A few years back I attended a Matt Redman worship concert. His pastor explained the inspiration for Matt's song, "The Heart Of Worship"...the chorus of which says:
I'm going back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
Their church had really been strong in worship. But the leadership began to feel that the people just weren't responding like they had been before. So they decided to speed up all the songs. Well, they said that it just got them through the worship time much faster. Then they decided to slow down all the songs. But it just lasted twice as long.
Finally, the pastor said that it was time to cut the music out altogether -and make room for the people to bring their own expression of praise into the services. The first time they did this, it was a silent agony. But after some time, one would speak out their praise. Another would read a scripture. Another would sing a song. Another would declare their gratefulness to the Lord.
What they were learning to do was to BRING a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. Too often people get the mindset that worship is what the people on the platform are supposed to be doing on their behalf. Worship isn't a spectator sport. The worship leader is simply there to help set an atmosphere where worship can thrive -can truly be expressed by everyone.
So you can see that Matt's song was a bit autobiographical. Here's the first verse of "The Heart Of Worship":
When the music fades, all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
