Something seems really wrong with the whole title of the “Worship Wars”. It’s like I suddenly have visions of robed choir leaders lobbing grenades into the modern worship drummer’s cage. In a counter attack, the organist ducks and throws a mean upper cut to the cool guitar guy wearing jeans and t-shirt. All right, I realize that people take the debate in worship seriously, and so do I. I am just not sure who the genius was who coined the term “worship wars” and escalated the discussion to a global event needing United Nations intervention.
Initially the worship war was between traditional churches who favored hymnals and organs, and modern worship teams spawned in the Jesus movement who used guitars and newly written songs. Growing up, I always thought the worship war was between the liturgical churches using doxologies and schedules, and the Pentecostal churches whose spontaneous worship services included speaking in tongues and people getting slain in the Spirit. Pick up a new book on worship, and they will tell you that the worship war is between seeker friendly “pop” worship music, and emerging church’s eclectic mix of liturgy and multi-sensory experiences like mazes. If this war gets any more complex, we will need trading cards for each view on worship. Then, we could have a nerdy battle card game based on this.
I can’t really go any further in our series of posts on the church without wading into this dangerous territory. However, I want to make it clear that I am not a professionally trained church musician. I am not even an untrained, guitar wielding modern worship leader. I tried to learn to play the guitar at age 30, and achieved the level of “trained monkey”. I have “led” worship, although I would use that term very loosely. My favorite time was when I got so lost leading one song that I completely stopped in the middle of the song. Really nowhere to go after that. What I do have is 40 years of experience being a Christian who has gone to a LOT of worship services. In addition to that, I have been a Bible teacher for 17 years and have done topical studies on worship in the Bible.
After that glowing confidence builder, I want to once again bring us back from all the eloquent speakers, well written books, and convincing speakers to the simplicity of asking, “What does the Bible say about worship?” It won’t answer all of our questions, as the Bible is NOT a manual on worship with tons of details on music styles, activities, and so on. The Bible will provide us with the foundational purpose of worship along with some very practical examples. We can know what worship isn’t, which goes a long way in hopefully ending the worship wars.
As we study through, we will get to look at some statements that get thrown around the church these days. Worship is a lifestyle. You can worship God by scrubbing toilets. Singing is not necessary to worship God. The Bible says that we shouldn’t use musical instruments. Liturgy is better as it keeps us rooted in church tradition and avoids the “me centric” modern worship trend. No one understands hymns, so dump them for songs written in everyday English. Worship should be spontaneous. Worship is affirming who God is, it is not about our emotional high. What would it sound like if Raffi made a kids’ worship CD?
I have to be honest here. After 40 years of mostly evangelical church services, the 4 songs and done sets have lost something to me. Sometimes, I just hope they will sing 1 1/2 songs just to mess with me and the order. I do struggle at times with how some modern worship songs just talk about how I feel. Who cares how I feel, God created the universe! I don’t know who the guy is making a killing off of worship song Powerpoint backgrounds, but I don’t want to see anyone else raising their hands behind the words, or watch waves roll in as I try to read the lyrics to Amazing Grace. Don’t even get me started on how I feel when worship leaders tell you what to do. You raise your hands if you want, or say something to your neighbor, but leave me alone pal!
In the midst of all of it, I know that God must have something to say to the church today about worship. I know that there have been times during worship where God has given me my life call, touched me with grace that changed my life direction, and given me a vision of woman in a wedding dress (yes, my soon to be wife). God has brought me to repentance, used me to encourage others prophetically, and begun whole movements in churches I have attended through worship. It is so worth it to press through the issues to the heart of God on worship. Sing to the Lord a new song! … but just know someone will probably complain about your song (too loud, too long, not deep enough, too deep, not enough instruments, too many… bla, bla, bla).
The Bible Nerd 