Messy Worship

I came across a word today that caught my attention:  messy worship.  I could have followed the internet bunny trail to see what the blogger was referring to, but I thought I'd stop and just consider it myself.  

My pastor reiterates often that we are created to worship and we all worship something:  God or idols.  In 1 Samuel, the people are told (loose translation,) "If you want to return to God, throw your idols in the river."  They threw them in the river, alright.  Then they ran to the place where the tide washed them back up on the shore, and they took them back.  

Now, that's messy worship...and oh, so familiar.

Then I think of my son, who is enamored with a genre of Christian music that is, well, messy in its sound and approach.  He passionately wants me to understand the power of it and insists that it draws him to God in a way that "traditional" worship music does not.  Is there a line in the sand of what is God-honoring worship?  Is it better to listen to Taylor Swift croon about her break-up than it is to hear For Today's gutteral battle cry for the Lord?  Noah had me watch a video of For Today's drummer.  He quit the band to become a missionary in South America.

Worship can be messy.  

I stood on the stage of our church last night, rehearsing a solo with a glorious orchestral and choir accompanyment.  I sang these words:  "Make my heart your Bethlehem...be born in me."  I long for God to reign in my heart, and yet my heart is deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9.)  

It's messy.  Forgive me, God.

But I will sing through the mess.  I will cast my idols down as many times as I need to.  I will find beauty in the messy, screaming battle cry.  I will accept that the mess comes with choosing the MESSiah.  I will worship.