The Audience of One

The Audience of One

"Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty." Job 22:26

I tired of the worship wars. I am tired of people complaining about not liking the new praise music. I am tired of people complaining that they don't like the hymns. I think we have totally missed the boat when we think about worship.

It's all backwards. Churches have been divided over worship styles. People have left good solid churches over the music. Some churches have created different worship service venues so that you can have YOUR style of music. What should be uniting us ends up dividing us.

I think the reason we have it backwards is that we forgotten the purpose of worship. Sorry to burst your bubble this morning -- worship is not about YOU! Worship is all about HIM! If you don't believe me, check out Psalm 100! It clearly states: "Come into HIS presence with singing ... Enter HIS gates with thanksgiving and into HIS courts with praise ..."

We come to church expecting worship to do something for US which is the real problem. Worship isn't about me. We think that we are the audience and God is the actor on the stage. Brothers, it is the other way around! HE IS OUR AUDIENCE OF ONE!

Worship is God's people gathering together to CORPORATELY worship HIM. I may be thinking too simplistically, but when we get that right in our heads, I think that we will plan worship more intentionally to unite us rather than divide us. There will be give and take so that we can all worship. There will be a willingness on our part to say, I will yield my rights and wants for the sake of the body that is meeting to worship HIM.

As you gather together with the people of God -- remember HE IS OUR AUDIENCE THIS MORNING. HE IS THE ONE WE ADORE!

Praise to the LORD, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul praise HIM, for HE is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, Now to HIS temple draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the LORD, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under HIS wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen, How thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what HE ordaineth?

Praise to the LORD, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee!
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee!
How oft in grief hath not He brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Praise to the LORD! O, let all that is in me adore HIM!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before HIM!
Let the Amen sound from HIS people again;
Gladly forever adore HIM!

Forgive us, Lord, for getting it backwards. It's all about YOU -- It's all about YOU! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; Jeremiah 43-45; Hebrews 5

Great Quote: "No man needs to be afraid nor ashamed to suffer for the cause of the gospel. Good men often suffer many things for the best cause in the world. They need not be ashamed, the cause will bear them out!" -- Matthew Henry