Quick Thoughts Post-Concert…
What makes for “great” worship?
Lots of people?
Shouting?
Anticipation before the “show?”
Loud singing?
Jumping up and down?
Hands in the air?
I like seeing all these things when I’m leading worship, but tonight, as an audience member at the Hillsong United gig, I was so distracted by all the squished, sweaty bodies, the rude behavior exhibited by some other attendees, the extremely bright lights, the overly powerful subs, etc. Other people seemed to enjoy it. And although I did engage in worship and even did some jumping around at times, by the end of the night, the place was so hot and crowded that I just wanted to leave.
Am I just getting too old for this? Or was true worship somewhat masked by all the glitz and glamour of the show? Or was my heart just too easily distracted?
The experience did make me think about this weekend’s worship services at my church and how I was going to lead my congregation, so that’s a good thing.
But yeah – is it weird that while all the people around me left the concert all fired up and pumped, I just wanted to go home?
i would more call that a concert than a worship session … it’s more for show than to lead you into worship.
well, i think it does work for some people. this is the “language” of our generation. but i’ve had some conversation about the purpose of all the extra stuff (light shows, booming subs, etc.) and last night just made me rethink some of those things. the holy spirit was there, but i had a hard time focusing the entire way through.
anyway, thanks for your thoughts, shan!