The Power of One Voice: How Listening Transforms Worship
“You know, some of us in the congregation are visual learners. We’d be helped if you put some art behind the lyrics you project.”
This one voice set me on a quest to craft worship that both “shows and tells.” Incorporating visuals into worship can enhance the experience for those who connect more deeply with visual elements. By integrating art with lyrics, we create an immersive environment that helps visual learners engage more fully with the message of the song.
Trans-Generational Worship: Bridging the Gap
“I love the contemporary songs we do in worship. But when you include the hymns I grew up with, something special happens for me. The faith I’m figuring out for myself and the faith my folks tried to instill in me stop competing with each other.”
This feedback made me more conscious of the importance of trans-generational worship. Including hymns alongside contemporary songs can create a bridge between different generations, allowing the faith of the past to enrich the present. It brings together the foundational beliefs instilled by previous generations with the fresh expressions of today’s faith journey.
Embracing Honest Feedback: The Value of Criticism
Another kind of voice exists—the voice of honest feedback. As a teacher, I receive course evaluations at the end of every semester. Nearly every time, at least one student dislikes the course. That one voice makes me reflect on how to improve.
My friend Joel Hunter, one of the most perceptive people I know, once said, “The way to handle criticism is to listen hard for the one voice that’s always embedded there. Sometimes you have to completely ignore specific criticisms. Sometimes they are right on target. Always, though, Jesus has something for you.”
One Voice Above All
C. S. Lewis, in introducing the concept of Mere Christianity, acknowledged the many forms Christianity takes—forms that can seem confusing and even contradictory. Yet, he maintained, “At the center of the Church’s life each communion is really closest to every other in spirit, if not in doctrine.”
This suggests that at the heart of it all, there is something—or Someone—who, despite all divergences in belief, temperament, and past conflicts, speaks with the same voice. I’ve been hearing that same voice recently.
Experiencing Different Worship Styles: The Same Voice
On Sunday mornings, I worship at an Episcopal/Anglican cathedral with a full formal liturgy, incense, lectionary readings, a 20-minute homily, weekly Eucharist, and classical music.
On Sunday evenings, I attend a trans-denominational megachurch with content-driven worship, a 30-minute story-laced sermon, state-of-the-art visuals, and polished rock ‘n’ roll music.
One Sunday, both services centered around the same gospel reading. In the cathedral, the reading was part of the liturgical calendar, seamlessly integrating with the flow of the church year. Later that day, at the megachurch, the same passage, highlighted by lights and music, powerfully underscored a point from the sermon. Despite the differences in style, both services conveyed the message of Jesus in a profound way.
Finding Unity in Diversity
Reflecting on these experiences, I realized that Jesus was making a statement about His presence in both settings. In one church, Jesus voiced the settled resolve with which He came among us. In the other, He voiced the immediacy of His presence with us. As C. S. Lewis might have put it, in both, He spoke with the same voice.
Applying the Lessons: Listening to All Voices
In Christ, every voice matters—yours, mine, those of the past, and those of the future. Big steeples, little steeples, or no steeples at all—visual learners, auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, psalm singers, praise song singers, hymn singers. Above all these, there is One Voice who has spoken through Scripture, who has blessed many distinct voices in the history of His Church, and who is now raising up new voices for ministry in a future we know to be His.
Questions for Reflection: Hearing and Amplifying Voices
As we move forward, it’s valuable to ask: “What’s my voice? Why my particular gift mix? How can I better use my voice to amplify His?”
Equally important is to consider: “What voices are we not hearing? Whose voices might we overlook, but could benefit from?”
By listening to every voice, especially the one embedded in feedback, we can continue to grow in our worship practices and bring all generations closer to the One Voice that unites us all.
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