Much like Bush thought a couple of years ago about the Iraqi war, many think the "worship wars" are over. Sadly for both fronts, they are not, and this Moody Magazine article by John Fischer discusses the latter: What to do About the Worship Wars
Of note, Fischer says:
According to Charles Finney’s Lectures on Revival of 1835, it took some churches a century to adapt to Isaac Watts. "People in numerous congregations continue to walk out of church if a psalm or hymn is taught from a new book. And if Watts’ psalms were adopted, they would split and form a new congregation rather than tolerate such innovation."
It looks like this "war" has been going on a lot longer than we thought!
Fischer goes on to make this claim, which is quite justified:
Suddenly it all looks very relative, doesn’t it? How far back do you want to go? How far forward can you stretch? It soon becomes clear that in trying to please everyone, you run the real risk of pleasing no one at all.
From which he comes to an ever-important conclusion, that
God is interested in using the conflicts that have arisen over styles of worship to help teach His church deeper truths: that there is a way of winning the worship wars that has nothing to do with the "blended or separate service?" question. It has everything to do with getting a bigger idea of what worship is and a more mature understanding of what the church is and what it is here to do.
And further, that
It’s our life, not a worship service, that will make us worshipers. We don’t go to church to worship; we go to church because we are already worshipers. And if someone is a true worshiper, which means their whole life is an act of worship, then what happens for 30 minutes of music once a week is a small thing indeed.
Fischer says the battle needs to be redefined. That
The war is not between those who want traditional worship and those who want contemporary worship. The real war is with the enemy who would do us in by dividing us and rendering us ineffective by our bickering and fighting.
Wow. Stepping on some toes here buddy!
Fischer then concludes his article with a call to move past bickering over a thirty minute segment of our worship service, and open our eyes to the harvest - a call to evangelism, to being willing to lay down our weapons for the sake of the Gospel.
He says:
Some 30 years ago a revival swept this country that came to be called the Jesus movement. Thousands of young people came to Christ, and many of them made their way into the church. It happened so fast and in such great numbers that churches forgot to tell these kids to cut their hair, change into suits, and leave their guitars outside. Churches that opened their doors to this influx had their "worship" drastically altered. Was this a stretch for some churches? Yes. But in every case where an adjustment was made, it was the joy and reality of new life that won out.
God help us in this New Year to unify, to love one another from the heart, and come back to the heart of worship.
Of note, Fischer says:
According to Charles Finney’s Lectures on Revival of 1835, it took some churches a century to adapt to Isaac Watts. "People in numerous congregations continue to walk out of church if a psalm or hymn is taught from a new book. And if Watts’ psalms were adopted, they would split and form a new congregation rather than tolerate such innovation."
It looks like this "war" has been going on a lot longer than we thought!
Fischer goes on to make this claim, which is quite justified:
Suddenly it all looks very relative, doesn’t it? How far back do you want to go? How far forward can you stretch? It soon becomes clear that in trying to please everyone, you run the real risk of pleasing no one at all.
From which he comes to an ever-important conclusion, that
God is interested in using the conflicts that have arisen over styles of worship to help teach His church deeper truths: that there is a way of winning the worship wars that has nothing to do with the "blended or separate service?" question. It has everything to do with getting a bigger idea of what worship is and a more mature understanding of what the church is and what it is here to do.
And further, that
It’s our life, not a worship service, that will make us worshipers. We don’t go to church to worship; we go to church because we are already worshipers. And if someone is a true worshiper, which means their whole life is an act of worship, then what happens for 30 minutes of music once a week is a small thing indeed.
Fischer says the battle needs to be redefined. That
The war is not between those who want traditional worship and those who want contemporary worship. The real war is with the enemy who would do us in by dividing us and rendering us ineffective by our bickering and fighting.
Wow. Stepping on some toes here buddy!
Fischer then concludes his article with a call to move past bickering over a thirty minute segment of our worship service, and open our eyes to the harvest - a call to evangelism, to being willing to lay down our weapons for the sake of the Gospel.
He says:
Some 30 years ago a revival swept this country that came to be called the Jesus movement. Thousands of young people came to Christ, and many of them made their way into the church. It happened so fast and in such great numbers that churches forgot to tell these kids to cut their hair, change into suits, and leave their guitars outside. Churches that opened their doors to this influx had their "worship" drastically altered. Was this a stretch for some churches? Yes. But in every case where an adjustment was made, it was the joy and reality of new life that won out.
God help us in this New Year to unify, to love one another from the heart, and come back to the heart of worship.
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
Chorus:I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
(Matt Redman, 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing))
