PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

This involves kneeling at the altar, so more churches are adding "kneelers" not just Liturgical
Churches. People are asked to bow, making it a decisive act of their will, people are asked to lift
hands, or to clap in show of appreciation. Whether you agree with the expressions, "Let's give
Jesus a hand . . ." it is a response to the biblical admonition to, "clap your hands." To these
demonstrative acts add shouting, praising God, and to these even add prayer excursion, prayer
journeys, and prayer walking. Whatever the response, these are expressions that reflect the depth
of worship that many Christians are now feeling.
9. The atmospheric presence of God is felt in worship. Many have used the phrase
atmospheric revival, and atmospheric worship, to describe that which was "felt" in a particular
meeting of Christians. Whereas revival is defined, "God pouring Himself out on His people," the
phrase atmospheric revival expressed when people feel the presence of God. The phrase
atmospheric worship implies the successful worship of God, so that He comes as the object of
worship and receives worship that is directed to Him; hence people feel His presence.
Psalm 22:3 is often used to describe this phenomenon, "Oh, thou that inhabiteth the
praises of Israel," meaning God lives in the praises of His people. Since that is so, then people
can produce atmospheric worship by praising God, because God's presence will come into the
presence of His people when He is praised.
People have always believed in the omni-presence of God, i.e. that God is always present
equally, at all places at all times. Add to this the transcendence of God, that He is high and
sovereign, He is beyond all of us, for God dwelleth in the heavens. But to this add the
imminence that He is always close to everyone of us. In the atmosphere of worship, He who is
close to us is worshipped, even though He is the sovereign Lord of the universe. In the act of
worship we bring the sovereign Lord into our presence so we can feel His presence.
CHANGES IN CHURCH
The changes in the way the church is organized and conducted will make changes in
worship. And the changes of society and culture will change the church, because the church
must reach out to touch culture and change culture. And in the process of taking its place in
culture and incorporating the people of culture into its membership, then culture will influence
the church.
1. Multi-use buildings. In the past the church sanctuary was a sacred place, and the
colonists built their church before constructing any other community building. But the day of the
restricted sanctuary maybe is passing. The cost of property and construction has forced the
church to multi-use of its facilities.
• The Sanctitorium (sanctuary and auditorium)
• The Gymnatorium (gym and auditorium)
2. Multi-services. Because of zoning laws, parking restrictions and financial
limitations, many churches have added multi-services to use the sanctuary and parking more than