PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

THE FUTURE OF WORSHIP
1. A thirst for God. There seems to be a desire to know God . . . not to know about
Him . . . but to know Him. More and more people want to bless God . . . not just to get Him to
bless them. He seems to be the growing focus of more and more Christians. They are carrying
out the passion of Paul, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection" (Philippians
3:10).
2. The thirst of worship. There seems to be a growing hunger on the part of
Christians to encounter God and revel in His presence. More than The Renewal Church or
Liturgical Church, God's people crave a real divine encounter.
Obviously, attendance is up at the worship services of evangelical churches. At the same
time Sunday Schools, fellowship hours, evangelistic crusades, or the many other meetings
conducted by the church are declining in attendance.
Worship has an awe that attracts worshippers. It has mystery that intrigues those who
don't know God. It has passion that many empty-hearted people need. Attendance at worship
services has grown because of what you become. Worship has some teaching, as does Sunday
School, but Sunday School is declining. Worship has fellowship as other organizations offer
fellowship, but they are not effective. Worship is growing while others are not, because in
worship alone, the created human mirrors God in whose image he/she was created.
3. Worship is more spontaneous in America today than it has been in many years.
Some of this spontaneity is being driven by culture where Americans become more responsive to
television,video games, and life in general. Another driving force of spontaneity is new
expectations in worship. Pastors expect people to become more involved than ever before. The
term "user friendly" means bringing the person into the market and the market into the person;
the key phrase for both Bible teaching and worship.
Participatory Worship
and
Participatory Learning
The worship service is no longer a well-designed sequence of events that is controlled by
the pastor. More often than not, the audience is given opportunity to respond, read, lift hands,
share, or actively pray.