What the Church Needs Now

The Good News

On the one hand, the last thirty years have seen an explosion in interest in, and focus on, worship in churches. A.W. Tozer, who bemoaned the state of worship in his day by calling it "The Missing Jewel in the Evangelical Church," would certainly be amazed at the worship reformation (or revolution) which has transpired since his prophetic call in the 1950's -- and which was probably touched off by him (or rather was used by God to touch it off). Worship has become a primary concern and consideration in most of evangelicalism today: conferences and books on the subject abound; we have witnessed a landslide of printed and recorded worship materials; there has been a massive trend away from "Directors of Music" to "Pastors of Worship." Most importantly, there is no doubt that there has been a God-honoring return to genuine worship in spirit and truth in many churches.

The Bad News

At the same time, worship has erupted out of its former benign neglect to become the leading hot button and center of controversy in the church today. Churches and staffs have split over the issue, while in other situations there is at least constant foment or an uneasy truce. Scarcely any congregation has been spared the debates over individual tastes, music styles, instrumentation, dynamics, audiovisual aids, etc. etc. And whatever decision (if any) has been rendered by the church leadership on these areas of disagreement, it has often resulted in someone leaving the church out of dissatisfaction (or, worse yet, staying with a grudging spirit).

What's at Stake

Sadly, there is no sign that the storm is abating. It is scandalously true that the supposed worship of our holy and almighty God is today's leading source of dissension and division in our churches; tragically, that activity which should express most powerfully the unity of Christ's body under its Head is all too often the seedbed for disunity, strife, and distrust. In sadly short supply is fulfillment of the apostle Paul's prayer, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Jesus Christ, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans15:5-6) There are precious few places where "the same mind," "one accord," and "one voice" would characterize either the debate on worship or its outworkings; and without those things how can we hope to (in Paul's words) "glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"?

Brethren, this need not be! This must not be! I believe that in the swirl of debate and controversy we have all too often lost sight of some foundational truths which must undergird and fortify our worship practices, regardless of which direction those practices may take. We must agree on these fundamental premises concerning worship, that we might move forward together on this common ground. For only if we strive for unity, even in our diversity, will we truly be acting as Christ's universal body, and be pleasing to Him in our worship.

Foundational Truths

1. We must focus on God's glory.

"From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36) If "all things" are for His sake and unto His glory, certainly this would be preeminently true, among all human endeavors, of worship. For in worship we echo Paul's doxology; we acknowledge the supreme greatness and utter majesty and all-surpassing worth of God; we consciously and deliberately "honor Him as God [and] give thanks" (Romans 1:21); we engage in the defining and central activity for which we humans were created, and return to Him that which He will not tolerate being deflected in any other direction: "My glory I will not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8).

Are we preoccupied in our worship with God and His stupendous glory? Do we dwell on His absolute holiness, whereby He stands infinitely above and distinct from everything else which exists-- because He created everything else which exists? Are we so intoxicated with the wonder of His love and mercy and condescension towards us in the Lord Jesus, that "the things of earth . . . grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace"?

What aspect of the currently raging worship debates is so weighty that it deserves even mentioning in the light of His ineffable glory? Do we really think that the God who flung a billion billion stars into space, who calls each of them by name (Isaiah 40:26), and who keeps each of them in their courses, is really that concerned about whether it is a hymn or a chorus which is lifted up to Him in praise, or whether the text is in a book or printed in a bulletin or flashed on a wall or screen? If the nations themselves are but "a speck of dust on the scales" to our great God (Isaiah 40:15), how much less must such issues (which loom so large in our sight) seem to Him?

Are our best worship energies expended in ways which are worthy of the One to whom our worship is due? To be sure, He delights in the praises of His people; but He who "looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) of the worshiper is surely not too concerned with the "outward appearance' of the proceedings.

If we could really grasp something of the glory of God, and commit ourselves to its display and celebration in corporate worship, our petty squabbles would quickly fade into significance.

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