The Trouble With Worship Points

Halla Kalmansson

I love singing. Anybody who knows me can testify to that fact. I began singing before I could talk, and I have been told that I have not stopped since then. The year before I began at Southwestern, I was in five choirs, taking voice lessons, and singing with two orchestras. Now, I’m in both of Southwestern’s choirs, and performing in any venue I can find including the monthly recitals in the Music Department, at church and at evensong whenever I can.

There are dozens of reasons I love singing, but the biggest one is that when I sing, I glorify God. Every time I get ready to go up onstage to sing, I pray to God, not to help me sing well, but to sing for His honor and glory. It doesn’t matter if the song I’m singing is sacred or secular, as long as I sing it for God to listen to. He gave me my voice, and I want to always use it only for Him. When I sing, I am worshipping God. But when I perform, it does not count as a “worship point.”

I have trouble with worship points. It isn’t that I don’t like to worship God on weekdays, but I usually have worship on my own, or with a small group of friends, and it is almost always unscheduled. When I have scheduled worships, I personally do not get as much out of them as when I have an impromptu worship with one or a few people. Sometimes I will be “hanging out” with friends on a Friday afternoon that turns into evening and the conversation naturally turns to religious subjects. Most people on campus are adamant about their religion and happy to share their views on any subject, which makes for interesting conversations. I always walk away from those having learned something new, but it does not count as a “worship point” because I did not attend the pre-scheduled meeting that was approved by the school as real worship.

I am not suggesting that every little accidental worship thought let loose be counted as worship points. I am suggesting that worship points are not something that ought to be scheduled and required. Making it a requirement turns it into something nobody wants to do, especially since if you don’t go, you get fined.  College students are famous for not having money or time.

I’m as busy as the next person. I have 17 credit hours with a few more audited hours of ensembles. I have homework, studying, work, and friends to keep up with. At the same time, I have to practice singing. Music majors are required to practice 10 hours a week and fitting that into a busy schedule is difficult at best. I look forward to the Sabbath as much as anyone else, to relax, worship God and simply think about everything He has done for me. Even when I have to wake up at six in the morning to perform (ahem, Mr. Wall!) I feel good after singing because I got to praise God through my voice. Why shouldn’t that count as worship?

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