THE IMPORTANCE OF A PERSONAL WORSHIP TIME:
(Personally vs. Corporately)
We must realize that the dynamic of corporate worship is different from personal worship. In fact, corporate worship should in part, spring out of personal worship.
A personal worship experience contains primarily a vertical interaction between the worshiper and God. This allows for more personally expressive thoughts, promises and commitments, and therefore the use of personal phrases and words.
The shift to corporate worship adds two new dynamics to the personal experience – 1) thehorizontal dimension where believers interact with each other, and 2) the internalizing dimension where we receive teaching and internalize the truths that become the basis of our faith. 1) The horizontal dimension is fulfilled through the use of songs and words of testimony (which spring out of personal worship), and tools of admonishment, encouragement, self-examination, etc. 2) The internalizing dimension fosters the need for songs that teach truth, engage the mind, focus on God's faithfulness, teach of his character, etc. The addition of the horizontal and internal dimensions for corporate worship must be met with songs, texts, prayers, creeds and liturgies that address these opportunities and needs. Again, with these must be the appropriate, relevant and varied expressions of worship music.
The important thing to remember is that corporate worship (both horizontal and internal) is birthed out of our personal experiences with God. Anything else causes only an emotional response (if any at all) without deepening an already existing relationship.
No comments:
Post a Comment