Worship Notes
Authentic. That’s the Merriam-Webster 2023 Word of the Year. When this piece of click-bait appeared on social media, I couldn’t resist doing exactly what it wanted me to do – I clicked and found myself reading an article on Smithsonian Magazine with the following subhead: “As technology’s ability to manipulate reality improves, we’re all searching for the truth.” [1] It’s a stunning admission. The world is tired of the phony and the fake. We long for what is real, genuine, and authentic.
Years ago, when I wrote about worship on our website (it’s still there), I included this paragraph: “When we talk about worship, we prefer to use words like genuine, authentic, lifestyle, and multigenerational. Worship is so much more than music — it is a lifestyle of service to God that involves genuine love for our Savior and an authentic response to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.”
If we want to change the world for Christ, we need authentic worship. Authentic worship can happen in any church, regardless of what music is sung or whether the church is filled with the pipes of an organ or the strings of guitars. Authentic worship can happen under the highest ceiling of the great European cathedrals or under the shade of a tree in the impoverished lands of Africa. The deciding factor is us. Will we, as believers, choose to be honest and real in worship? Will we worship together in joy, sorrow, hurt, pain, fear, frustration, or any other emotion we might be having? We know David did. Beyond our time of gathered worship on Sunday morning, will we be fully surrendered to live life as faithful, committed followers of Jesus Christ?
I’m convinced that, as our world seems darker and more confused, two things will be bright beacons of light to our lost world – the daily, committed, living-out of our faith, and genuine, authentic gathered worship.
It’s up to us. Will we be faithful? Will we sing His praise because God has commanded us? Will we watch and pray? Will we learn from, and respond to His Word? Will we do it all because we love the Lord and truly believe what he says? That is authenticity, and the world is literally dying to find it.
Don’t know one of the songs we’re singing tomorrow? Check them out here:
The Solid Rock
https://youtu.be/GswGE6rQhmE?si=rfkHmRY_V8nE_r39
This I Believe
https://youtu.be/uuDI-sk2nJU?si=mCah_r8E-b-uT6d0
Living Hope
https://youtu.be/9f2FXxDVO6w?si=uDer2OVQ-WQEf65u
[1] Teresa Nowakowski, “Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year is ‘Authentic,’” Smithsonian Magazine, Accessed 22 Dec 2023, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-merriam-websters-2023-word-of-the-year-is-authentic-180983329/#:~:text=“Although%20clearly%20a%20desirable%20quality,let%20their%20true%20selves%20shine.