Some time ago in the late 90’s, the song Heart of Worship appeared. After listening to Matt Redman describe this song, I came across this article that put the context briefly into words. “The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England. Despite the country’s overall contribution to the current worship revival, Redman’s congregation was struggling to find meaning in its musical outpouring at the time. There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” he recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”

Here are the lyrics. When the music fades, and all is stripped away and I simply come. Longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless Your heart. I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear, You're looking into my heart. I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus.”

            This song has always struck me, as it kind of did not make sense to me. I would think, if worship was more than a song then why do we have one more song that was sung until people got sick of it, not the writers fault of course? I hope this church above came to a truer understanding of worship as opposed to just better way of using music and a singular focus on just the service as worship. The intent behind this song may have been good but there is still an issue with what has been a concern for some time and that is music and worship have become synonymous with one another. Everything depends on the music. Even the story behind the song was about figuring out their music. People look to music to put them in a worship mood. If they are not moved by the music they can’t worship. Now don’t get me wrong I love music but as the song says worship is much more than a song and we need something deeper. Music is only one part of our worship. Sadly the church as Casting Crowns sang has traded the altar for a stage and nowadays the word of God just isn’t enough for most people. Most people love to be entertained at church by the praise team, the drama team and the sermon needs to be short and entertaining with lots of stories but true worship enables you to worship anytime, anywhere, with or without music /entertainment, with or without a theatre setting or seating if you will. True worship is obedience to God’s word. People have become so comfortable in church they have lost the fear of the Lord. I personally believe music / worship songs are just another way of “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28) Music is a way of getting the message out. We just don’t use a song to make a person “feel” good about their worship. What would happen if other churches took the stage away and put the altar back? I am not suggesting no music just a different focus. As the verse yesterday said God is looking into your heart and looking for something much deeper than what your lips are uttering. When you sing a song like “Lord I Give You My Heart”, there is a catch if your heart is not in it. “This is my desire, to honour You. Lord with all my heart I worship You. All I have within me I give You praise, all that I adore is in You. Chorus: Lord I give You my heart, I give You my soul, I live for You alone, Every breath that I take, Every moment I'm awake, Lord have Your way in me” Now if you have a whole congregation pouring out their hearts singing this song because they feel they are worshipping yet have not actually given their whole heart, they become hypocrites and they bring condemnation down on themselves. Our journey is to take us back to the heart of worship. Is it wrong to sing these songs? No, but we had better make sure our hearts are in the right place.

Prayer: Search for something much deeper. As we take this journey ask God to show you what true worship is. Matthew 17:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Our job is to lead people through the narrow gate and not to entertain them as they skip and dance through the wide. The leaders and the people have the responsibility to look hard for the narrow gate.