Vertical Worship

What would happen if everything we did in church was focused vertically? What if every song, every word, every movement was focused toward the God of Heaven instead of on self improvement?

What would the end result be?

Would we have immature Christians? Would families fall apart? Would parishoners stop giving? Would we walk out of church feeling as though we had missed out on something?

Or....

Would the church grow exponentially? Would lost souls be sucked into the atmosphere of the church? Would the miraculous occur in every service? Would the windows of Heaven open up and blessings and favor rain down on those involved in vertical worship?

[Digging4Truth]

I would expect that all things would work better.

I find it interesting, though, that some "shout" oriented churches have trouble with vertically oriented songs. They don't know what to do with it.

Of course if you get a vertically oriented song that is fast enough and loud enough then they will go with it but I have experienced some situations where people appear to be a tad uncomfortable with worship songs that speak specific praise to him especially those in a solemn tone.

[J-Roc]

Setting our eyes upward and never horizontally (where man is) is the way it oughta be...

It seems though, that if you truly focus vertically, the self improvement you refer to takes care of itself by default...

What would the end result be, you ask? It would be on earth as it is in heaven!

[Jack Shephard]

One thing is for sure there would be NO singing of the song "I am a Pentecostal" like the video in that CLC thread. Stupid song

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

One thing is for sure there would be NO singing of the song "I am a Pentecostal" like the video in that CLC thread. Stupid song

If we didn't have songs like that, what would we laugh at...I find the song entertaining...like having your own personal jesters

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by J-Roc

If we didn't have songs like that, what would we laugh at...I find the song entertaining...like having your own personal jesters

Well said. I laughed so hard when I saw that. "We let our hair hang down..." Funny, very funny.

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I would expect that all things would work better.

I find it interesting, though, that some "shout" oriented churches have trouble with vertically oriented songs. They don't know what to do with it.

Of course if you get a vertically oriented song that is fast enough and loud enough then they will go with it but I have experienced some situations where people appear to be a tad uncomfortable with worship songs that speak specific praise to him especially those in a solemn tone.

I am of the belief that many of our meetings have replaced vertical worship with the concept of "church as a party". I have recommitted myself to the idea that church is not about me - it is about Him.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Cotton Mather

What would happen if everything we did in church was focused vertically? What if every song, every word, every movement was focused toward the God of Heaven instead of on self improvement?

What would the end result be?

Would we have immature Christians? Would families fall apart? Would parishoners stop giving? Would we walk out of church feeling as though we had missed out on something?

Or....

Would the church grow exponentially? Would lost souls be sucked into the atmosphere of the church? Would the miraculous occur in every service? Would the windows of Heaven open up and blessings and favor rain down on those involved in vertical worship?

Probably the same results we'd get if we could reach for "one mind, one accord".....

Originally Posted by J-Roc

Setting our eyes upward and never horizontally (where man is) is the way it oughta be...

It seems though, that if you truly focus vertically, the self improvement you refer to takes care of itself by default...

What would the end result be, you ask? It would be on earth as it is in heaven!

The work of the Spirit cannot be accomplished through a mere hearing or speaking of words. A person's very will must be altered. For this to happen our focus must be altered dramatically. Our will must be lost in His.

[Sister Alvear]

so true.