Worship

Worship as entertainment is idolatry. By definition worship must be about God, not my amusement. Here is where disagreement exists: stages, theater-lighting, bands, dancers, dramatists, hand-held microphones, all up front, the service performed on behalf of an audience relaxing in theater-style seating. Is this adiaphora? Normally, issues of seating, lighting, placement of musicians, style of platform might have qualified as things indifferent, just as the elevation and adoration of the host might have been considered adiaphora. But a line has been crossed in our generation. Much of what passes for worship today is nothing more than lightly baptized entertainment, and therefore is idolatrous. It is idolatry from which serious churches must distance themselves. Our principle must be (with apologies to Luther): “Let us, therefore, repudiate everything that smacks of entertainment.” (taken from http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/pluralistic-worship/).

I was handed a book recently titled "The Art of Curating Worship; Reshaping the Role of Worship Leader" by Mark Pierson. I love music, I love worship, but I'm no musician, nor an artist. I took a quick look to the back to see the "approved by" list, and unfortunately it included Brian McLaren, so needless to say my hackles were already up before opening the cover. Surprisingly, the author made some good points right off the hop, and declared that the church MUST be teaching the scriptures as presented in the Bible. I was able to relax a little...but just a little.

Much like the term "church", the term "worship" is generally used with a presupposition that we all know and agree on what the definition of worship is. "Worship" time can be an issue in a church when there is no worship leader (which we currently don't have here at Hill Country). If worship is restricted to the playing and singing of music, our church is already in trouble. But when looking at the definition of worship, we can find that worship is an act of reverence toward God. This can be done by singing, and for the most part churches follow this pattern. But is it the ONLY way we can worship?

Music and singing can and should be used during our services, for both corporate and individual worship. Music and proper theologically correct lyrics enhance the Word of God in our hearts, and may help us in quiet prayerful worship to Him. But during the singing and playing of music, is there anything else that is an "acceptable" form of worship? Pierson brings up the idea of the creation of art as worship. What if we were to pray for one another, laying on of hands for healing and other forms of service during the music? Where is the line, and how can we make worship both corporate and individual? How can we make a Sunday service both theological AND experiencial? (I just made a whole lot of people nervous with that word, didn't I?)

Being part of a new church, we have a wonderful opportunity to set our course from day one, to be who God makes us to be, and not have to go through the painful process of slowly changing a set congregation over long periods of time, often to the detriment of the body. I pray God sends us a qualified worship leader, but it's been refreshing to be able to explore the meaning of worship and how we as a church can go about it in a biblical and God-fearing way. We must remember that there are standards to how we approach God, and to approach Him in a manner that is unacceptable to Him is a sin, and a serious one. Our rather cavalier and idolatrous approach in many churches today runs the serious risk of making a mockery of our God, rather than one of reverence.

Has the time come when the sanctuaries of evangelical Protestantism must be cleansed of everything that reflects the world of entertainment? Our Reformed forefathers took axes to the altars, and they whitewashed the walls of medieval churches. If our analysis of worship that entertains is correct, similar iconoclastic fury must be shown, and soon, in our houses of worship lest they become houses of mirth: theater seats pulled out; stages broken up; dancers and actors banished; musicians’ and choirs’ roles redefined as that of simply supporting and enhancing congregational singing; pulpit, table, and font restored to their proper places; pastors moved back behind pulpits; and simple services of the Word read, preached, sung, prayed, and seen (in the sacraments) reestablished. What was once indifferent can be considered indifferent no more, not if Reformed Protestantism is to continue to practice purity in its worship and avoid idolatry. “Little children,” says the apostle John, “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). (taken from same link as above).

Our next service is this Sunday at 10:00am at 54 Glenpatrick Rd. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call us at 403-932-0519 or email us at hillcountryreformed@gmail.com. We are still working through a few things so be gracious please!

God bless.