Resources - Leadership

October 2001

SWORD DEFENDING

That’s Entertainment? NOT!

by Rev. David Groenenboom

When we speak about contemporary music and contemporary worship, one of the persistent concerns is that they both seem to bring the world’s values into the church. Pulpits are exchanged for lecterns. Song books for big screens. Being an “organ donor” takes on a whole new meaning, as guitar drums, flute, saxophone, keyboard and a good bass player take over. But are these things mere vehicles for mere entertainment? Do they indicate that our focus has changed from worshipping God to entertaining His people? Are we simply pandering to the needs of a consumerist market?

It is true, isn’t it, that entertainment is ever present. TV. DVD. Stereo. CD players. Walkman. Even your mobile phone is an entertainment device. Our culture is so saturated with entertainment that we are fast forgetting how to entertain ourselves. TV and computer are regularly chosen over reading books.

It’s important that when it comes to the question of worship and entertainment, there are some aspects that complicate the situation: the physical arrangement of church has long shared similarities with cinema and theatre. Both have a “stage”; chairs are arranged like cinema stalls; the “crowd” is directed to whatever is happening “up the front”; and “no interruptions” is the rule. Further, what happens “up the front” is the primary channel of communication to those present in both instances. Consequently, we should not be surprised to see similarities between a worship context and an “entertainment” context.

Further, “entertainment” is defined (amongst other things) as “a performance or show intended to give pleasure”. Now who would come to worship hoping that their experience would not be pleasurable? We want to give pleasure to the Lord whom we worship!

From another angle, we might say that a worship service with contemporary songs is obviously entertaining because it gives worshippers a sense of pleasure. The irony is that precisely the same may be said of traditional worship! When the musician behind the Pipe Organ plays a skilful toccata, it is a pleasurable experience! When the Genevan Psalms are delivered with texture and grace, it is undoubtedly enjoyable. A congregation singing hymns with a full heart is a great thing. Get the point? It is all entertaining! And it should be! But it is simply the by-product of God’s people doing together what they do best: worshipping Him with all their heart!

But there’s more to it, isn’t there? Vocalists may lose sight of this true worship, and go for “the groove”. The bass player may get carried away and dominate the sound. The whole music team, in fact, may lose sight of the reality that they are not there for themselves, but to lead the congregation in worship of the Living God. When this happens, entertainment – or more properly, amusement – has taken over. This is also the case when the organist totally dominates and is more interested in showing skill than leading the people (and most of us have heard this form of “entertainment” as well!). With such worship God is not pleased. It is a trampling of His courts and an abuse of the body of Christ.

So how can we avoid amusement but still give pleasure to the Lord and to His people? It certainly will not happen by simplistically following traditional or contemporary forms. The answer is to examine our own heart as we worship. It is for music teams and instrumentalists (organists included) to come before the Lord and pray that their gifts may honour the living God, and assist people in true worship. It is for preachers, leaders and sessions to educate people as to the true ingredients of worship: humility, gratitude, submission (including preaching), celebration and confession. John Frame says “The people will be directed to expect, not mere amusement or admirable leaders, but the blessing of fellowship with the living God. If that happens in a service, the result will be something much greater than entertainment, and it won’t much matter that some entertaining things have happened in the course of the service.”

Contemporary style, traditional style, or a blend of the two do not, in and of themselves, make worship mere entertainment. Worship becomes mere amusement when people’s motives are not right. True worship is not equated with one style or another. It flows from the heart of saved sinners overflowing with praise for the grace of the Gospel, and the Lord who reveals it. It is impossible that such praise should not give pleasure to those who bring it.

An excellent resource: John M Frame, “Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense”, P&R, 1997
 

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