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Best-Of Best Quotes

October 1, 2007
Posted by Pastor Matt Johnson

Since the wrap-up of the Resurgence Continuous Worship Conference at Mars Hill a couple weeks ago, I’ve continued pondering the vast wisdom of Harold Best. As un-luck would have it, The Man made me work on the Tuesday that Best was scheduled to speak. I’ll get around to listening to the recordings on the Resurgence site when they’re available. But for now, I’m content to ponder his book Unceasing Worship and a few of the quotes I’ve found on line. Check the full article here. BAM!

As we’re gearing up for The Making of a Wicked Awesome Worship Leader Inc. (training for our new band-leaders) I’ve had Best-on-the-brain. For anyone that’s read Best’s books or happened to attend the conference, you know as well as me how haunting this man’s writings are. Check it:

“We can no longer continue to commit the error of thinking of worship as something now and then, of thinking of music as a “preparer,” a “tool,” a “lead-in or lead-out.” We can no longer allow sincere but mistaken “worship leaders” to imply that worship is a particularized, music-oriented centrality: “We’ll have a time of prayer, then we’ll worship (meaning “we’ll sing”), then we’ll hear from God’s word and from His servant.” Above all else, worship is simple, not complex. It is by faith, not by works. It is of grace and not earned. It is all the time and everywhere, or God is not God, Christ is not Christ, the Holy Spirit not the Holy Spirit. Once we get this straight, then we can understand that witness is nothing more or less than overheard worship and worship as that which cannot help but witness”.

 Phew! Can I get an amen?!