PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

people about worship, everyone can worship in a more meaningful way. Also, most will perhaps
be more tolerant one of another.
Leaders should keep the worship experience elevated so that the non-church attenders
may appreciate and understanding the dynamics of what is happening. I am not sure that we
should plan Sunday morning for only the un-churched, nor should we have a worship service that
excludes the unsaved. A service for both has been called "the blended service."
We should be sensitive to the unchurched, and help them enter with the proper attitude
and focus. Specifically, the unsaved should realize that worship will not save them. However,
God does not reject the "worthship due Him" from unsaved church attenders. When the Psalmist
cried, "Worship the Lord all ye lands" (Psalm 100:1), he was commanding the unsaved nations
(Gentiles) outside Israel to worship God. Also, in the final Judgment Day the unsaved will
worship God, but then it will be too late to become converted. But nevertheless, "Every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).
Everyone must worship, it is not an option. Worship must come from our heart and must
be consistent with Scripture. However, there is a choice in worship, it is a choice of how we will
tell God we love Him.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY
After we have explained several attitudes toward the six worship expressions, there is a
second phase that needs to be explained. There are five things every person must do.
1. Learn tolerance. Because of the biblical nature of each of the six worship
expressions, all worshippers ought to be tolerant of those who apply New Testament worship
differently. If in fact they are worshipping God the Father according to the scriptures, and they
are worshipping Him with all their hearts; they are not disobedient believers. We must all
recognize the biblical basis for each worship paradigm.
2. Work toward balance in the Body of Christ. When a church emphasizes a certain
strength in worship expression, it should also recognize its weakness. When a congregation
over-emphasizes one worship expression, it is probably de-emphasizing strengths found in other
churches. There is strength in every weakness and in every weakness there is strength. When we
see our weaknesses in the mirror of our strengths, we should strive for a well-rounded local Body
of Christ, that reflects all spiritual gifts. Ideally, all churches should be well-rounded, which is
another way of saying all churches should be similar. But that is not the case. We live in a world
made up of different people, from different ethnocentric minorities, with different perspectives
on life. While there is a homogeneity in human nature and personality, the cultural differences
drive us to diversity. Therefore, we should all strive for a well-balanced worship service that
involves all believers, and all of their spiritual gifts; so that everyone gives the "worthship" to
God that is due to Him. However, the diversity of individuals accounts for the many expressions
of worship. When all people can and will worship God from their heart, and in the comfort of
their cultural expressions; God can touch them and direct their life.