Recently I attended Vineyard Worship Summit 2005, endowed with the theme “Finding Our Voices: Values We Live By.” The purpose of the 2005 Summit was to find out who we are as individuals created by God to worship Him, and where our artistic voices lie in His master plan for us, as well as in/outside the church community. Although this seems simple enough, we did a lot of searching to find the full beauty of what God meant to be worship through “artistic” means. Simply said, we searched for the meaning of artistic integrity. Prayer for each other, group discussion, and listening to the heart of God were our main vehicles to help us in this search.
During this summit, there was a pivotal point for me, amongst many overwhelming words and lessons. It was a peak at the full realization of how artistry and worship fit together in everyday life. My eyes were opened to the many facets of artistry as worship. Being an artist does not mean u HAVE to be a guitarist or a painter or an actor. God does not constrict artistry within such tight boundaries.
This Summit was a celebration, a liberation for graphic designers, architects, musicians, painters, actors, poets, writers, gardeners, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, mentors, mechanics, film makers, home makers, hospitality, computer programmers…. the list could go on! It was liberation in a sense that this Summit equipped us with the means to express our God-given voice within a haven-like setting. The barriers of what is “acceptable” and “not acceptable” worship were broken down. At times, it was even awkward for us to break out of the traditional mould. I felt myself being shocked that people were drawing/painting, writing, on their laptops, etc. while worship was being led. Even at the age of 20, I have been influenced by the traditional views of worship. What to do, what not to do, what IS worship, and what definitely IS NOT worship. We did all the things that the church culture would frown upon, because it was “disrespectful”, in total freedom! These were the things that allowed us the individual outlets of worshipful expression! GOD CREATED US ALL TO WORSHIP IN DIFFERENT WAYS! All of who we are in our living purpose drives us to be artists in individual ways. Believe me when I say that all of this was a breath of fresh air!
If you are saying to yourself, “I don’t know where I heck I fit in!?”, don’t worry. Just sit back, take a look at yourself through God’s eyes, and think about what activity drives you, gives you overflowing passion and joy. THAT is your purpose, THAT is your art, THAT is your worship. Our idea of worship is full of church politics, “upright”, and in the box. God’s idea of worship is full of freedom, joy, and OUT of the conventional box. Encourage yourself to worship the way you feel you were meant to, even if you think u look totally daft. In doing so, you will be celebrating YOU through God’s eyes of purity. I guarantee you that you will experience a fire being poured into your life.
God Bless You,
Natalie M. Steele
Note: All published blogs by Natalie M. Steele are protected