Worshipping without an Audience

When the worship band plays, the congregation is not an audience.  A book I've flipped through called "Sacred Space" discusses the various arrangements of (sacred) spaces and what the arrangement suggests about the intended purpose and activity that takes place in the space.

It's so easy today with the common arrangement with the worship leaders/band up front, facing the congregation of worshippers, to fall into the mindset that what we have here are performers with an audience.  (Even I, as I was praying for my worship-leading friend just now, caught myself calling the congregation the "audience".)

au·di·ence

ˈôdēəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting.

It's just too easy.  Maybe a better configuration would be sitting in a circle, or sprawled out like in someone's living room, and the person leading the worship activity (commonly music) could be anywhere convenient.

The congregation is not an audience, because the point of the activity of worship is engaging with the Lord, and that means everyone, not just a few people up front.  We all as a body lift our voices to the Lord and remember His worth and goodness and faithfulness, and no one is to be passive or left out.  

Hence, worship is not a spectator sport.

spec·ta·tor sport

noun

1. 1.

   a sport that many people find entertaining to watch.

Some people may, in fact, find worship entertaining to watch, but it is not a sport, according to my research.

sport

spôrt/

noun

1. 1.

   an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

...Yeah, the competition element is lacking.  



(At least, it's not really supposed to be there...)



I should correct my title, though, because we do always worship with an audience of at least 1.

-His love is FOR us-

I was doing some reflecting on the verse Zephaniah 3:17...

"The Lord your God is with you he is might to save. He will take great delight in you he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

...and I started to imagine being a parent of a baby, and what I would sing over him/her/my child...

 [Before you read on, try it for a moment-- imagine singing over your baby, whether you have one or not.  Just please try doing it for yourself before you read on-- it will make more sense that way.]

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 I came up with stuff along the lines of:

{Sung:}"Oh sweet child You're mine! You're perfect, I would not change a thing About you... You are beautiful, You're mine forever, And I am yours... I would give my life for you, If you were ever in trouble, I'd come running... I would be there in an instant. If anyone tried to harm you, I would beat them down..."

...I would be very protective as a parent. What I mean is, I wouldn't take crap from anyone who put my kid down, slandered, or slimed them. Do not mess with my kid. You will answer to me. I really believe that God doesn't tolerate his Kids getting kicked around. His love burns so hot for you, that when you get put down and treated wrongly, He will not let that go.  He is the Lion of Judah, and his love rages for you.