WHY WORSHIP IS CRUCIAL

As unique individuals, our worship will look different from one to another, but we all begin in the same place: submission.
By: Cass Harris, Worship Pastor at The Grove Church in Fayetteville, AR.

Why Worship is Crucial
By: Cass Harris
December 2021

My official title, Worship Pastor, is a little funny to me. So I’m in charge of ALL the forms of Worship? Got it. When people ask me what I do, I usually say that I take care of the music and tech for my church on Sundays. It would be way easier to just say Worship Pastor because we all know what that means, but I’m a weird human who thrives on making basic things difficult and I need you to know, that I know, there are more ways to worship than singing songs together on a Sunday morning. Oh man, rereading this is a little embarrassing. 

Worship is surrender. Think about that for a minute. Do you agree? Don’t we surrender to things that have power over us? Maybe not consciously, but somewhere in there, we do it. Worship of our Father is a conscious decision. It’s intentional. As unique individuals, our worship will look different from one to another, but we all begin in the same place: submission. As an individual, I say, God, I am not enough! God, you’ve known me since before the beginning of time, and I am overwhelmed by this knowledge. Oh God, your ways are far too superior to mine, and yet you have made a way for me to commune with you. God, I am not alone. You are always with me. We should recognize and respond to His greatness, His plan, and the fact that He is. Everyday! 

When I read scripture, I am continually reminded that we are meant to do what we do together. We are not meant to be on our own. Because of God’s great love for us, we should show kindness to others, take care of the marginalized, give generously to those in need, study the text, which are all acts of worship. We should do all these things together. And then when we gather on Sundays, we are coming together as one to sing to our Creator and Redeemer. Sunday songs are not a thing unto themselves. They are a response to God’s love, generosity, kindness, and patience.  

I think sometimes we worship the music that we sing in our churches. They become the focus of our attention. I’ll be the first to admit that music has power that is hard to reckon with. It moves me in a way few others can. But to give the song all the attention is like receiving a gift and immediately turning away without recognition to the giver. We consume it, use it up, and then turn and ask for more.

Let’s return to churches with thankful hearts, awe for God’s greatness, and recognition of community over individualism. Let’s worship together!

Cass Harris is the Worship Pastor of The Grove Church in Fayetteville, AR. He’s married to Brandi and together they have 3 kids. Cass is a singer/songwriter, loves cooking, Sooner football, woodworking and probably some other things.
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