Worship Is Not A Football Game

Around this time of year (superbowl sunday) I inevitably hear a worship leader say almost condescendingly to their congregation something like the following;

"You go to a football game and yell and clap but when it comes to worship in church
you don't give it your all like that..."

Well to this I say, Worship is not a football game.

I think this ultimately comes from the insecurity of the worship leader. It is difficult to stand in front of a congregation that is not engaged in worship. It is difficult to engage our own hearts when those we lead are wondering where the donoughts are. If we are not careful we begin to think it is about us.

Just because a congregation sings loud or pretty or raises thier hands or dances or anything else that we associate with western Christianity and our worship service, does not mean that we are worshiping God.

Jesus warns about hipocrisy in Mark 7:6
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

It is not our job to be cheerleaders for God. He doesn't want cheerleaders. He wants
worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth.

What about the people who just lost thier kid to an overdose, the recently divorced dad worshiping for the first time without his two kids or the wife who is pleading to God for her husbands salvation.

These hurts are real. And yes we should celebrate the fact that we have the ultimate victory over life and death, but there should be room lament as well.

I myself at times have carried a heavy heart as a member of the congregation to the congregational worship time and felt completely left out and alone.

Be aware that there may be other reasons that people aren't singing...
Provide an opportunity to engage people sing to our king and let the Holy Spirit do His job to use the time to comfort those who mourn as well as the celebration of victories.