Worship Response

Republished here with author’s permission.

Six Levels of Worship Response

Dr. Steve Hamrick, D.W.S.

Planning a worship experience for a congregation can be quite a challenge for a worship leader. While some still pick their three favorite songs immediately before a service, many leaders consider dozens of factors which may increase congregational participation such as the scriptural context, theme, familiarity of the music, performance keys, appropriate instrumentation, style balance, and the maturity of the congregation, among others. One thing that makes crafting a liturgy (order of worship) difficult is that the congregation is so diverse. Each person has different backgrounds, contexts, interests, and maturity.

The purpose of this article is not to label and classify people in our congregation. The purpose of recognizing these various levels of participation is so we, as pastors and leaders, can help people understand there is more to worship than singing a few songs and listening to a sermon. The leaders set the environment for worship to happen, but none of us can make someone else worship. The Holy Spirit does that.

People worship on various identified levels. There are probably a lot of other sub-levels not included below. These levels are fluid. One week (or moment) we can be on one level and the next be on another. They are listed progressively but people certainly skip levels in a given corporate worship service. It is the job of the pastor and worship leader to encourage the congregation to mature to a deeper level of response.

How can we help our congregation (or ourselves) move to a deeper level? If worship happens when the believer responds to God’s revelation, then one way to mature is to realize that God intended us to participate in worship, both personally and corporately. There are many Scriptures that tell us to worship together, shout joyfully, sing, pray, bow down, kneel, raise hands, dance, read Scripture, and even eat together. A second step in moving deeper is to acknowledge that worship should be measured by obedience. If obedience in the Christian life is not demonstrated, then we have only experienced ritual. The third step is to understand that maturation in worship is a process of discipleship. The more our fellowship with Christ grows, the deeper we respond to him. It is obvious that in a corporate worship experience there will likely be people of every level of worshiper, from the lost to the most mature believer.

Here are 6 levels that I have identified:

1. An indifferent response is denoted by a lack of physical presence and no noticeable participation. The second verse of the hymn We’re marching to Zion explains with the words, “Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God.” Our level of response is dependent on how well we know God. People respond indifferently for many reasons.
   1. Unsaved or seeker: Those who have no relationship with Christ have no reason to respond in joyful celebration to God. This could include both the churched and the non-churched.
   2. The self-conscience. Some believe that they cannot sing, so they do not. Others have legitimate physical issues that cause them not to respond verbally. Shyness can also be a factor.
   3. The angry. Those who are dealing with personal conflict with the church sometimes based on worship style preference.
   4. The Stoic. There is also room here for those who are actually worshiping in the minds but there is no outward, physical symptom of participation. The real evaluation here is not with outward appearance but the Christian fruits they display.

Possible solutions: As the leader builds a relationship with those who don’t respond outwardly, ask them a question like this, “I notice you sometimes don’t participate much on the outside when we worship together. Can you tell me your story about this?”[1] It is a non-threatening way to begin a conversation. The worship leader can respond accordingly.

 

2. A banal response is characterized by those singing or participating by rote, but with the mind disengaged or disingenuous. Since we cannot see what is happening in the mind and heart of others, we cannot really determine by observation if someone is worshiping on this level, but many will admit it if confronted. (Face it, all of us, even worship leaders respond on this level on occasion.) This banal response can be caused by:
   1. Over-repetition of liturgy: When a song becomes too familiar, we can sing it without considering the meaning of the text. We can participate by habit. Those who attend churches that use a common lectionary may unintentionally respond by rote.
   2. Immature motives: Some attend church for reasons other than worship. Some may come because of tradition. Others may attend to make some good business deals. Some attend because church for social reasons. Almost any reason is a good reason to attend church because you will be exposed to the Word of God, however, until there is spiritual growth, the worship response is generally shallow.
   3. Boredom: Boredom and ritual can replace joyous celebration. Some in our church are bored and exhibit banal behavior by spending the service on their cell phones reading social media or drawing on their bulletin. Sometimes this problem is made worse by poor worship planning by leaders. Those who plan worship need to constantly consider ways to involve the congregation in response.
   4. Subterranean motives: Unfortunately, there are those who attend corporate worship to seek attention for themselves. The Pharisees are described as those who go through the motions of worship but have ill intentions as described in Mat 15:8 and Luke 20:45-47 to 2:1-4, where the worshipers are more interested in making self-righteousness known to men. Not any better are those who love the acts of worship more than the one we worship. I have been guilty many times of loving a chord progression or guitar lick more than the text of a song. Be careful not to love songs more than the Savior.

 

3. A primary or elemental In my estimation, this is the level upon which most believers worship. While on this level, worshipers participate and reflect upon the expression of words and actions contained in the songs, Scripture, and message. The beauty of worship is appreciated. There is legitimate thanksgiving and vocal praise offered. Affirmation of the word is voiced. However, there is little application from the worship experience. Worship ends at the conclusion of the corporate time.
   1. Most common: This is the level at which most people likely worship.
   2. Temporary: This level of worship generally ends when the service is over. It may be described as getting our “church on,” being “fed,” or receiving my “God fix.” People who worship on this level are like those James described as those who forget what they look like immediately after looking in a mirror (James 1:23). They are hearers of the words but likely not doers of the word.

 

4. An applicational response happens as the believer applies the revelation of God’s word as measured by obedience and discipleship. This is the level where corporate and personal worship intersect. The idea is that worship is “to be continued.”[2] First, we plan to return again (corporately) to continue to tell and retell story of redemption. Secondly, the lifestyle of worship continues as we leave the building and step into the world. Romans 12:1 reminds us that our spiritual worship is a living sacrifice. “In view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” True worship then is not just the acts of worship but continues with obedience to Christ.

To worship on this level, you must first hear from God through his word before you can make application. When we come into God’s presence, he speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is at work in at least 3 ways regarding worship; through the conviction of sin, through the interpretation of God’s word, and through guidance in our Christian service. Without the Holy Spirit guiding, worship is only ritual. There is incompatibility when a sinful believer comes into the presence of a Holy God. Geoffrey Bromiley said, “The confession of sin is at the heart of worship, for as the worthiness of God is exalted, the unworthiness of man demands acknowledgement.”[3] Confession of sin is essential for a continued worship dialogue, yet in many modern models of worship, the opportunity for confession is not even mentioned.

1. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin before he speaks
   1. Exodus 3: Moses finds himself in God’s presence. He recognizes his sin, (takes off his shoes) then God tells him how to apply this experience to his life.
   2. Isaiah 6. Isaiah is initiated into God’s presence and quickly recognizes his sin. Confession is made then God speaks, giving Isaiah his assignment.
2. The Holy Spirit interprets the message
   1. He may reveal an area of our life that needs to be more Christlike
   2. He may give us a clear calling or task or comfort us during trials.
   3. He may speak to us through the music, prayers, sermon and other elements of corporate worship. During the in-between times, He may speak to us through other believers, life circumstances, and by guiding us throughout the week.
   4. The Holy Spirit prompts us in service.
      1. Seeing God work is our invitation to get involved
      2. The Holy Spirit travels before us preparing our service
      3. The Holy Spirit draws people to himself. John 6:44a says, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

 

5. A transported response occurs when the worshiper is spiritually taken before the throne of God. I often heard preachers use the phrase “let’s worship before the throne” but it took me many years to partially understand it. In some of the examples, such as Elijah and Enoch, it was a physical (and permanent) transportation. For others, like Isaiah or John we are unsure whether physical or spiritual. Paul also mentions in 2 Cor 12:1-5a about believer who was caught up by the spirit to paradise. While these are certainly not everyday occurrences, the concept still has modern day worship application.

Just as our prayers are lifted to the throne where Jesus mediates between us and God, so may our worship.[4] John 4:24 tells us our worship must be in “spirit and truth.” Romans 8:16 says that “the Holy Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” When we authentically worship God, it involves both the physical and spiritual. So how does transportation happen for us? It occurs when the believer, who is right before God, becomes so focused on the character of God, that the cares of life are temporarily passed away. When God reveals his character to us through his word, song, or action and we respond with all our heart, we are no longer thinking about our the style of the music or the things of the world. For this moment of worship, it is our voice as part of the larger congregation, praising God with the heavenly congregation around the throne as described in Revelation 7:9. Transported worship encompasses much more the just ourselves.

 

An example of this happened recently. I was part of a prison ministry where because of a lack of seats, the prisoners stood for two hours of worship. The Holy Spirit’s presence was very active in the lives of both the worship leaders and congregation. To make a long and remarkable story short, at the end of the two-hour service, I asked one of the prisoners how he was able to stand and worship for so long without complaining. His reply helped me realize what a transported worship response was. He said, “When we come together to worship our Savior, we are at that moment, no longer bound by prison bars, strict rules, bossy guards, or bad food. We are at the feet of Jesus.” I realized immediately that he was talking about a spiritual transportation. It is true, when the corporate worship was over, the bars and rules were still there, but for that time, they (we) were standing at the throne in worship. I ask myself why that doesn’t happen more often in our local church? There are probably many reasons, but I believe the prisoners were desperate for God and needed His touch. Many had confessed their sins and were expecting to see God move. They were hungry to be together to worship out loud.

 

6. Martyrdom is the giving of one’s last full measure of devotion in life or through death. The term martyrdom conjures a picture of the murdered saints from the first through fourth centuries, who were physically tortured to death as mentioned in Acts with Stephen or in Hebrews 11:35-38. But all Christians are called to die for Christ. Living for Christ means spiritually dying with Christ. Gal 2:20 says. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As a believer the Bible tells us that we will suffer various levels of suffering for the Gospel. II Cor 4:8-12 says, “⁸We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.” Know that each metaphor refers to the struggle of a gladiator or soldier. And each is progressively more serious than the one before.

II Cor 4:16-18 sums up lifestyle worship. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Whether in life or death, our ultimate level of worship is to serve him in daily obedience.

 Conclusion: In our modern, western culture, I would hypothesize that it might be harder to live daily for Christ than die for him. How can we help our church members and ourselves worship at a deeper level? Here are six things to consider:

1. Make disciples as described in Matthew 28. Leaders are called to make disciples. While making disciples is difficult in one hour of corporate worship per week, look for opportunities to help the congregation mature in their faith. Start with building discipleship into all small groups. If you are a worship leader, take advantage of rehearsal time to shepherd your group. Mentor at least one person at a deeper level. We might not be able to make a huge difference for all, but we can make a huge difference for some.
2. Teach and educate your congregation that there is more to worship than just attending. Help them understand that corporate worship is about participation and growth and not just observation.
3. Offer the congregation opportunities to respond. Intentionally plan worship for the congregation to participate in singing, praying, giving testimony, and reading Scripture together (I Tim 4:13). Remember you are not planning a concert followed by a Ted Talk.
4. Consider how to better plan corporate worship. You can’t force someone to worship, but you can create a worshipful atmosphere. Evaluate your corporate order of worship. Are you using too many unfamiliar songs (leads to frustration to participate)? Are you using too many overly familiar songs (leads to boredom)? Are the congregational songs singable? Does your lighting help or hinder participation? Are you working hard to keep worshipers active? Does your worship flow and transitions help keep people connected? Should you tweak your physical space? Do people sit alone? These are all factors that affect participation.
5. Preach/Lead worship with the intention of application. Are you preaching with the intention of application and transformation, or are you teaching Biblical trivial pursuit? Ensure that the theology of the music is properly vetted. On a long-term scale, does the preaching and music tell the metanarrative (the whole redemptive story of Christ)?
6. Demonstrate to the congregation a higher personal level of worship response. We can never effectively lead someone to a place we have never been. Are you demonstrating worship on a high level yourself? Can you evaluate which level you most often hover upon most often? What will it take for you to deepen your worship level?

[1] Asking this question to many people through the years is how I identified common responses of lost, self-conscience, stoic, and angry. I am sure that there are many additional reasons why people don’t respond outwardly during corporate worship.

[2] F. Russell Mitman, Worship in the Shape of Scripture (Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2001), 46. Mitman coins the term “to be continued” regarding the continuality of worship.

[3] Geoffrey W. Bromiley, “Confession of Sin,” in The Biblical Foundations of Christian Worship vol.1 of The Complete Library of Christian Worship, ed. by Robert E. Webber (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1993), 107.

[4] Rom 8:31; I Tim 2:4-5.