Implications for Worship
Planning
As one who has
visited many different churches in recent years, it is the observation of this
writer that an increasing number of persons gathered in the North American Anglo
church on Sunday morning appear to be “spectators.” This is especially apparent
during times designed for congregational singing. The worshipers represented by
the other countries in this project tend to be much better participants than
the rest of us.
Why are so many attendees
disengaged in the process? Do they not like to sing? Do they not know the
songs? Or, do they see themselves more as an “audience” to be entertained by
talented leaders than as “participants” in the worship process? While this
trend is on the rise, it is not a new problem. Robert Webber, commenting on the
changes in worship back in the 4th century following the conversion
of Constantine
and the endorsement of Christianity as a legal religion, states: “This
worldview shift put the church into a friendly environment where, with gifts of
buildings in which to worship, the worship of the church shifted from intimacy
to theater.”[1]
Other
contemporary writers agree. Morgenthaler states: “We are not producing
worshipers in this country. Rather, we are producing a generation of
spectators, religious onlookers lacking, in many cases, any memory of a true
encounter with God, deprived of both the tangible sense of God’s presence and
the supernatural relationship their inmost spirits crave.”[2]
Those who plan
services must avoid the popular trend where pastors and musicians perform for
an audience of consumers. Worship is to be done by the people—not to
them or for them.[3] Worship
planners must consider new methods of involving the people as participants
without imposing change just for the sake of novelty. For example, there is
great value in responsively reading a Psalm or chapter of scripture from the
Bible as some of these sample cultures do. Utilizing the historic forms of
worship from the ancient church such as creeds or other readings may bring a
newfound freshness to a service. While some may reject practices associated
with more formal churches, such distinctions as "formal" versus "informal" are more
rooted in personal preference than in theological conviction.[4]
Creativity requires more preparation time than some worship leaders are willing
to give to the process. But “good preparation gives you the freedom to be
spontaneous in the Spirit without sacrificing effectiveness.”[5]
In
regard to creativity, Morgenthaler asserts, “We need ‘vehicles’ or forms of
expression for all the marvelous verbs of worship: praise, adoration,
thanksgiving, contrition, commitment, petition, intercession, and so on. Our
desire for relevance is a good thing. But we cannot keep taking worship away
from the people simply because we have not had the courage or the resolve to
create interactive worship expressions for our own generation.”[6]
Good worship must
be learned before it is experienced. This means that pastors and worship
leaders must be able to teach good worship practices, primarily through
modeling it themselves. This is the only way to combat poor worship. The
primary issue is not worship style or the kinds of instruments being used to
aid worship. Those are means to an end. What will best serve the congregation
by assisting them in a genuine God-encounter? “The end is to meet with Jesus,
to know his presence, to fully engage our hearts in authentic expressions of
love to him.”[7] For this
reason, the body of Christ should be taught to celebrate, even during
traditionally solemn times such as the Lord’s Supper.
Singing
and praying and bowing in our corporate worship are expressions “…of the
essence of worship, but those things can happen and not be worship. Worship is not first an outward act; it is an inner
spiritual treasuring of the character and the ways of God in Christ. It is a
cherishing Christ, a being satisfied with all that God is for us in Christ.
When these things are missing, there is no worship, no matter what forms or
expressions are present.”[8]
Worship isn’t just
about what happens on Sunday in a special building dedicated by God’s people.
In God’s economy, worship is life. It “…is a comprehensive category describing
the Christian’s total existence.”[9]
When Paul described true worship as “offering our bodies as living sacrifices
which were holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1), he was talking about
everyday life. What happens in corporate worship is designed to embolden the
believer and to empower the church to serve God in the world. What happens on
Sunday when the saints gather to worship should be an expression of the
worshiper’s heart seven days a week.
In
conclusion, the following principles offer guidance in the preparation and
implementation of biblical worship experiences in any culture:
1.
God’s glory, and our joyful celebration of it in
worship, should be the focus and goal of all life and ministry (I Corinthians 10:31)
2.
Worship is first and foremost for God (Revelation 19:10; 22:9)
3.
Worship is a dialogue between God and His people, a
rhythm of revelation and response. (Psalm 96:4)
4.
The Word must be central in our worship (Psalm 150:2)
5.
Worship is the responsibility of all of God’s people
(Psalm 79:13)
6.
Our worship is acceptable in and through Christ our
High Priest (Hebrews 2:12)
7.
Our response of worship is enabled, motivated and
empowered by the Holy Spirit (Philippians 3:3)
8.
Worship is the response of our entire lives to God
(Romans 12:1)
9.
God is much more concerned with our heart than with the
form of our worship (I Samuel 16:7; Hosea 6:6)
10. Worship
should promote the unity and edification of the body (Romans 15:5-6)
11. Young
and old need each other in the Body of Christ (Psalm 148:12-13)
12. These
things must be taught and re-taught (I Thessalonians 4:1)[10]
[1] Robert
E. Webber, Worship Old & New, 95
[2] Sally
Morgenthaler, 17
[3] Webber, Exploring the Worship Spectrum,184.
[4] David
Peterson, Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992), 160.
[5]
Rognlien, 202.
[6]
Morgenthaler, Worship Evangelism, 118.
[7] Joe
Horness, “Contemporary Music-Driven Worship, “ Exploring the Worship Spectrum (6 Views), 109.
[8] Piper,
226-227.
[9]
Peterson, 18.
[10] Mann, Ron.
“Biblical Principles of Worship & Their Application to Local Church
Ministry,” Worship Resources,
2006-2007 (www.worr.org).
