This May Be What’s Missing in Your Worship Experience

Many times I have heard my wife say, “Hmmm, something is missing,” as she held a spoon to her lips from a pan cooking some of her delectable goodies.

She would go to the cupboard, put a dash of spice into the pan and taste again, after giving the pot a good stir. It may need a bit more spice, or she might nod her head in agreement it was just right.

“Oh, taste and see,” King David encourages, “that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).

It is interesting that God placed in our spirit the same five senses He created in the human body?

They are the gifts of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing, enabling the human race to live in relationship with God’s creation.

Those same sensors enable the human race to live in relationship with the spirit realm. When animated by the Holy Spirit, a person can enjoy the beauty, fragrance and nearness of God’s presence.

Awareness of an evil presence or the discernment of a demonic spirit may also be realized through the same senses.

The psalmist is encouraging us to “taste and see” the goodness of our God.

When reading a Christian novel, watching a Christian program, listening to Christian music or participating in a Christian worship celebration, the spiritual senses should experience the character and the nature of God.

The individual should taste the flavor of His holiness, see the beauty of His radiance, smell the fragrance of His love, experience the weight of His glory, and hear the call of His mercy and grace.

The worship experience in church culture today tastes too much like flesh.

Many congregations have current rock ‘n’ roll hits playing as people come into the worship center. Some will even use them in the worship celebration.

How does that bring the taste of Heaven or the manifestation of God’s presence?

How else can you explain a worship song to the Living God calling for a “sloppy wet kiss?”

The worship celebration has the appearance of a rock performance: ceiling painted black, lights off, spotlights on the musicians and singers.

The entire focus is on the stage and far too many of the “worshippers” are watching the performance instead of being captured by the beauty of God’s presence.

It is common to see a good number of people engaged in conversation with one another and even laughing at what the neighbor has just said, instead of listening to the voice of God’s call on their heart through the worship experience.

Shouts and clapping are commonly expressed and emotions are stirred by the music.

When tasting the church today, I find myself asking, like my wife, “Hmmm, what is missing?”

The missing spice is found in the cupboard containing “the fear of the Lord” and the overwhelming presence of Holy Spirit gripping hearts.

That will only happen when the purpose and mission of the music in the house of the Lord is restored to its rightful place.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.”

4 Things the Church Must Do To Refocus Worship

1. Take the focus off the performance and the augmentation of a particular style of music.

2. Make a conscious effort at calling the worshippers to focus their thoughts and their attention to the presence of God.

3. Wait on Him.

4. Seek Him with all your heart!

When the congregants are again tasting and seeing the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory, instead of the fleshly performance of singers and musicians, hearts will again be drawn to the altar and life-transforming experiences will be had with Almighty God. {eoa}

Dr. F. Dean Hackett has served in full-time Christian ministry since October 1971. He has ministered throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, serving as pastor, conference speaker and mentor. He has planted four churches, assisted in planting 15 others, and currently serves as lead pastor of Living Faith Church in Hermiston, Oregon. Dr. Hackett founded Spirit Life Ministries International in 2001 to facilitate ministries in Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina and to open a training center for workers in those nations. You can find him at F. Dean Hackett – Foundational, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.