There is nothing that will kill corporate worship like "dead" worship. Many times the reason people haven't "liked" a particular style of worship is because it is "dead", not because it was not a worthy expression of worship. I know it sounds a little strange, but nothing will kill worship like a dead worship service. Whether we are worshipping with a traditional hymn, a new chorus, or an older praise and worship song, if we don't do it with life and passion, it will be ineffective. Worship must first happen inside us. It doesn't come from the outside. Because of the grace we have experienced in Christ, because of the overwhelming goodness of God in our lives, our worship comes from within. How can we see who God is and what He has done and not express ourselves with life and passion?
In I Cor. 14:15, we are admonished to pray in the spirit and sing in the spirit. Now from other passages we are admonished to live and sing in the power of the Holy Spirit. But, here spirit is not capitalized. I believe that in I Cor. 14:15 he is talking more about man's spirit, all of who we are, mind, soul, and body and that when we worship (pray) and sing we are to do it with every ounce of who we are, passion from within in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are living in a day where sometimes people are put down for their passion. We need to be very careful, because I believe God deserves every bit of our passion in worship. Christ in you, the hope of Glory - Victory is ours! Does our worship reflect that fact? I pray our worship as the gathered body will be . . . our Worship Alive! mjm
