oneGod.oneheart.oneworship
Most people have a favorite author or authors. One of mine is A.W. Tozer. This is not just because of the books he wrote and his contributions to Christian thought, but also because of the example life he led. In his book ‘The pursuit of God’ Tozer states, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship”.
At oneworship one of our key values is unity. A unity that emerges from the common bond that we all have in Christ, a unity that cannot be manufactured or manipulated only found, and experienced, as we each look to God. Our vision is that as we all work together, bringing the different gifts that God has given us, we will see the local church equipped to worship one God, with one heart.
In John 17:21-23 Jesus prayed that His followers might be unified (literally be ‘one’), as He and Father are one. William Barclay suggests, “Where there are divisions, where there is exclusiveness, where there is competition between the Churches, the cause of Christianity is harmed and the prayer of Jesus frustrated”. So often within our churches, within our denominations, and within Christianity, there is cause to frustrate the prayer of Jesus for His people to be one! This is especially evident within the often-contentious area of worship music. We bicker and fight, often resort to backstabbing our brothers and sisters over things like musical style, song choice, all in competition to worship God the “right” or “proper” or “best” way! In the end all we accomplish is to give the church a bad reputation and neglect the prayer of our Saviour.
Chris Jack who writes on this topic, suggests that “it’s a subject that frequently gives rise to heated debate, for we all have our preferences; we all know just how is should be done – and how it shouldn’t! In this, as in many other of life we know what we like, what appeals to us what suits our taste, and there is plenty to choose from there is traditional, contemporary, liturgical, charismatic, alternative, blended, seemingly something for everyone. As the song goes “I did it my way”.
Part of our desire at oneworship is to recognise that there are a variety of different expressions of worship, all equally good and pleasing to God. Having said this, it is clear that there is a real need in our local churches to see worship leaders, song writers, musicians and people passionate about creatively worshipping God equipped to do so. This has got to be done with a sense of unity but only as we each look to Christ.