I tend to be a very organized individual. I like order and structure. I feel comfortable when operations are humming along smoothly.

Then I hosted an evangelist who was not this way at all. I would ask him for his sermon title or passage so I could pick scripture readings and hymns that would fit the message. He was waiting for “the Lord’s leading.” He would feel led to have an impromptu special for the evening service on his way to the church!

I also had a church member who used her gifts in music to minister in our church. When we would ask for her selection so we could complete the order of service, she often felt rushed into a decision.

Matt Westerholm touched on this very tension and did so in a helpful way:

Many Christians wrestle with a perceived tension between thorough preparation and spontaneous worship. Some worry that detailed planning might quench the Spirit’s movement, while others fear that spontaneity could lead to disorder in our local church gatherings. But what if preparation and spontaneity aren’t competitive opponents, but cooperating partners in facilitating meaningful worship?

Skilled jazz musicians spend hours mastering scales, chord progressions, and standard repertoire. This extensive preparation enables their creativity, rather than constrains it. Good jazz musicians have developed a musical fluency—a jazz vocabulary—that allows them to contribute something original and authentic in different harmonic and musical situations. When the moment comes to improvise, a prepared jazz musician draws from their well of musical knowledge to freshly create something meaningful. Their preparation frees them to respond authentically to the music’s call.

While I’m not a connoisseur of jazz music, I have appreciated musicians’ talent to riff off the main theme and run solo. A healthy balance in our service order may be exactly what many churches need.

Source: https://matthewwesterholm.substack.com/p/order-and-openness

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