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Spontaneous Combustion
Posted on October 22nd, 2007 in Church Life, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
Hey Ya’ll -
Hope your week is kicking off to a great start. We had a great worship service yesterday (checkout my video worship confessional).
One of the coolest things that happened yesterday was in our 8:00 AM service. Typically, this is the most laid back of the three services we have. I’d say that we have an older demographic there typically, and because it’s the “early service”, it’s always the least attended – maybe only about 50% capacity or less.
We opened up the service with a “walk-in” song that was very peppy – “I’m Not Ashamed”, complete with a calypso feel and steel drums. Immediately after it was over I gave a quick welcome, encouraged everyone to say “hi” to someone around them, and Tim kicked off the acoustic guitar lick to “Everlasting God”.
We do an up-tempo arrangement of this, and without my leading, without anyone on the praise team leading – there was a vibrant, corporate “clapping” … I don’t mean applause, I mean joining in with the band, clapping on 2 & 4 ya know. I realize this is the norm for a lot of you – it would’ve been the norm in my former places of service … but not here, and not in the 8:00 AM service especially.
It was like spontaneous combustion … nobody said “let’s clap our hands”, or “put your hands together”. I didn’t lift my hands over my head with that big, sweeping “clap with me” motion … it just happened. And it was beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not opposed to “leading” a congregation into various physical expressions of praise and worship, such as clapping. (although the “clapping” we read about in the Bible isn’t necessarily the rhythmic “clap on 2 & 4″ type of clapping we associate with enjoying good music). I think that good leadership can lead and train a congregation in these things … but I gotta tell ya, it was special when it just happened by itself.
About a month into my position here one of the Elders (and praise team members) encouraged me to not do the “forced clapping” on every upbeat song – to just let it happen. I think I doubted if that was possible. Not anymore.
So how about the rest of you out there – similar experiences? Share your story.
For the Kingdom,
Fred
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16 Responses to “Spontaneous Combustion”
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Hey Fred,
What do you mean by “forced clapping?” Do you throw water balloons at your church family if they don’t clap on 2 & 4?
Hehe, just kidding. We actually choreograph clapping points within our sets, if we go just drums and vocals all the musicians/vocalists will “clap” instead of someone yelling out “COME ON, CLAP YOUR HANDS WITH US!”
It’s actually been a pretty effective way of “spurring” others on to “good clapping” all the more as we see the Day approaching!
Hey Russ,
Yeah – like saying “clap with us” or raising your hands over your head to “demonstrate” that you are supposed to be clapping. I would’ve never coined it as that … and still have no issue with it, really, done strategically, and led by the Spirit ….
Spontaneous clapping rocks. Although I’ll say that I clap on most fast songs when I’m not playing on the worship team. Yeah I’m often initiate, or lead, or “force” the clapping right from my chair in the crowd. Although I clap on almost all the fast songs I will say I feel pretty dumb doing so when the worship team doesn’t even clap or when they are half-heartedly tapping their leg. As a worshiper I always like clapping as a corporate community thing especially when the community includes the worship team.
Hey Billy -
Agreed – the spontaneous form DOES rock. I’m with you – I always like to clap, although I do get tired of it sometime. We’ve got some folks out there in the congregation who are quite regular with it now – I look at them and smile, nodding with approval – I think it helps encourage them, and then others say to themselves, “hey, it must be OK”.
God bless ya,
Fred
I was leading a small service once when I was serving at a church in Ohio about 7 years ago. We had done about 3 or 4 contemporary songs, and the service felt rather “dead in the water”, with the congregation absolutely not into the worship. Then, we went into “Amazing Grace”. First verse, same thing – no life from the crowd. Second verse, same. THEN, when we went into singing the repetitive “Praise God, praise God…” it was like a blanket just fell over the whole place! It was incredible! Right at the end of the worship service, the place was truly filled with a heavy anointing.
Some worship leaders would be upset that the crowd didn’t “get into worship”. It would be nice if we could just jump right-in and be right there in that atmosphere, but those times are rare. I’m at the point where no matter how simple or how “normal” a praise & worship service may seem to me on paper, I just release it to God and let Him move through the service. I like it that way, because I’m out of the way. I’m not performing for the crowd, I’m not urging or pushing or even “leading” the crowd, I’m just there as an example.
Often times we go through a whole service with not much response, only to have the Spirit of God come in at the last moment and just floor everybody (not literally, but figuratively… although possibly literally!) I’ll go through any boring worship service if it means getting to the throne.
Last night I led the p.m. service at my church, and I felt that we needed to do “How Great Thou Art”. It’s funny, because my wife had said to me earlier, “Why are you doing that old song? I can’t stand that old hymn.” (She’d grown tired of singing it at her previous ultra-traditional church which she attended.) I told her that I felt we needed to do that particular song, and that even though she may not be in the mood to sing that old, stuffy song, that it might be meant for someone else to hear. Well, lo-and-behold, as we did that as the last song of the night, when the worship band went into that song my own step-daughter broke down and several folks around her were able to minister to her. My wife told me after we’d gotten home, “You were right about that song being for somebody. It was for her.”
God has the ability to come in and take over at just the right time, no matter the “flow” of a service. True, we are to give Him a place that is exalted, but there are times when He will come in and take over, and those times are the coolest!!!
Chuck,
WOW – awesome testimony – thanks!
Fred
my favorite is when people start standing on their own, which happens pretty regularly here…it gives me the chills and usually brings a few tears of emotion for whatever reason.
I remember in college I was listening to a live version of “We want to see Jesus Lifted High.” I thought it would be so cool if the college kids would keep going with the song even when the band ended. God answered that prayer and the college kids went crazy and the song went on for at least another 5 minutes. Awesome.
We started off with “Everlasting God” at my church too.
Great post!
You know, Spontaneous Combustion is an interesting title for a post with all that’s going on in SoCal right now. Don’t you think?
[...] I came across this post – Spontaneous Combustion – that I thought was worth sharing.Hope you enjoy [...]
Hey Chris,
I guess I’m so busy my head is stuck in the sand … what IS going on in SoCal right now?
Fred
bad widlfires…
err wild*fires
Thousands of acres burned, hundreds of homes burned. Over half a million people have been evacuated. Check out my blog, I’m posting updates as I get them!
Oh this is great! Last week we had spontaneous combustion in a different way. Because of time in our 2nd service we pulled an audible to play “Breathe” during communion and not invite the congregation to ‘stand and sing’ with us.
It was beautiful. THEY DIDN’T NEED TO BE ASKED TO SING! Here we are playing Breathe and singing it and as the congregation sits down I see them …singing! Some even had …their eyes closed! Some even were bowing their heads! Worship broke out without me having to do anything! Thank you God! It was one of the most amazing things I’ve had the privelage of being a part of!