John Wm. Roberts, ED.D., Contributing Writer
Director of Music/Principal Musician
Lee Chapel AME Church Auburn, Alabama, Ninth Episcopal District
In February, I had the opportunity to make a presentation entitled Music in The African American Church to the congregation of Waterloo First United Methodist Church, Waterloo, Iowa, where I now reside. As the presentation progressed, it became a presentation focused on why and how we worship. I asked the question, “Why have we become, in many instances, so constrained in the way we worship God? Are we worried about what someone will say if we shed a tear when a song brings a memory to mind? Are we worried what the reaction will be if we say ‘Amen’ or clap our hands or stand on our feet in affirmation of God’s worship music or message?” For many, the answer to these questions is “Yes.”
Why do we worship God? The answer for each is individual; however, collectively, it should be about reaffirming God’s presence in our lives, His blessings he continues to bestow on each of us, even when undeserved, and the comfort in knowing, no matter what has happened, is happening, or will happen, God has us cloaked in His grace, love, and forgiveness.
How we worship is dictated, to a degree, by denomination. It should not be. As I told the participants, our religion should be experiential, not ritual. No matter what the denomination, if the spirit moves within your heart and spirit, let it move you in whatever way makes you feel closer to God. God does not compartmentalize how He loves us, forgives us, and nurtures us, so why do we compartmentalize the way we worship Him. When attending sporting events, we are never shy in showing our enthusiasm for the team, the coaches, and the players. Why do we constrain ourselves when in the house of worship? We should always be loud when giving God praise.
Why have we compartmentalized the amount of time designated to worship God? Does God not bless us 24 hours each day of our lives? Why do we only give God one or two hours, at most, to praise God? Why is it that we relegate our praise to Sunday? As the music in the church is experiential, so should worship. Two songs come to mind: Everyday Is A Day of Thanksgiving and I Need Thee Every Hour. If the words are a true indication of our thankfulness and dedication to God, why do we begrudge spending an hour or two worshipping and praising his name? Why do we not praise Him with all the enthusiasm we display during sporting events? God is with us 24 hours of each day! Why should we not take the time to praise Him any hour of any day?
Why do we worship God, and how do we worship God? Each of us has to look inward to search our hearts and souls for the answer. Do we continue to bend to society’s changing forms of worship acceptance or praise God with exuberance, reverence, and joy? When we truly know our “Why,” we can change “How.”
