Comments on: Worship Mythbusters: dispelling popular notions that get in the way of authentic worship [3.0]

By: Chad Jarnagin

Chad Jarnagin — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:25:46 +0000

Very interesting.

Would like to hear more sometime…

missed you all at re:create this year.

Peace
C

By: Jeff Thompson

Jeff Thompson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:53:18 +0000

I totally believe that the best way to view things is that it’s our job as worship leaders to get the CONGREGATION worshipping “vertically”. And if we’re off in our own “worship zone”, we’re probably not leading!

By: J1

J1 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:03:44 +0000

So true and so neglected. We believe in the communion of saints and the holy catholic church. Another way we are united together is through the sacraments. We are one people because we drink from the same cup and eat from the same loaf. This covenant meal for God’s people, meant to bring them together, is often a private, morbid ceremony where each believer retreats into his or her conscience.

By: Tom Neyhart

Tom Neyhart — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:28:25 +0000

Rich, great post! One of my favorite worship songs is written by Chris Tomlin…How Great is Our God. When I read the concept of “horizontal” worship as singing songs of worship to each other I immediately went to this song. If there are opponents that would disagree with your post then i would be curious how they feel about this particular song. It is decidedly horizontal in its language yet is a powerful admonishment declaring to each other the greatness of God.

By: Dave Moore

Dave Moore — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:51:35 +0000

Great stuff Rich…This is a great way to say that Worship is a lifestyle, something we do everyday – At work – At play – At church – with our families and friends, co-workers etc.I know that in the past I have fallen pray to the “Worship Is Only Good When It’s Vertical” philosophy, so I appreciate you un-packing this important thought.

By: Sean Pritzkau

Sean Pritzkau — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:24:51 +0000

looks like we need to write some songs that talk about singing to each other!

By: kim

kim — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:07:44 +0000

I love this. The first thing that popped in my mind was the same as Chris’ point above about corporate vs. private worship.

Another ’sub-myth’ is that songs with the word ‘I’ in them aren’t truly worshipful. It’s hard to ignore the patterns in the Psalms where writers continually use those personal pronouns (you are MY shield…. I will prase You…).

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 14:47:32 +0000

As long as our horizontal things still have a vertical focus then I totally get what you are saying. Our worship is not worship without a desire to bring glory to God (vertical). We can be doing things that are horizontal but they are not worship if they do not have a vertical element to them.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:56:32 +0000

“What I am concerned with in the usage of “vertical” is that being vertical never makes sense without the horizontal.”

That’s great.

The uniqueness of our corporate gatherings is that they are by nature corporate – it’s not the same experience as private, “alone” worship. The church is the church when she is gathered so that worship can be lived out when we are sent out.

By: Mike Dalton

Mike Dalton — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 12:04:38 +0000

This is the best one so far. Eph.5:19 was one of the first verses I read when I became a Christian and then shortly after someone said that worship is vertical only. Being a new Christian at the time I thought I had miss read something or they new more then I did, I did get the chance to rebuke that conversation five years later, and it brought more conversation then needed, if you know what I mean.