I enjoy watching the Virginia Tech Hokies play football. I enjoy it even more when they win!
I remember a game that Caleb and I attended at Lane Stadium. Although I chose not to participate in most of the spectator activity, Caleb joined the spirit that rocked the stadium from the unison jumping that accompanied the entrance of the team to yelling with the cheerleaders to singing the “Hokie Pokie” to encouraging the refs on questionable calls. I was a passive observer…he was an active participant.
It seems that in corporate worship (when we worship all together) there are the same groups of people: passive observers and active participants. It delights the Lord when we engage with Him at any time but, I think, especially when we gather with other believers to focus on Him.
There seems to be a growing thought in the Christian community that goes something like this: “I don’t need to sing or speak or show signs of connecting with God. I can just ‘reflect’ while sitting here.” Of course that’s true and my personal worship includes a bit of reflection. But when we come together with the sole purpose of worshiping Him we need to get out of our “passive observer” mode and choose to be “active participants.” When we do, it becomes spiritually therapeutic for us (moves us closer to Him) and edifying (encouraging) to those around us.
Should you want to read more about this concept, check out the post below by a terrific worship leader and practitioner, Dan Wilt. It’s worth the read!
is-it-too-loud-worship-accompaniment-vs-worship-immersion-culture
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