Somewhere over the last several decades, large portions of the Evangelical and Charismatic world merged two powerful movements together that had an effect on how the church world thinks of worship.
The Charismatic movement helped restore expressive worship with Biblical manifestations such as joy, celebration, shouting, singing, clapping, contemporary musical instruments, new songs, and freedom in the Spirit.
At the same time, the church growth movement recognized that contemporary worship attracted crowds. Soon, worship gatherings increasingly became built around production quality of the worship experience, emotional momentum, and musical excellence designed to draw people into buildings for events.
Many of these things were genuinely needed restorations. But over time, like any good thing, they can become bad things if the focus/emphasis drifts towards the wrong things. Dependence upon technological, musical experiences and atmospheres to worship God is an unhealthy drift. Eventually, the corporate “worship experience” can become central.
Today, entire churches feel dependent upon:
- smoke machines,
- stage lighting,
- emotional musical builds,
- massive screens with beautiful background imagery,
- polished bands,
- and highly curated environments.
None of these things are inherently sinful. The danger comes when these things become necessary for people to feel close to God in order to worship Him. This is not Biblical worship.
Biblical worship among God’s people is fundamentally about honoring God with the expressions He designed, reverencing God, and surrendering to God in every area of life. Yet, many of God’s people today struggle to worship unless:
- the music is excellent,
- the atmosphere feels right,
- emotions are stirred,
- or the environment is carefully cultivated.
The Early Church Impacted the World through their Worship and Allegiance to Jesus.
- Acts 17:6-7 And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brothers before the city judges, crying, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too, (7) whom Jason has received. And these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
Remember that early church made a worldwide impact without sound systems, digital excellence, giant screens, or celebrity worship teams. They had something much more important, God Himself who “seeks those who worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24), and who “inhabits the praises of His people” (Psalms 22:3).
Breaking the Allure of Worshiptainment
I believe A.W. Tozer prophetically saw something years ago that is very descriptive of our days when he said:
“The church that can’t worship must be entertained. And leaders who can’t lead a church to worship must provide the entertainment.” Tozer
I remember a conversation I had with a young man who grew up in a church we were involved with. He was a very talented musician. He went through a season of time in which he embraced aspects of what I call the “Worshiptainment Industry” in which the idea of “ministry” means promoting and advancing the influence of your gifting, rather than what the Biblical understanding of the word means, “servanthood/helping” God’s family.
He ended up moving to New York and became a hired “worship musician” at a mega church. He didn’t even belong to that church, and was drifting away from God, yet on Sundays was ushered into the green room, where he was provided food and drinks until the service started, and he and others went out to perform. It was a celebrity status and he and the other members of the “worship team” enjoyed the limelight and financial compensation. Thankfully, God dealt with him through personal circumstances and he returned to become a servant/fellow family member in God’s house who no longer “performes” but serves God and His people. Check out the interview by clicking here.
Getting Rid of Golden Calf of Worshiptainment
While Moses was on the mountain encountering God face to face (Biblical Worship), the people below grew impatient and demanded a form of worship that was familiar, visible, and entertaining. Rather than leading them into deeper sacrifice, trust and obedience, Aaron yielded to their pressure and fashioned a golden calf, an image rooted in the idolatrous culture they had known in Egypt (Exodus 32). What was intended to be worship quickly became a man-centered religious spectacle marked by self-indulgence, emotional excitement, and compromise.
The Church today must be careful not to repeat Aaron’s mistake by creating a modern golden calf of “worshiptainment,” designing gatherings around what people desire which moves them rather than what God desires. When entertainment, performance, and consumer preferences become the focus, worship can drift from the holy presence of God to the gratification of man.
Just as Moses destroyed the golden calf and called God’s people back to covenant faithfulness, “worship leaders” and God’s people must be willing to tear down the idol of worshiptainment and return to worship that is centered on God’s presence, God’s glory, and wholehearted obedience to Him.
How, confront idols we have fashioned to satisfy human desires. The golden calf was not merely a false object; it represented the people’s attempt to worship on their own terms rather than God’s. Aaron gave them a form of worship that reflected the culture they had left behind instead of the God who had redeemed them.
Leaders must resist the pressure to give people what they want and instead shepherd them toward what God desires and has designed. Gatherings must become less about satisfying consumers who “feel God” and more about making disciples who worship Him. May we lead God’s people to value prayer and “the fruit of our lips giving thanks” as much as excellent music.
The answer is not to eliminate creativity, excellence, or joyful worship, but to ensure that these things serve God’s presence rather than replace it.
Like Moses grinding the calf to powder and calling Israel back to covenant loyalty, the Church must be willing to pursue God and His greatness, and praise and worship Him in light of who He is.
The cure for worshiptainment is not less worship but deeper worship, worship that flows from hearts captivated by God’s glory rather than entertained by religious activity. When God’s greatness, His presence, and honoring Him the way He desires becomes our highest pursuit, the golden calves of worshiptainment lose their appeal.
Here is a great song written in the past about the heart of worship that would be good to get into your head and heart, click here.