, shook his hand with a warm smile and said, “That was a wonderful message.” And then they’d walk out happily into their Sunday afternoon, chattering about where to go to lunch that day.
My very wise husband said, “If I’m really doing my job right, then I should be making them uncomfortable.”
Sometimes worship disturbs me and sometimes it affirms me. I prefer affirming. The warm fuzzies emerge and all is well with the world. But if I want to progress in my faith, I need to be disturbed. Something needs to spur me onto something greater, rather than encouraging me to stay put and relish in the happy feelings and all the good in me.
I want to be a better Christian. I want to be able to love God more fully and offer grace to my neighbor. In order to do that, sometimes my boat needs to be rocked a bit. I need that slap in the face that all is not well with the world and I need to make some changes.
It’s not pretty, but it’s necessary if I want to become like Jesus.
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But if I want to progress in my faith, I need to be disturbed.” Wise words Jamie. Comfortable means why change anything; Comfortable means do not question why things are good.. just enjoy. Comfortable leads to one being lazy. Lazy leads to inaction. I think if one is not growing then they are not standing still they are going the wrong way.
So if you feel comfortable for a long time you might want to take a closer look around you and ask some tough questions.
I like that last line.
That makes sense. I used to work for Target and the listening station would sometimes play mainstream worship in the store. While it’s awesome that it’s playing in that atmosphere, could there be something wrong as well that corporate would be comfortable with that? Are there any disturbing worship bands you know of as opposed to comfortable worship?
One that jumps to mind is Derek Webb. He’s not a worship leader, but he poses some hard questions about Christianity in his music.
I’m afraid I can’t think of any worship bands that might do anything other than comfortable worship. I suppose some worship lyrics are a bit more challenging than others, but I’m drawing a blank on any specifics.
I’m surprised that Target plays mainstream worship.
Jamie – Fantastic! I hadn’t really thought about it this way, but it’s true. Usually in the uncomfortable, the disturbing is where I grow and learn.
I hadn’t either until recently.