Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

WORSHIP WARS

“YOu’ve all heard the nursery rhyme, ‘some like it hot, some like it cold, some like it in the pot nine days old!’ well, that’s about what’s happening in the world of Christian worship these days…”

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the biggest problem the church faces in the 21^st century, how to hold a worship service …

…War and worship certainly don’t go together, for worship by its very name and concept is the togetherness of God’s people, offering up unified praise and thanksgiving to the God who created and saved them. Alas, in many churches across the American scene, worship and war are together in a firestorm of conflict. What has caused this? The answer is worship “styles.” Amazingly enough, this has been a conflict since the Garden of Eden where the Bible records the first murder occurred, committed over of all things – worship styles.

As a pastor of many years, and moving into what the younger generation calls the realm of senior saints, I’ve watched the life and ministry of worship in the church change dramatically. Actually, there seems to be three particularly popular worship styles that are the issue of conflict these days. So after another moment of music, I’ll return to talk with you about them, and help you to see the issue, and hopefully what we can do about it to quell the WORSHIP WARS going on these days in God’s beloved churches…

…  Today churches are divided by what many feel is “Contemporary worship vs. Traditional worship.” Actually, both labels are not quite accurate. For what is considered “traditional,” in and of itself is contemporary to what came before. Let me give you a quick scenario. Today I see that there are three popular worship styles that are operative in our life times. The first one we might call,

1. THE ‘EVANGELISTIC GOSPEL MEETING’ WORSHIP STYLE (1930’s–1960’s) – Years ago when Christians came together for these meetings often held in tents and tabernacles, the worship was lively, upbeat and participatory singing abounded. The piano and often a semblance of musical instruments, like a trombone and trumpet, were used to rouse the people. Often in the aisles, people shouted, “Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God,” as they ‘got blessed.’ This was followed by testimonies of salvation given and prayer requests were taken. To keep the pot boiling, ‘contemporary,’ yes there’s that word, ‘Choruses’ were often used, as the piano came alive by the evangelistic playing styles of the era. Following this, a boisterous, loud animated preaching of the gospel ensued, and an altar-call followed where it was expected to see many coming forward to kneel and pray confessing sin, and crying out for God to forgive them and be blessed. Oh I remember those days, and so do many of the older generation of senior saints. But in response to this came a second style of worship that is predominantly with us to this day,

2. THE ‘DECENT AND ORDERLY,’ TRADITIONAL WORSHIP STYLE (1950’s -1980’s)- In the 50’s, a reaction to the boisterous worship of the evangelistic camp meeting style occurred in main line, and conservative churches. Out of it evolved a “new” more sedate and what some considered respectable worship came forth. Gradually, the noisy music-filled meetings with loud piano, trombone and trumpet were replaced by the quiet, meditative sound of the high-church organ and piano exclusively. The famous “church bulletin” emerged, with a printed order of service everyone could follow. Testimonies faded from the scene, and the loud upbeat music was replaced with the older hymns of Wesley, Luther, and others of previous generations. The “hymnbook” became popular as it was filled with generally quiet music of the past. Song leaders simply became pager-turner announcers, and participation by the congregation in the form of testimonies, and shouts of “Amen,” “Preach it brother,” “Hallelujah,’ were frowned upon and forgotten. When one entered the sanctuary, “shush,” was the watchword. The preaching too was subdued, and gentle, quiet messages were given to uplift the worshipper and allow him or her to leave feeling content and satisfied they had worshipped God, respectfully. This group proudly took the name – Traditionalists! They were personally assured their form of worship was right, and God was now pleased, order and decency were brought to the worship scene once again. Well during the thirty or so years it reigned, in time this traditional worship became dead, boring and lifeless to many newer Christians. They reacted and brought about what today is called,

3. THE ‘CONTEMPORARY’ WORSHIP STYLE (1980’s – present) – This new style, rejecting the older one so many folks became comfortable with, began in the Pentecostal and then Charismatic circles, but soon broke out in the evangelical world of believers. The “baby boomers, born to ‘traditionalists’ worshippers found that they didn’t enjoy the sedate, orderly worship. Many left the churches and started news ones, with a differing style that for them represented the modern church and day in which they lived. They called their new worship, “Contemporary,” as opposed to “Traditional.”  What was different? Well, in a sense they went back to the gospel camp meeting style, but updated it to the modern technological advances of the age. This contemporary worship style accomplished the following. First, the hymnals were thrown out along with the quiet traditional hymns of the past. Singing the same songs over and over again for decades was tiring to this younger group of worshippers. They wanted their own music styles and contemporary expressions of praise to God, just as other generations had. In came the praise choruses, and praise teams, and praise bands which would lead these new upbeat, lively expressions of worshipful praise to God. Using the technology of today, multimedia projectors came on the scene in the 90’s, and the quiet organ was replaced with a digital piano and keyboard. 

In addition, the noisy trombone of the camp meeting era evolved into a guitar and drums. Choirs with robes were scrapped and along came the praise team of three or four singers who with lively hand clapping, which was borrowed from the Charismatics, would lead the congregation of worshippers into an emotional God-experience. The pastor usually a younger man from the baby boomer generation, would cast off the “traditional” suit and tie and dress casually, as the pulpit was modernized to a simply Plexiglas stand. The congregation followed in casual dress too. The non-participatory traditional worship style of the past, being replaced now, enabled the new worshippers to be involved in the services. As worshippers stood, they clapped their hands, shouted praises and lifted hands high. This “new” worship, for the younger generation, is their own deep genuine and personal expression of worshipping God.

But, here enters the “Worship Wars,” as congregations have had to face the fact that virtually two differing generations of people claim that “their” worship style is of God, and all others are not!

As these groups, the younger and older generations stood their ground, clashes in the congregation appeared. Whenever worship styles are put up for vote, many in the older senior saints generation vote with their checkbook, and the younger generation votes with their feet.

Yet if one researches worship among God’s people from Bible days to today, they might be surprised to note that worship changes, as people change, and it will continue to do so in the future if the Lord tarries. Yes, today’s contemporary worship style, as new and exciting as it is, one day will become the “traditional,” style to possibly be rejected by a newer generation and era of worshippers to come. But now let’s ask what is worship? Well, looking in the Bible I’ve discovered it must involve a number of things. First it must involve,

1.  the ‘gathering together’ OF ALL THE SAINTS. Worship indeed is not some saints here and others there, but “all” gathering together in one place to meet with God. God tells us in His Word that He desires and wants us to come together regularly to meet and worship Him.

Psa 50:5 (NIV)  “”Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.””

Heb 10:25 (NIV)  “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Yes, worship meetings will never be out-of-date, because God commands and demands His children regularly ‘come together’ to worship Him. Well, secondly, worship time must be,

2. A time of worshipper participation & INTERACTION – God wants His children to personally and publicly show their appreciation, love, and thankfulness to Him. This can be accomplished through music and testimony. Hence, God’s people must publicly express themselves. Here is one of the war issues. Today in the traditional camp, hand clapping, raised hands, shouts of joy, body moments are considered ‘ungodly, or excesses’. How this came about I do not know, for in Scripture we find that God was pleased when His children openly and outwardly expressed their praise and thanksgiving in a worship experience. For instance, we see in the worship times of Israel under the leadership of King David, the people of Israel were encouraged,

Psa 47:1 (NIV)  “… Clap your hands… shout to God with cries of joy.”

Psa 28:2 (NIV)  “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.”

Psa 63:4 (NIV)  “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

1 Tim 2:8 (NIV)  “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”

All these things in the Bible, accepted and longed for by God, were physical expressions and  means of worshipping God in a worship service. How is it in the traditional camp outward expressions became ungodly? The answer in part is, some saw these expressions in Charismatic circles as a part of their spiritual errors, and equated it as the same. How unfortunate!

Now another form of worshipper participation is not just the singing of hymns and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, but the making of music itself. Yes, I believe God wants every generation to express their worship in their own personal ways using their own talents, gifting, and uniqueness of their generation. This of course, causes other and older generations to feel uncomfortable. Yet they should rejoice to see the younger generation seeking God!

Now admittedly, ‘contemporary Christian music’ (CCM) today is good and bad. Bad in the sense that often ungodly things can creep into the church. Rock music itself is not wrong or evil, but certain forms of it tend to lead worshippers away from true worship and experience into a false sense of it. Body movement and very loud music called “high energy,” can keep the mind preoccupied with the sounds and physical response to it, while clouding the mind rendering it incapable of the spiritual response God wants from us. But to throw out all contemporary music because of excesses, is like saying we’ll not sing some older hymns because the melodies were borrowed from beer drinking songs of the past era. Today’s generation has a right to express themselves in worship as they are genuinely led, and the older generation needs to be more loving to allow them such expression without condemnation.

Also, the younger generation needs to learn from the older that many of “their” hymns are filled with music that can lift the soul and heart through the words and melodies in meditative ways. Worship must involve participation, but that participation must lead the worshipper to open their hearts to what God wants to do in their lives. This often includes bringing us to times of confession of and sorrow for sin. This only comes when the body takes a back seat, and the emotions and heart moving to the forefront. Quiet meditative music and singing can bring this out. In addition to worshipper participation, true worship must include a time of,

3. SERIOUS PREACHING & TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD – Unfortunately, in many modern upbeat contemporary worship churches, music has become number one, and preaching and teaching takes the back seat. There simply isn’t enough time left for it. This is wrong. God must speak to our hearts, and God intends to do so in the worship times of the saints. The Bible has given us gifted men, who can only be heard when the saints are gathered together. The Bible says,

Mat 4:17 (NIV)  “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

2 Tim 4:2 (NIV)  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

2 Tim 4:3-4 (NIV)  “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Rom 10:17 (NIV)  “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

True worship times must include adequate preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and the saints must allow time for this to occur, so God can speak to them. The old-fashioned “country hour,” cannot adequately meet the needs of worshippers today. Therefore good worshiup must provide time for all these things. Lastly, true worship must include time for the saints to respond to their experience of God. This is seen often in,

4. A TIME OF PERSONAL CLOSING RESPONSE. Yes, every worshipper who truly meets God in worship times, must respond to what the Lord says and does in our hearts when we come together. No saint has truly worshipped God, regardless of a traditional or contemporary service, until they walk away having met God and allowed Him to change them further into His likeness. Yes, God is in the business of conforming us to be like His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord God and Savior. The Bible says,

Rom 8:29 (NIV)  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

2 Cor 3:18 (NIV)  “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The fact of the matter is, it isn’t spiritually normal to sit quietly in a worship service and leave with no response. For centuries, worshippers actively participated in the worship times of the saints. From King David’s day to today, Grand liturgical drama and music, ecstatic praise offered outwardly, and deep personal response to God meeting them, is what God wants regardless of the style used.

We must stop condemning anything that does not fit our comfort zone, and quit labeling other worship styles as ungodly because they differ from what we are used to. Furthermore, we must examine our own worship times to see if it meets these criteria I’ve share with you. Now to do this with the varying generations together is difficult.

We see, the older generation wants nothing of today’s. The younger generation wants nothing of the past. What’s the answer to our worship wars? Honestly I don’t know, except to say this. Both young and old alike must make room for each other. Perhaps, it’s the “blended” service concept where the hymns of old are not cast off, but the contemporary church and praise music of today must be lovingly permitted for this generation to freely worship God. Now some churches have tried to end this war by having both a traditional and contemporary worship service geared exclusively to each generation’s likes. This works at times, but usually splits the church into differing groups. I personally feel the blended service is the answer, for God wants us to be together. Yet it will require us all to leave off our own desires and seek that which best honors God’s desire to reach the masses of people today.

Personally, I strongly believe there is no worship style God prefers. There is no music God prefers. What God prefers is that we “worship” Him with all our heart and soul, and that it is genuine from within. I believe that we can do this traditionally in those who best respond to this form of worship style, but equally in the “contemporary worship style” for today’s generations too. Moreover, let me tell you, I vehemently reject the stifling either by selfish saints who want it only their way!

For example, to reject or stifle hand clapping in response to music sung or played in worship services, is plain wrong and ungodly! To reject personal responses to worship such as shouting “amen, hallelujah, praise the Lord,” or just raising hands in worshipful praise is wrong and sinful! These are natural expressions of the saints, often unique to differing generations, as their moments of “God-experience” so necessary in worship times.

So I say to you. Are you part of the solution, or are you a part of the war front? Must it be your way or mine? Or can we make room for every generation and time we live in, to meet the needs of people to find Christ as Savior, to grow in His Word, and to experience God freshly each worship day. That is my goal, and I know God will be pleased with every church and fellowship that lives for and practices this among its people. May we give God this glory and end the worship wars so prevalent in the church these days, and seek to worship the Lord with all our soul, spirit and body to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

…What makes a worship service pleasing to God? Very simple. We must above all, honor Jesus Christ and His Word, love His people, and to do whatever we do in our worship to the Lord, with excellence, decency and order. But in doing all that we must seek unity, but remembering we will never be able to please everyone. Those who become troublemakers and cannot find peace, we must not cater to them, but seek to pass on to the next generation a godly heritage for eternity. May God bless these thoughts to your heart for Jesus sake. Amen.

·         Radio talk #3102

·         Broadcast date: August 08, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.