Why Narcissistic Worship Doesn't Wash
One of the greatest problems we face in the renewal of our worship is the misunderstanding we hold about the role of the self in worship. Too much of our worship is narcissistic; it's all about "me" and what "I do in worship."
The origin of this "me-centered worship" is complicated. But generally, it reflects the late twentieth-century's cultural emphasis on self.
This emphasis on self is everywhere.
It certainly is in advertising: "Buy this for yourself. It will make you happy and fulfilled." There's a new car rental ad that basically says, "You can pick any car you want. Bypass the lines; go to the car of your choice, and get what you want." At the end of the commercial a happy face glows on the screen, and the text reads, "It's all about me."
"Me" sells.
One of my students in the Institute for Worship Studies doctoral program pinpoints the issue. In an e-mail correspondence, Greg Wilde wrote:
"I remember looking at the very first issues of Self magazine (1973) and wondering what it must be all about. In the past, the self has been subordinated to systems, even physical systems, like gravity and environmental conditions. But in the last 30 years the self has been cut loose to become supreme, sovereign, all-important, a system unto itself, no longer subordinate to any moral code but its own, no longer needing to agree with anybody to receive validation; and even technology has advanced to the point where we no longer have to obey gravity, or stay above water--or even stay on the planet! We can do anything, and it has killed us."
I wonder if the more recent emphasis on self in worship is one more way of expressing our autonomy and self-importance.
It runs like this: "God, I am going to worship you. I consider you worthy of my worship. God, this is your lucky day. I, this self-sufficient, independent human being, around whom all of life centers, I am going to give you some of my time. I am going to declare you worthy of my worship."
So how do we go about correcting this misunderstanding? Only by understanding that worship focuses on God and God's mission to rescue the world through Jesus Christ. In words, signs, and gestures we sing, proclaim, and enact God's mission.
The heart of this story is that God assumed human nature so that we, whose humanity he shares, may be presented to the Father. By faith we are united to Jesus and baptized in his name. He is not only our Savior but also our worship.
Our worship is not an autonomous, independent act arising from self but is accomplished for us by Jesus himself. The work of Jesus is the only worship pleasing to the Father. Therefore, our worship—feeble, broken, and incomplete—is offered to God through Jesus who is the one true worship of God.
I find this biblical and ancient vision of worship to be enormously freeing.
It frees us from self-focused worship and all the legalisms associated with it. It is no longer "I am going to offer you my worship."
Instead, our worship is: "Thank you, Jesus, for doing for me what I can't do for myself … I can't save myself … I can't generate spirituality … I can't pray as I wish … I can't even worship you well."
Thanks be to God, this kind of worship puts us and our worship in its right place—under the complete Lordship of Christ. It's where self finds its true meaning and our worship is perfected in Jesus, whose service to God is what God finds pleasing and acceptable. Once this grace-filled worship grasps us, we are freed to allow our worship to be prayer.
Next month I will comment on the nature of our personal experience in worship. This is in and through Jesus Christ.
In the meantime, send me your thoughts at: rwebber@northern.seminary.edu.
Bob Webber
Myers Professor of Ministry
Director of M.A. in Worship and Spirituality
Northern Seminary—www.seminary.edu
(See Northern's M.A. in Worship and Spirituality and D.Min. in Worship by clicking on the website.)
