Avoiding Complacency in Worship

My church is just coming into a more contemporary style of musical worship. Having been the music director at this church for many years I have seen that new ideas and programs need to be instituted every so often to keep boredom and complacency from setting in. What will I do in a few years when the newness of these contemporary worship songs is gone?

Today’s praise and worship movement has at least a couple of inherent safeguards built into it. First, the song selection is consistently being renewed. New songs are being written regularly and are added to the church repertoire. Even the style of music is “evolving” to be current with trends in society. These things will continue, making praise and worship songs less of a “program” and more of a constantly renewed resource.

Beyond this, praise and worship is ultimately not just a Sunday morning experience. It must become part of the everyday life of believers to be valid.

It is very obvious that a life full of worship and praise has tremendous impact on our daily struggles. Even in the midst of major trials, David, the psalmist, consistently set his heart to worship God throughout his life. As a result he repeatedly saw the Lord’s power and victory.

Paul and Silas sang praises to God while in prison (Acts 16:25). That was certainly not a corporate, Sunday morning gathering. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “…let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His Name” (Hebrews 13:15). “Continually” does not mean “just in the church building when everyone else is there.” Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the LORD at all times.” There is no addendum to that statement that says, “…but mostly on Sunday morning.” You get the picture.

Our worship and praise of almighty God must go way beyond the Sunday morning singing experience. When our focus is on the Lord throughout the week, focusing on Him on Sunday morning will be almost automatic. When praise and worship becomes a part of life for the believers we will no longer need to worry about another new fad to keep them interested. God is never dull. If their main point of focus is Him, they won’t become bored.

One other note: don’t forget to pray and seek the Lord for your church and your area of ministry. God is far more than a program. He has promised to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and He said that He will build His church (Matthew 16:18). Trust His promises and keep following Him.