What’s Next?
This one question I am asking various worship leaders and pastors. The context is what’s next in corporate worship but beyond that no guidance has been given for appropriate response. Part 3 of this series is Mars Hill Worship Pastor Joe Day’s response.
Joe Day is husband to Jentry, father to his 9-week-old twin daughters Brynn & Chloe, and is a worship pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA where he leads his band The Northern Conspiracy. By day he’s a designer at CrashShop.com and is known to destroy Otter Pops with astounding regularity. He can be found at:
- www.doxologist.org (which is in the blog roll)
- www.marshillchurch.org
- www.twitter.com/thejode
- www.virb.com/tnc
We’re blessed to have Joe respond to this important question and his response is below:
While I can’t really say with any authority what is next on a grand scale I can share what’s next at Mars Hill Church in Seattle.
Making Worshippers
This really is the essence of the gospel as it plays out in people’s lives. The reality is we were made to worship and we never cease worshipping. We worship Jesus or we worship things Jesus created (idolatry). Since we are fallen, it’s quite likely that we will not worship perfectly, rather from time to time, season to season idolatry will creep in.
What’s next? My prayer is simple: that Jesus will will be the sole occupant of the throne of our hearts. For us, idols are not generally statues of gold on a shelf, but idols are anything that occupies a seat of power in the throne room of our affections.
At Mars Hill, our idol has been indie cred and the result has been worship services that feel more like a rock show than a gathering to praise our Lord & savior Jesus Christ. What’s next for us is walking in repentance and recovering the joy of adoring Jesus individually and when gathered as the church in corporate worship.
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“At Mars Hill, our idol has been indie cred and the result has been worship services that feel more like a rock show than a gathering to praise our Lord & savior Jesus Christ.”
wow – that’s bold and transparent. I’m of the opinion that “too much like a rock show and not enough like worship” is a fairly invalid criticism. Stodgy people throw it around loosely with out any kind of deeper theological reasoning. I always looked to churches like Mars Hill as an inspiration for their unapologetic approach to worship music. It’s a little disheartening to hear this from one of their worship leaders.
The Northern Conspiracy is tremendous. This is the type worship music the speaks deeply to my heart.
Joe,
I am so impressed with you and on a larger scale Mars Hill. The one thing that has blessed me so much is the constant, open, loving acknowledgement of the things you are working on as a church. Most church’s who are not as far along as you, are way more prideful and try to present a front of perfection. Thank you! I am very blessed and we will join you in prayer.
Hey guys,
Thanks for the kind remarks. I wish words could express the trembling that attends these more confessional type posts. But my spirit confirms they are the right way to go. Living in the light, right?
Billie, I totally hear you, and to some extent share your concern. The problem is that style is a diversionary subject that takes our minds off of the real issue – our hearts. My heart always grieves when I meet other worship pastors who tell me stories of the conflict that entrench them & their congregations over something as fleeting as musical style. It’s sad, because Jesus is soooooooo glorious, and style is soooooo temporary. We need to think of ways to show people the glory of Jesus while recognizing style is merely a tool in that pursuit.
I’m not saying style isn’t important. It is. It’s vitally important if we take our ability to communicate with culture seriously. What I am saying is, at least in Seattle, there’s such a detached, smug, observant, and critical attitude that is considered normal. We’re so good at staying on the surface. But that is not useful in the worship of a glorious God.
While the sounds of the styles that emanate from this region are very influential in the country and world, the attitude is in need of redemption. This attitude saturates the music culture here. It’s many of these folks who have met Jesus and make up the congregation of Mars Hill. And so our work now is processing through the glory of Jesus and looking at what an appropriate response is. We’ll continue to make interesting music, but what’s next is the healing of our cold hearts.
Joe,
I think you’ve nailed it. As musicians this is a trap that we fall into so often(hand raised). Our creativity and musical expression is of no value to the kingdom if we aren’t pointing our congregation to the father’s heart and unifying the body in redeemed worship. The quality of music at Mars Hill is amazingly high and that’s a great tool, but as you point out, it’s just a tool, temporal in every way and not worthy of worship.
I think your heart is in a great place, it’s a wonderful encouragement and I can’t wait to hear of all the amazing things God is going to do next at Mars Hill.