Have you ever read A.W. Tozer? I've never heard him preach because he died when I was seven and I'm just not telling when that was! But I've read some of his books. One in particular comes to mind - "Whatever happened to worship". In his typical direct and confrontational style, Tozer remarks that the church is rich and has need of nothing! The implication of this conclusion is that worship has been badly affected by the attitude of our hearts. If we conclude, as we approach God, that we have (already) everything we need, that we lack nothing, then there will be an impact on worship. After all, why would you worship someone or something if you had no need of anything!?
Over the years I have noticed worship change among the churches in the West! It's not just the songs we sing and the style of the songs we sing; it's not just the theology of the songs we sing; it's not just the phrasing and musicology of the songs we sing. Something has affected worship and I'm just going to wonder out aloud so that my comments might be a catalyst for thought and prayer.
I've noticed that most Christians want something for themselves out of worship now. As a boy I can remember being told that worship was for God not man! It is something we offer to Him with no thought for ourselves. Despite how we feel, we come together and declare His goodness and His praises. It's what we do!! If we "get something out of it" that's fine, but that's not our focus. I don't see that now as a key thought process among modern believers. It seems as though there is an implicit demand among believers now that worship is for them. Maybe that's harsh!? Let me re-phrase. There seems to be an implicit demand among believers is for them and God! Does that sound better? Actually I still think I was right the first time!
I've also noticed among Christians that real worship never occurs until the worshipper is free not to! You've probably heard of this before. Liturgy is regarded as a dirty word by modern believers, but it simply means, "the many acting together." But what do we gain by obliging everyone to act/sing/pray etc together if they are not "in heart" together? If we only worship when we are obliged to; when we feel like it; or when the music 'takes us', then our outward expressions are put into a right perspective - they are only outward expression and we know that these are no replacement for what comes from the heart. Is it possible for someone to stand up the front with hands raised etc but only to be doing so as a front? Yet, real worship comes from....well, where does it come from?
I've noticed among Christians, that there is confusion about where worship comes from within us? What is it that draws us to worship if it's not the music? I have come to the conclusion that worship is actually a response to stimulus. I remember as a boy standing in the playground at school and a guy coming up behind me and giving me a "dead leg." Ouch! I decided to chase him and catch him, but when I turned to run, my leg wouldn't work properly! So I yelled out "you won't get away with this!!!" A response to stimulus! Simple! We worship God because He saved us. When you realize that and you want to make a response - worship is that response. Not singing a song necessarily - making a deliberate, thoughtful response (usually gratitude) to God as a response to the stimulus of His gracious act towards you. If you don't 'get' the stimulus, you don't get worship! You do get some outward forms which we assume to be worship. If you don't get the stimulus then worship is like giving the eulogy for a guy you've never met!
Tozer maintains that we in the Western Church have come to the conclusion that we have everything we need and this belief is really affecting our worship. It is past time for us to come in repentance towards God because do actually need Him - He is our life! Have we forgotten that we are saved by His gracious act? Do we need to see afresh what He has done for us? Have we forgotten that worship is not something I can fake or warm up to, but a response I am making to that gracious act on my behalf? For all these reasons I am concerned that we are not sure where worship is going, but on the up-side, this is also the time when I think a re-invention of worship among Western followers of Jesus is about to happen. I would favour a simplification - let us bring worship down to its true motivation - the grace-act of Jesus!