Oklahoma Baptist Worship

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Baylor University Organ Program

ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE from Terry Williams. Enjoy!

Presentation or Participation … That Is the Question

Disclaimer: This is a follow-up to my last post entitled “Worship Choirs … A Strategic Missing Link”. I pray you will receive the following as words of caution, concern, and consideration. Please share with as many pastors and worship leaders as possible.

I remember hearing my Grandpa William’s saying, “Ya gotta strike the iron while it’s hot”. Well, here we go.

As our music and worship methods continue to evolve, a couple of concerning questions come to mind.

Should our worship music only be participational, or is there room for presentational?

When it comes to worship music, have we begun to over-analyze the use of presentational singing by choirs, teams, or single individuals? Are we headed down an irreversible path by promoting participational singing only?

Are there other elements of presentation utilized in our Worship?

Are there other elements of participation utilized in our worship?

Is there a place for both?

Is it “either” “or”, or “both” “and”?

Let’s break these two terms down in relation to a balanced approach to worship expressions.

Presentation in worship is how we declare by witness the amazing things God has done, as well as who God is in our lives.

We live in a presentational culture. Imagine a world where there are no smartphones, large screen TVs, LED video walls, massive billboards, movie theaters, sporting events, or Broadway shows.

When it comes to the church at worship, imagine no Gospel presentations, buffer videos, baptisms, testimonies, or cool graphics on LED video walls.

I once read where worship is a bi-dimensional experience. Proverbs 20:12 tells us, "The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made both of them."

In presentational, we both see and hear. As in the following:

Psalm 66:5: "Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!"
Luke 1:25 "Look what the Lord has done for me!
Psalm 118:23 "The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes."
Psalm 66:16: “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.”

Seeing provides a transformative perspective on the amazing things God has done.

Hearing songs of worship allows worshipers to focus on the lyrical content while inviting the Holy Spirit to speak truth into their hearts.

Participational, however, means to join, engage, and contribute.

Congregational singing is a powerful, unified expression of the body at worship. It engages both personal and corporate expressions of praise, worship, and adoration. Psalm 95:1-2: "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song."

All pastors and worship pastors would fundamentally agree that congregational singing must become a stronger focus in the body life of every believer and every church.

I would like to propose another expression. Our singing in worship is also testimonial.

The fulfillment of our worship to the Lord must include opportunities to sing and declare what the Lord has done for me, who the Lord is to me, and how the blood of Jesus Christ has saved my soul.

I must say that is presentational.

In addition, worship music is also inspirational. Regardless of the style or method, this type of music is positive and uplifting for worshipers who are seeking spiritual encouragement in a modern context.

As a word of caution, if we develop a participational-only expression in our worship, we are lopping off half of the Great Commandment. Yes—we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That expression is largely vertical. However, loving our neighbor as ourselves is horizontal. Sharing our love for them by singing, sharing, and testifying about the wonderful love and grace of Jesus.

Scripture is clear: we are to admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

The worship of our mighty God must be participational, presentational, testimonial, and inspirational. We need a complete, balanced approach in every expression of worship.

Our worship should be multi-generational, multi-stylistic, multi-faceted, multi-talented, and multi-cultural.

I pray we would use every God-inspired song, every method, every means, every heart, every soul, every voice, and every musician to worship our great God and encourage the saints.

May it be so, Lord!

Terry Williams
Priority Worship
"Oh, magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together."

Have you heard of the Southern Baptist Church Music Collective? Take a moment and list to this encouraging word.

Guess where I am?

TEXAS 🤠

Coming soon! New LifeWay Worship logo and updated LifeWayworship.com