Posts Tagged ‘Matt Bays’
Victoria’s Secret on Worship
Posted on: March 6, 2014
BY MATT BAYS
Just like any other business, the mission of a multi-million dollar company like Victoria’s Secret is to make more money. But I imagine the people who run Victoria’s Secret hire young interns and say to them, “We are all about providing quality undergarments at competitive prices.” And I’m sure the interns recheck the letter head to make sure they’re not applying at the Playtex: Cross Your Heart Bra franchise.
Quality undergarments? That’s the goal? Because their advertising would suggest a different mission.
I have been doing this “front man” worship leader thing for the past twenty years and I’ll be honest, when I was twenty three I would imagine myself on a very large stage with the pulsing beat of a God-song in the air along with fist pumping teens, single mothers, business men, blacks, whites, believers and unbelievers worshipping full throttle, eye closed, hands raised…and ME leading them. Eventually I’d snap out of my daydream and get back to the reality of my 350 member church, our teenage bass player, 55 year old drummer, and 95 year old piano player.
Today I lead worship with fog, HD screens, video venues, screaming guitar solos and (wait for it)…fist pumping. YES! I’ve made it. Over 5,000 people come through our three campuses each weekend and guess who one of their front men is? Me. But just as the CEO of Victoria’s Secret has left consumers thinking the mission is really about sex and not quality undergarments, I fear I may have done the same, leading people to believe the package we use for worship is the mission, when it isn’t.
During the worship portions of our weekend services I have often been misguided in my desire to see every person with their loving gaze on God – singing with their hands in the air and really “entering into worship.” And when the hands have been raised, I’ve thought, Yes!…this is the goal. This is what we’re after. But it’s not the goal.
Emotion for God does not equal devotion to God.
You already know where I’m going with this. Emotion is not bad, but it can’t be all that we bring…blah, blah, blah. But the devotion part is what kicks us in the teeth every time. Because devotion asks this question, “What sacrifice did you bring?” Uh oh…the hands slide back down, our eyes aren’t closed quite so tightly, and we’re singing a little bit softer now, a little bit softer now.
It is no more believable when a Victoria’s Secret “Angel” is interviewed about the million dollar bra and says, “It provides such great support for the girls” than it is when we stick our hands in the air during worship but offer nothing of significance.
God doesn’t want our lacy panties, our guitar solos, our fog and lights, videos, shorty robes trimmed out in feathers, slick announcements, or sweet smelling sachets to keep things fresh. He wants what is in our hearts…the better angels of our nature that we so easily bring to him in worship and the demons we’ve been wrestling for years.
Maybe worship should be a little less passionate and a little more pragmatic…like attending a 12-step meeting and learning how to quit porn, or receiving the counsel of a professional so that we can finally honor our wedding vows by learning how to cherish our spouse. Maybe worship isn’t singing a song but confessing an addiction.
This isn’t the most popular thing I’ll ever write that’s for sure. And some may even see it as dismissive of worship services, but it’s certainly not meant to be. I just know it’s rude to show up for a party without a gift. And if we continue to believe that our gift is a song…well, would you be impressed? I wouldn’t. I promise you, the host is expecting more.
The only real definition of worship we have to go by in scripture is Romans 12:1, which says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Nothing about music, raised hands, or closed eyes in that verse. Point blank, our lives given as a sacrifice is TRUE worship.
The best worship service I’ve ever been to was in my car on the way home from a counseling appointment. There was zero fist pumping. Instead, just as King David did over and over in the book of Psalms, I told God I couldn’t stand how I felt inside. I told him I was so angry and disappointed with my Made-for-TV-Movie childhood. I told him I was tired of doing the same things over and over to ease the pain, and that I couldn’t stop doing those things on my own. That’s what I brought to him. It wasn’t fog, it wasn’t a song, and it wasn’t exciting. It wasn’t even positive, but it was real.
And when I felt him say, “I’m going to help you with that,” and began to see the evidence of his help, my response was worship. Quiet and small…and grateful.
Not for a minute do I think that on a Sunday, with thousands of people in front of me, and with the fog and lights behind me, that something more powerful is happening than what was happening in my car when God whispered, “It’s going to be okay. I have what you need. Let’s figure this out together.”
I’ve always pictured Jesus sitting on a throne during worship, taking in the praise with his eyes shut. But I wonder if instead, his sleeves are rolled up and he’s ready to go to work. Maybe he’s waiting on us to stop affirming who he is, and instead trust in what he can defeat, which is death – his own, and ours.
If worship is only songs, guitars, organs, choirs, tears, hands raised and eyes tightly closed, then I have to be honest…I don’t have much to offer. But if it’s presenting myself as I am – if it’s being willing to sacrifice my demons – if it’s bringing something that’s broken before God that I can’t seem to put back together on my own…then believe me, I’ve got all the worship in me that I’ll ever need.
If you like Matt’s thoughts, check out his blog at: www.mattbayswriter.com
BY NELLIE HARDEN
Sounds are all around us each and every day. They crowd our minds with joy or pollution, and they have the power to hurt or soothe. But when those sounds are arranged in just the right way and choreographed to glide in, out and through one another with intent and passion, they can be transitioning, especially when those notes echo our love for God. A connection invisibly woven, but tangibly felt between you and your creator.
On Feb. 9, the worship teams from Northview’s Greater Lafayette, Fishers and Carmel campuses came together for a high-energy and passionate experience. If music is your pathway to God, then the Night of Worship inspired that connection as all the beloved worship teams stepped up to the platform.
Worship teams from all Northview campuses combined for the Night of Worship. (photo by Dennis McClintock)
“No matter where you are on your walk, this experience is meant to inspire and uplift you,” said Matt Bays, Worship Pastor at Northview’s Carmel campus. It is easy to slip into a complacent pattern of daily schedules this time of year. The sun is a stranger, fresh air can be painful to take in, and you are many times lost under layers of clothes. The worship team’s hope was to fuel your Monday – to “get into your spiritual space, knock the dust off and clear the cob webs.” They did just that.
Matt went on to explain the palpable power that is present when we all gather as one family, one church, who knows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our deliverer. Worshipers were reminded of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. He is our savior and our redeemer; we are His most precious creation and we need Him. This was an evening to remember and surrender to Him again and again.
BY PATTY PERKINS
This is your heads-up that The Every So Often choir will be leading worship during November 9/10 weekend services at Northview’s Carmel campus. They only sing every so often—like two to three times a year—so you won’t want to miss them!
The Every So Often (ESO) choir is made up of Northview members and attendees. There are no auditions and participants are high school age and older. The worship leader scheduled for the weekend leads the choir, and this time around it is Northview Worship Pastor Matt Bays along with Aimie Morris.
“Anyone who desires to sing can be a part of the choir,” says Andrea McCaffrey, a worship leader at Northview’s Carmel campus. “Around 50 people will participate this time. We’d love to see the choir grow to ideally 100 people.”
Northview Church’s Carmel campus enjoys the ESO choir.
ESO is considered part of the worship team and they sing congregational worship songs. When asked what group or band to compare ESO to, McCaffrey thought of Hillsong. “They [Hillsong] always have a worship choir on their live CD’s.”
Singing with ESO has its benefits. “It’s an opportunity to be a part of the worship team for the weekend, to help lead the congregation in worship,” says McCaffrey. “We have a great time with one another. There’s a great camaraderie that takes place before and after services.”
“I want to see them worship freely. Being on stage can be pretty intimidating,” shared McCaffrey when asked her biggest dreams for the choir. “I would love to see them express worship and demonstrate their passion for God as we sing to Him.”
Worship at Northview Church
The choir will rehearse Tuesday, November 5 at 7 p.m. They will meet for a run-through on Saturday, November 9 at 2:45 p.m.
If interested in singing with ESO, contact Matt Bays: matt.bays@northviewchurch.us, or 317-846-2884.
What I learned on sabbatical
Posted on: August 27, 2012
BY MATT BAYS, WORSHIP PASTOR
First off, I want to thank you all for honoring the sabbatical program at Northview Church’s Carmel campus. It was a much-needed respite and I sincerely appreciate the time with my family to be rejuvenated.
“So…what did you learn while you were on sabbatical?” I’ve been asked this a bunch since I’ve gotten back to work, and it’s a lot of pressure to answer. Well now, let’s see… I learned that my oldest daughter can fix her hair 14 different ways. I learned that my younger daughter always takes her momma’s side. I’ve learned that my wife is the one my girls go searching for when they want to talk. I’ve learned that my dog does nothing during the day but sleep.
It’s not sexy, but that’s what I learned. I didn’t reach a new level of enlightenment – I didn’t float off the ground while sitting Indian style. I did, however, think about calling. Dr. Dan Allender, a therapist, professor of counseling and founder and former president of the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, says our calling comes from the core ache within us. I believe that. I’m finding that this is true for me. And so I spent a lot of time writing about that core ache during my sabbatical. I’ve been working on a new book over the last year (still not sure how some people can crank these suckers out in a month or two) and have found a faithful voice behind me saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21b)
In my alone time, I’ve also been discovering a growing dissatisfaction with the church. The Bride. (That’s us.) I know that she will be beautiful one day, but when all is said and done here on earth, I’d like her to be looking a little better than she does right now. I’ve heard it said, “The local church is the hope of the world.” Is it? Here’s why I ask… and I say this with all due respect, because the divorce rate is the same for both Christians and unbelievers. And what really concerns me is how many of us in the church hear these statistics and assumes it has nothing to do with us – that the stats are about someone else.
Divorce is not the only thing that concerns me. Pornography also concerns me. And over-drinking. And prescription drug use. And work-aholism. And self-medication of many kinds, including: obsessive TV watching, eating, exercise, Internet surfing, codependent relationships, etc.
But why is this happening to us? Is it really that our marriages are incompatible? Is it that simple? No. Some are unhappy in their marriages because, well, they don’t want to take a look inside, or they don’t know how, so pointing the finger becomes a way to pacify the frustration of our inability to get well. Trust me. I’ve done it. The problem with this broken way of coping is we end up losing something very important to us and take the same baggage into the next marriage because the problem is internal, and you can’t fix an internal problem with an external solution.
Work stress. Is it really that high? It’s not. That’s simply not it. Ask anyone. (Well, not anyone.) Work is stressful, but our internal response to that stress can go back decades to the stress we encountered in our family of origin – when we didn’t have it in us to deal with family stress in the appropriate way. Why? Because we were children. So the stress we feel today is not about work, so much as it is about something else – about something back there, not something right here.
By the time we are 30 or 40, I believe our skeletons begin rattling the cages within the secret and hidden places of our hearts. In the memoir, “Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me,” Ian Cron says that one day, out of nowhere, he woke up to a native tribesman hollowing out his chest like a canoe. When this happens, we begin manifesting symptoms from the pain of these past hurts and dysfunctions. We feel stress, depression, even physical symptoms like chronic illness. And we may begin to suffer a growing sense of what AA calls “terminal uniqueness,” where we believe we are the only person who feels how we feel, or who is dealing with what we are dealing with. And to get rid of these feelings, we begin using.
Using.
Just like the alcoholic uses alcohol, and just like a crack addict uses dope, we use. Christians use. “Better to use TV than dope.” You’ve got a point. At least it’s legal. “I might be controlling, but there are worse things.” It’s true. There are worse things. But let me ask you this: Are you tired? Cuz I was. You don’t have to smoke crack or be an alcoholic to be tired. So tired, in fact, that you lose your marriage, your passion for living, your integrity, your vows, etc.
My problem with the local church being the light of the world is that I see it filled up with people who seem have it together – and perhaps enjoy the perception of having it together, because no one wants to be the Mary Magdalene. But listen to me. If the church is filled with people who have it together, then the church will not be the light of the world. Because Jesus is the light of the world, and the only people that can carry that light are the ones who know they are broken without him–those who truly understand that Jesus can, and that we cannot. How long are we going to continue down the path of offering Christian lip service at church gatherings and in small groups, pretending everything is ok, while internally we are a mess? Or presenting ourselves in false humility saying, “I’m a worm, it’s only by the grace of God, for I have no good in me,” which gets us no further down the path of recovery. So I’m asking the question that needs to be asked – is the church getting better? If you’re not, then it’s not.
“We felt the sentence of death. But this happened [so that] we wouldn’t rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Cor. 1:9
It would be great if TV raised the dead. Or alcohol. Or divorce. Or denial. Or all the ways we self-medicate to deal with the disappointments of life. But they don’t. They only have power to mask the symptoms of death. If our vices were capable of raising the dead, the church at large would be teeming with resurrection. Is it? The stats don’t look good. That said, it may be time to try something else. Because if the church is ever going to walk on higher ground, we’re going to have to raise our rock bottom. Because whether we like it or not, the truth is that we are broken individuals – we are powerless – our lives are unmanageable, and ONLY a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. Only God can raise the dead. Only God.
P.S. (this is a long P.S…thankfully the “Northview Blog Powers That Be” gave me 500 words for this blog post. That was sarcasm…I’m way over my limit. Sorry “Northview Blog Powers That Be.” On we go.)
My wife Heather has told me that I’m good at figuring out a problem, but am sometimes deficient at giving solutions. Hence this Post Script. I’ll make this short, because solving heart problems is not math – it’s more Montessori than math. I’ll do my best to tell you what I’ve done for quite a while and continue to do to remain reasonably happy. Let’s number them, shall we?
1. AA says “You’re only as sick as your secrets.” I believe it. So don’t have them. Make sure someone knows EVERYTHING there is to know. Someone safe. Someone that knows you. Someone that won’t think you’re crazy after you tell them. (That last part is really important – nothing worse than someone staring back at you as if you’re a serial killer.)
2. Find some kind of accountability program and use it consistently. (I use the 12 Steps.)
3. Go to counseling: It’s money well spent. I do this every time I find myself at an impasse in life. I’d go to the doctor if I had diabetes because they know about sugar and insulin and triglyceride levels. So I go to a counselor to talk about life, because they know about life and baggage and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. And if you don’t like the counselor you end up going to, find another one. Someone you click with. There are some really good ones out there. Call me – I’ll set you up.
4. This is a tag on from No. 3. When the counseling gets tough, don’t quit. You’ll want to, but don’t. People quit prematurely all the time (because it can be difficult) and claim it didn’t work. The journey is important. There are supposed to be rough patches along the way. Sometimes this type of heartwork will feel like it’s bringing you to the end of yourself – like you’re going to die – but you’ll be OK. Jesus actually said we were supposed to die, right? He wasn’t kidding.
5. Don’t expect that everything will work out overnight. Some of our coping mechanisms have been up and running for decades. It’s going to take some time. Progress – not perfection – that’s the goal.
6. Find friends who are also interested in moving forward in life. That kind of connection is essential. You can’t do it on your own.
7. Remember that change is difficult – especially internal change.
8. One day at a time – and if that isn’t working – one MOMENT at a time.
9. Phone a friend if you’re stuck. No one ever wants to do this because they don’t want to inconvenience their friend. But if it’s a friend, they will want to help. And if they don’t, see No. 6.
10. Don’t try all these things in one day – one week – or one month. You’ll get a Charlie Horse. Cut yourself a break – you just started for crying out loud!
“So…what did you learn while you were on sabbatical?”Isn’t that where this started? Well, there you have it!
Peace and love,
Matt Bays
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
A “Charley horse” or “Charlie horse” is a popular North American colloquial term for painful spasms or cramps in the leg muscles. The term may date back to American slang of the 1880s, possibly from the pitcher Charlie “Old Hoss” Radbourn who is said to have suffered from cramps.
BY MATT BAYS, WORSHIP PASTOR
A few years ago a friend of mine did a speaking engagement about things that have the potential to wreck a marriage. Afterward, we were talking about his message which led to a conversation about how we both desperately wanted to be good parents. He said he prayed every night that he would be a good father to his son – that he wouldn’t miss anything. And I played Fashion Show Barbie with my girls.
I wasn’t in the best space at the time, and had been sifting through some broken things from my past. I was telling him how growing up without a dad had been a real bummer. Now, as a man, I wasn’t even sure what I had missed. I told him that sometimes when I felt crazy, I figured it must have been that I didn’t have a good father growing up. As we chatted I could see it in his eyes – he didn’t totally get it, I think because his experience had been different.
Before he gave his message that day, I saw his parents walking in the auditorium where he was speaking. Because of their schedule, they weren’t supposed to be there, yet there they were. Why? Because their son was doing something important and they didn’t even know how to miss it. Their dedication and love for him is what had their butts in the seats. And even if they had to buy tickets at a hundred bucks a pop, they still would’ve been there.
I’ve grown so accustomed to showering that I don’t remember any of the showers I took last week. I barely remember the one I took this morning. When you take showers all the time, it becomes a part of your schema. All that means is you don’t ask yourself why you are showering, or even if you need it. You simply do it. Like breathing. So when his parents showed up, they didn’t think about it, it just happened. Like breathing. Schema. It’s a beautiful thing.
But for someone whose parents have only seen one or two of their adolescent performances in any number of musicals, dramas, baseball games, wrestling or track meets; for someone who, as a child, waved their hands desperately in the air like some sort of airline crewman trying to clear themselves for visibility, schema in the world of parenting is a big deal.
When I think of how Jesus taught me to pray, “On earth as it is in heaven” I realize that I am a part of what that prayer was all about. When life on earth is heavenly, our father shows up for our special events. When life on earth is heavenly, our mothers pick a good man, one that will love her and love her children. When life on earth is heavenly, those children flourish. They are seen and heard. They get flowers sent backstage before a performance. Their parents buy up seats for the extended family, and show up night after night to celebrate what their child is becoming.
Had my father understood the prayer, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” I’m pretty sure I would’ve heard these things: “I love it when you sing, Matt. I’m bringing your grandma and grandpa tomorrow night, and the next night, and the next night. And I’m coming to your track meet on Tuesday and your choir concert on Sunday afternoon. And I’m going to check your homework after school. If you don’t understand it, we’ll sit down and try to figure it out together. And yes, you can take piano lessons. It’s important that we find the areas where you are gifted so you can succeed in life. And if there’s anything you need to talk about, anything, I want you to know that I’m here to support you and I love you, no matter what. And Matt, I want these years to be something you can fondly look back on for the rest of your life, because you knew that you were desperately loved; crazy loved, by me.”
On earth as it is in heaven.
God gave that prayer to his son for a reason. And if he can make it happen, we can too.
by Stan Priebe
The first staff member a visitor to Northview sees may be Matt Bays. Matt serves as Northview Church’s worship pastor and has been part of the Northview staff since 2006. Not only does he lead the worship service, he also spends much of his time planning it.
So who is Matt Bays? Northview’s Lead Pastor Steve Poe comments, “Matt is more than a co-laborer in ministry, he is a great friend as well. Most people at Northview simply see Matt as our worship leader, but I can tell you there is so much more to this guy. He is passionate about helping those who are struggling in life and wants to make a difference in their life. I love doing ministry with Matt, and I am glad God brought him to Northview. ”
Matt graduated from Anderson University where he majored in Christian ministry and minored in vocal performance.
Why fulltime Christian ministry? “In college, I felt God moving me to a deeper commitment; that translated into me working in ministry,” Matt shares. Before coming to Northview, Matt spent seven years in Flint, Michigan, serving with a church in an underprivileged area.
Matt has noticed a difference in Northview over the past five years. “Northview has changed by becoming more outwardly focused than ever. Everything we even think of doing is run through the lens of others’ needs, not Northview’s needs. Love that about this church.”
Matt has changed, too. “I’ve grown as a worship leader, and I’ve grown emotionally,” hes says. “Stripping away the exterior; the façade of who we pretend to be, or feel we should be, is something I believe God has solidified as a calling in my life.”
Matt has a wife, Heather, and two daughters. He says he loves spending time with them.
In his free time, he enjoys physical fitness. “Besides that, I’m a writer and am currently working on a couple of projects,” Matt says. He also enjoys coffee, biking, movies, and reading. “It’s not tough to keep me entertained.”
When asked about any “wow God!” things he’s witnessed, Matt notes, “The Northview people (I always refer to them as ‘The Good People of Northview’) are simply good-hearted. I’ve not seen a group of people accept, love, put up with, celebrate and work with each other like they do. Unity is a powerful thing, and I believe this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of unity in the last 17 years of ministry.”
Thanks for your five years of service, Matt. Here’s hoping there are many more!
Where freedom rings
Posted on: July 5, 2011
by Matt Bays
Freedom is the ability to recognize my obsession and to willingly choose something that will heal me from the inside out, rather than the outside in. If happiness is an internal condition, then nothing in my outside world can cure what is internally broken.
I am conditioned, in my own humanity, to desire something outside of myself to bring contentment. From the time I was a baby, I would cry for my mother to bring me something to eat, a toy to play with, or to simply entertain me with her attention. When I was an adolescent, I expected to be in the extracurricular activities that I wanted, to get the part in the play I had auditioned for, to get picked early for the kickball game. When I was a teenager, I expected good grades without working for them, to get the girl who was usually dating the quarterback of the football team, to be able to go to whatever party I was invited to. But something happened when I turned into an adult. No one continued to give, but instead, giving was replaced with taking. Or more accurately, givers were replaced with takers. I began to understand that expectations would be required of me in this new stage of life which would last until I was dead. I would be expected to make a house payment every month. I would be expected to perform well in my vocation. I would be asked to make donations to charities. I would be expected to give tax money to the government so they could pave a road; a road I may never drive on or even see. Suddenly there were very few things in my outside world that existed to make me happy. The world no longer encircled me with amusements and the spontaneous impulsivity I enjoyed when I was young. Requirements, deadlines, expectations, and obligations were a part of every day life. Because of this, security, peace, self esteem and faith were unfavorably exchanged with worry, anxiety, self evaluation and fear.
This is when I realized that the safe world children live in becomes elusive in our twenties, thirties, forties and beyond. This new world will require something more to make me happy. And so we begin the search. We search for happiness in the most obvious of places; our spouses or friends, our children and our jobs, which all fail miserably. So we search further. We begin looking into things that pique our human desires; jewelry, money, sex, a new spouse, approval seeking, food, vocation, television, self deprecation, alcohol, drugs, pornography, insecurity… the list is endless. This endless list draws us in by tickling our humanity, and in no time we find ourselves proud owners of an obsession that has gotten a hold of us, cut into our soul and is bleeding us dry.
The tricky thing about these obsessions – the most sneaky thing about them – is they keep us believing we have the upper hand long after they have overtaken us. They tell us it’s not that bad, when the truth is they occupy nearly every moment of our day. We say we could do without them, but find that we rarely ever do.
Obsession.
It’s the opposite of freedom.
Nothing that comes to me from the outside can bring freedom. It cannot be given to me by any person (other than the person of Christ) or any thing. It is an internal journey requiring me to say, “Yes, I recognize my own personal obsession. Yes, I will lay down this obsession that has held me back; that has stolen relationships, happiness and years from my life, and I will begin this internal journey. I will start over and head down the path of healing that Jesus made available to me.”
The path that Jesus made available to us all.
The path where freedom rings.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galations 5:1 (KJV)
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