Worship & the Visitor

Written By: Gerrit Gustafson

He put a new song in my heart... many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Ps. 40:3

Worship is a wonderful experience for those who are vitally connected to God, but what about for those who are just getting started with God?  How should we do worship in the presence of these who are just beginning?

An American church planting pastor in Japan told me this story.  Two Japanese, who had never had any previous contact with Christianity, came into a tiny Christian gathering.  The worship that day, he said, was especially good.  After the meeting, the two visitors eagerly approached the pastor with this question:  "When you were singing those songs, we felt something.  Was that God?"  The pastor was able to explain how God dwells in the praises of His people and how they could know Him personally.

The Universal Itch
People are looking for spiritual reality. In previous decades, a secular rationalism created antagonism toward spiritual expression.  Currently however there is a broad reaction to that worldview and an unabashed hunger for spiritual experience. For the most part, however, the Church is surprisingly uncomfortable with its transcendent nature. 

In his book entitled The Contemporary Christian, John Stott makes this observation:
This quest for transcendence is a challenge to the quality of the church's public worship.  Does it offer what people are craving -- the element of mystery... in biblical language 'the fear of God'... in modern language 'transcendence'?  My answer to my own question is 'Not often'. The church is not always conspicuous for the profound reality of its worship... No wonder those seeking Reality often pass us by!

We shouldn't assume that the visitor has no capacity to comprehend spiritual phenomenon.  After all, each one is made in the image of God, and, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has "set eternity in the hearts of men."  The worship experience corresponds to that universal "itch."  That explains the findings of the Hartford Institute’s research into American faith communities: "vibrant worship is at the heart of church growth."

Let's look at some principles of how animated worship can help us in our groups and congregations communicate the Christian life to visitors.

Principle #1 - Worship Gives a Picture of Kingdom Life
A man I met at a conference told me this story.  At a time in his life when he was far from God, he was hurrying through a hotel lobby and happened to catch in the corner of his eye a television broadcast of a large gathering of people worshiping.  Less than a minute later, he stopped in his tracks, went back to the TV and watched intently through his tears, knowing that God was drawing him back.  God apprehended this man through a picture of worship.

Jesus said that loving God totally and wholeheartedly is the greatest commandment (Mark 12:30).  Our Christian meetings should be living pictures of the society of those who have exchanged self-centered living for God-centered living.  The act of corporate worship beautifully demonstrates this new life style where God is the center.  The visitor needs such a picture.

Principle #2 -- Mean what you sing and sing what you mean
The biggest hindrance to visitors is not that they encounter something they don't immediately understand; it's encountering something that is not genuine.  Mahatma Ghandi, after several years of studying in London, said he would have become a Christian if he had ever met one.  Whatever version of Christianity he saw, he didn't see the real thing.

One study concluded that 55% of all communication is nonverbal.  The visitor is not just listening to what you say.  Consciously or unconsciously, he is intuitively observing how connected you and your group really are with what you espouse.  He's looking for emotional and intellectual honesty, depth of conviction, and heartfelt compassion.  How we worship reflects these things more than we know.

The discipline for worship leaders and worshipers to learn is to mean what you sing and sing what you mean.  This will affect not only what you sing, but how you sing it.  Worship leaders, choose songs that are appropriate to your group's experience -- there's no place for meaningless expression.  And learn the songs so well that they are literally part of you.  Then when you lead, the songs will effortlessly spring out of your hearts.

Also, work on making natural transitions between songs and between the segments of your meetings.  It's like taking a tour through various rooms in a house.  Brief explanations along the way will help the visitor know that you want him to be part of the tour.

Principle #3 -- One Size Does Not Fit All
A healthy church usually has both congregational meetings and small group meetings. What I love about small group meetings is how flexible they can be.  People who come to our meetings will be at many different levels of spiritual experience. And since the Holy Spirit knows and loves each one so deeply, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is the best thing you can do for the visitor.

Sometimes we may sing songs that are more joyful; other times, the songs may be more thoughtful and reverent.  Sometimes we'll sing one or two songs; other times, four or five, or maybe none at all.  To some, Jesus revealed mysteries; to others he veiled his message.  In the same way, we need to discern the level of hunger among those who are visiting.

Do unto others...
Why is it so important to me that we not try to hide our worship from the visitor?  It's because I was once the visitor, as you probably were too.  I can still remember that meeting in Tallahasse, Florida in 1968 when I saw people abandoned to God in worship.  Like the Queen of Sheba when she was the visitor observing Israel's worship (II Chron. 9:4), I was "breathless."  I'll really never be the same.

Don't you think that those who visit us should be given the same privilege?

Points to Remember
•     People don't just want an explanation; they want an experience.
•     Worship corresponds to people's deep desire for spiritual reality.
•     Worship gives a picture of kingdom life.
•     Sing what you mean and mean what you sing.
•     Learn songs so well that they flow out of you effortlessly.
•     Smooth transitions between songs and between segments of your meeting make it all more convincing.
•     Brief explanations help the visitor feel a part.
•     Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is the best thing you can do for the visitor.

InterVarsity Press, 1992, pg. 223

The FACT (Faith Communities Today) report was conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and funded by the Lily Endowment.  (See http://fact.hartsem.edu)

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