Worship at Glastonbury 2011


Not being lucky enough to put my wellies on, pitch my tent and wade through the mud with the thousands of Glastonbury-goers this year, I have had to make do with watching highlights on BBC2 . . .and have enjoyed it immensley. The U2 set on Friday night was epic - hard to believe this was their first time at Glastonbury. But my hat goes off to Coldplay's headline gig on Saturday night. A much anticipated event that will go down in Glastonbury history as one of the greats.

Surprisingly (or maybe not) this has got me thinking a lot about our modern sung worship . . .

DJ Zane Lowe as he introduced Coldplay said: 'let us come and worship at the alter of the song'. Secular music knows exactly what its doing at events like this. In the way things happen on stage, down to paper butterflies descending from the sky during the chorus of a song, lighting effects, singability of the songs for the large crowd to join in with this communal experience - worship!

Despite all the glitz and glamour; the raising of emotions while Coldplay took us from soaring heights to sorrowful depths and every space in between - a greater dimension was missing. There was an absence in amongst a brilliant performance.

This is where Christian music comes into its own. It has the extra-something. Yes, some modern writers of church music have used the U2 soaring electric guitar effects and the Coldplay pounding piano chords which add extra emotion to a song, especially in a large congregation, drawing people into the worship experience. This also makes connections with popular culture, engaging people with sounds they understand. But, and here is the punch, Christian music is able to fill the void that secular music can not. God's Spirit is in it!

No matter how amazing Coldplay were at Glastonbury - was anybody's life dramatically changed forever? Yes we enjoyed it and our emotions were affected, but emotions come and emotions go (and emotions can be manipulated my music). Christian music moves the musical experience beyond the communal emotional event and connects our inner selves with their true source of life and light - God Himself! And as people connect with God through the singing and the worship it is not a band that is exalted and praised, and lives are forever changed!

We can learn a lot from the secular music scene about how we could better present worship, but not at the expense of its true purpose. Our aim is to connect and meet with God. If it becomes all about the 'sound' the 'staging' or 'lighting effects' we are missing the mark. Worship is all about God.

So enjoy watching great secular bands like Coldplay and U2 and taking a few tips. But keep it real. Keep focused on what only the church can do - connecting people to God.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Snot and Tears

Are You a F.A.T Leader?

Worship Setlist for the New Year