Why Our Worship Culture May Not Be Working

We exist in a generation saturated within a “worship culture.” This culture is almost addicted to a certain sound or feeling within worship. Without realizing it, we have labeled good or memorable worship as the kind that sounds good, feels good, and/or looks good. We are moved by the sounds and the experience of the song. It isn’t something we do purposefully but it’s something that we have made a habit of. Over the past year, God has been opening my eyes to realize the state of my worship.

I realized that so many times in my worship I acted liked a Pharisee, blind to the one sitting right in front of me. I judged worship based on how I felt, not how the one I worshipped felt!  Jesus is looking for worship that looks like the sinful woman in the following story:

As Jesus was ministering, He was invited to have supper at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. While he was reclining, a sinful woman with an alabaster jar (worth a year’s wages!) ran to his feet, anointing them with oil and washing them with her tears. She did this in faith that Jesus was the Messiah and worthy of her sacrifice. Simon was outraged at such an expensive item being wasted in this way. Surely, it should have been given to help the poor? Here’s what Jesus had to say in Luke 7:

“Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. … And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.'” (Luke 7:44-48, 50).

Perhaps it’s time we all took a second look at how we worship. Do we really give Jesus the response that He deserves? Has our worship been based on our feelings or His? Do we get bored in worship? Does praise control our tongue or is it silent in His presence? Let’s revive our worship into moments that wash the feet of Jesus!

Bailey Riza is a young, passionate, up-and-coming voice in the music industry. A worship leader, songwriter and recording artist, she has a wealth of experience and a dynamic approach to teaching and leading. She is a member of the Faith Alive Band and travels throughout North America performing and ministering in many different arenas. Her songs have been featured on the Faith Alive Show as well as on Daystar Television Network. Her latest EP, “Coming Alive,” topped the iTunes charts in Canada! She was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada), and attends Faith Alive Family Church, where her parents are senior pastors. She loves her family, church and country and has a zeal to see this generation experience a powerful outpouring of God’s presence.