I have been a Christian for 32 years and in that time, I have never heard worship described as entertainment. I have, in fact, heard the opposite. Don’t we want to push the idea of entertainment as far away from worship as possible? We don’t gather on Sundays to be entertained! It’s not about the songs you like or the styles you prefer! Don’t come looking to be amused – this is a church building, not a circus tent! All of those statements are true, but what if we turn things around?

Worship is entertainment… but you are not the audience. You are the artist. You are the performer. You are part of a special ensemble that is looking to make sweet music and utter compelling lines for an audience of One. This image was developed by Søren Kierkegaard who envisioned worship as a staged production where the church comes together as the actors and God observes from a place of honor. Like a beloved patron, He comes to delight in the beauty of a performance that He made possible – the culmination of His generous plans. I came across this metaphor in an article written by Mike Cope who explains:

We don’t worship primarily to be taught by a preacher or to be pleased with the music… In most arenas, we are the audience: athletic teams play to us, politicians appeal to us, actors and actresses perform for us. But in worship, we are not the audience … It is a performance at the throne room of God with Him in the center.

Mike Cope, “The God Who Is Worthy of Praise”

Entertainment intends to please the audience. The saddest of Shakespeare’s tragedies still leaves the audience pleased because it was a job well done. Musicians train for months to ensure that they bring their best effort when they are called to play their part. This is the mindset of the earnest worshipper. How can we bring our best on Sunday when we present our hearts to our Benefactor? What words we can bring to illuminate the truth of His goodness?

Undoubtedly, our auditoriums do little to help us understand our role. Doesn’t it look like we are invited to come, sit, and observe the performance of others? Don’t we usually assume the role of critic – weighing and judging the show others have put on? We see such a different scene in the Bible:

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

I Corinthians 14:26, ESV

The early Christians walked into the assembly ready to share something about the greatness of God and the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ. The members felt that they each had a part to play in the display of adoration to the Lord of lords. May our hearts have the same exuberant readiness. May our Audience be pleased with what we present each week. He deserves our best!