Watching the Fence Post

A memory:
Cad Polk Stadium, Helena, Arkansas, early 1960’s. Standing on the south goal line, I look all the way down the field, past the other end zone and pick out a fence post. To stay in a straight line, I decide to march toward that fence post.

My band director told me to find a distant fence post and march toward it. You see, it was easy to march a perfect “8 to 5” or “6 to 5” and wander off toward the sideline if you did not fix your sights on a distant object.

Back in the day (as they say) a member of a marching band was expected to march straight down the field. Today, with all the arcs and swirls of corps-style marching, I’m sure this is no longer true. But we had to learn both how to measure each step (eight steps in five yards or six, we called it “8-to-5” or “6-to-5”) and stay on a straight course with every step.

There is a life principle here, one that applies to the path of life we are discussing: we need to have a fixed long range goal if we want to stay on course.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:1-3 NIV)

A simple concept, really, but one that is vital to our success.

“Success” itself is an unworthy goal. Success is when a player “gets the right notes;” music happens when the player “gets the notes right.” Just as music-making is more than musical technique, walking the path of life is more than daily, incremental steps, however measured they may be.

If, in the middle of my company front (a straight line of marchers) I wandered off to the right or left instead of marching straight down the field, I lost my interval with the players next to me and the overall effect was spoiled. The whole band got downgraded because I didn’t march in a straight line. My individual performance affected everyone else.

Like Spokes on a Wheel
As if I didn’t have enough metaphors going—straight line, notes right—let me add another. In a conversation with Dr. Robert E. Webber in my first session at his Institute for Worship Studies, Bob explained worship renewal: “Like spokes on a wheel, as we all draw closer to Jesus, we also draw closer to each other.”

It doesn’t matter where we start. If we are Baptist or Methodist (notice how often these two are mentioned first!) or Pentecostal or Protestant or Catholic, fundamentalist or liberal, if we “fix our eyes” (Heb. 12:2) on Jesus and start moving toward Him, our individual walk will bring us closer to others doing the same thing.

This is a blessed process. John said it this way:

1 John 1:7NIV
… if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Hard to beat that!

So Jesus is our fence post. If we keep our eyes on Him, our steps will be straight and our fellowship (interval) with those marching with us will be sweet. The whole band will be blessed by our individual integrity.
And, we can be free to “get the notes right” and make music for the Master.
But, we can be distracted; we can fix our eyes on someone or something other than the Lord.

The list of possible distractions is a long one. Here are a few:

Our leaders: Beware of leaders who build their organizations on their own personalities or gifts. This is a sign of pride, a mortal sin. The Bible says two times that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Pride leads to destruction.
Our plans: It is easy to confuse God’s will with God Himself.
God’s Word: The Bible can become an object of worship rather than a guide to worship.
God’s people: We can step into error if our concern for people becomes a greater focus than our love for God. The great commandment is spoken in a specific sequence: First love God. Next love people. (Matt 22:37-40 NIV) If we replaced our love for the Lord with a love for people, we actually hinder our ability to help people.

If worship leaders and lead worshipers fix eyes on distractions like these, they could be heading for the sidelines!

Distant Vision, Close at Hand
In worship leading, it is easy to be distracted by pressing, short range goals. Like marching a good 8-to-5 step each ten yards, we have to get the details right:

songs that are sing-able and
that develop the theme,
a good flow of music,
a well prepared team, etc.

But, with these immediate steps in mind, a more distant goal should guide us:

The Jesus Story. Do we present a full picture of who Jesus is? Of what He said and did on this earth? Of His glorious throne in heaven? Of His imminent return?
Our Heritage. Worship is about remembering God’s saving acts in history. Do all the generations have a platform to give their testimonies, their part of the Jesus Story? Great songs from previous epochs of history testify of God’s outstanding record of faithfulness. Let’s sing them together with the songs of this century so that the generations in the church may converse with each other about the Christ they follow.
Time with Jesus. Worship services should also provide an intimate time with the Lord. We should not always rush through to the next song or event. A good band member knows how to mark time—to step in rhythm to the music while remaining in the same spot. In worship, this too is a blessed thing—selah!
A Glimpse of the Future. Worship celebrates the past, encounters Jesus today, and takes a step toward the future. This prophetic edge is worship extends glorious moments in the worship service into life itself. Sunday stretches into Monday and through the whole week. We carry His presence with us out of the sanctuary, off the goal line and straight down the field. Sometimes this move from celebration to prophetic worship is the shift of focus from songs about God to songs sung to God—songs of prayer. The Bible calls these “spiritual songs.” (Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16)

With this grand vision of who Jesus is right now and with proper attention to the details of each step we take, we can make it all the way to the distant goal line.

For all these years, I have kept that fence post at Cad Polk Stadium in mind. I can see it now between the field and the gym.

Prov 3:5-6NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer
March 12, 2012