“What does real worship look like? There have never been more options in worship style than today. There is the sacred silence of the Quakers; the stately pageantry of Catholics and Episcopalians; the unpredictable emotionalism of old-line Pentecostals; the predictable order of traditional Baptists and Presbyterians and Methodists; the creative and experimental openness of contemporary churches. This is not an exhaustive analysis, but the truth is clear; in American Christianity today, it’s not “one-size-fits-all.”
“Many churches are changing their worship styles in order to accommodate “church growth.” In other words, their worship is “seeker-sensitive” and “client-centered” (to borrow a phrase from the business world). Worship for these churches is all about connecting with the unchurched and the unsaved. The first question these church leaders as is, “How do I connect the message of the gospel with those who need it most?”
“Then there are those churches which believe that the first question to be asked about worship is, “What does God desire of us? How can we glorify and honor Him in our worship?” In these churches, worship is not designed primarily to attract outsiders; it is done to glorify God. Evangelism is a by-product of God-centered worship in these churches, not the primary purpose for gathering and worship.
“The Lord does not want [us] to either remain floating in the eddies of tradition or to ride the wave of “what’s happening now.” He wants us to look into His word, listen to His voice, and follow His leading. The greatest challenge to the 21st century church is not style, but substance. It is not the “order” of the worship, but the “ardor” of the worship. It is not the choreography of the platform team, but the “perichoresis” or sacred dance of the Holy Trinity, moving in freedom in our times of corporate worship."
