PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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Since worship is the most powerful force exerted by the creature, then it is only natural that it is going to be one of the most difficult energies to harness and direct. Like the enormous danger of atomic nuclear energy, let's pray that worship can be directed for the good of mankind, not its destruction.
CHAPTER FOUR WORSHIP WARS The church has had centuries of battles. It's fought theological battles and those who lost were martyred, such as Servetus who was burned at the stake by John Calvin. It's had turf wars when denominations fought over the right to evangelize the islands of the South Seas. It's had conquest wars such as The Crusades to capture Jerusalem. It's had "blood and guts" battles such as the battle in 1531 where Ulrich Zwingli, the Christian patriot died defending the Bible against tradition. The church has fought over doctrine, polity, wicked leaders, corruption, appointing people to positions and even the iconoclastic battles of statues in churches. Today's most agonizing battles are over worship!! Since the expressions of worship have emerged since World War II, it's only natural that these battles have been seething for the past 50 years. The following stories are all true, and I have had some associates with each squabble, whether by counsel with the church or friendship with one of the participants. SHALL WE RAISE HANDS? A California pastor graduated from a theological seminary where he learned Bible expositional preaching. He spent his life ministering in a church that had a combination of Congregational government and Bible Expositional preaching. Upon his retirement the church called a younger pastor who tried to lead the church into Renewal worship. First a praise band was organized and praise music was added to the worship service. Since the people liked the preaching of the young pastor, they allowed his "young ways" to attract a younger audience. The young pastor preached on "raised hands" and instructed every one to lift hands in worship. Two of the pastors on the platform wouldn't follow his instruction. They were older staff members who had served under the older pastor. It was just not in their hearts to do it. One staff member told me he was not being disobedient or rebellious to the new pastor. "I couldn't bring myself to do it," he confessed, "raising my hands to please the pastor would have been hypocritical because it's not me." When the older church members saw the division on the platform, they also refused to raise their hands. When the older members began asking the staff member that had been in the church for years, he in turn asked me, "What shall I do?" Because of the staff member's integrity, he left the church without causing a ruckus. Many older members who felt uneasy with lifting their hands, also left the church. Casualties: Two staff members lost their positions and older members left the church.
Page 1 and 2: PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS By E
Page 3 and 4: INTRODUCTION Since this is a book a
Page 5 and 6: True worship involves change and it
Page 7 and 8: under Martin Luther was a reformati
Page 9 and 10: these names represented a sect, an
Page 11 and 12: A similar variety of consumer optio
Page 13 and 14: SIX WORSHIP STYLES 1. The Evangelis
Page 15 and 16: The pastors told me they had not ch
Page 17 and 18: The Liturgical Church eagerly carri
Page 19 and 20: The average Christian knows about a
Page 21 and 22: So, let's learn what we need to kno
Page 23 and 24: young people from my church were co
Page 25 and 26: Dallas taught me to preach differen
Page 27 and 28: would not preach boring Pentecostal
Page 29 and 30: The third question I ask my student
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH TO DETERMINE
Page 33 and 34: that no man could count, from every
Page 35 and 36: outwardly committed to the process
Page 37 and 38: 2. Church Planting. At the beginnin
Page 39: METHODOLOGY APPLIED TO WORSHIP How
Page 43 and 44: The pastor liked the Bible Expositi
Page 45 and 46: Whether people disagree because of
Page 47 and 48: that help them cope with their prob
Page 49 and 50: society is apparently retreating fr
Page 51 and 52: 4. New worship forms have robbed th
Page 53 and 54: The ultimate question that some wou
Page 55 and 56: elationship with God we've been tal
Page 57 and 58: in evangelism are effective in maki
Page 59 and 60: soul-winning and reaching every ava
Page 61 and 62: have not been trained. Others fail
Page 63 and 64: While some expository preachers ten
Page 65 and 66: CHAPTER SEVEN THE RENEWAL CHURCH Ev
Page 67 and 68: demonstrated in that miracles are o
Page 69 and 70: most human needs can be met in a va
Page 71 and 72: musical instruments including piano
Page 73 and 74: ut the time is getting late. I thin
Page 75 and 76: pastor to emerge as a leader. Also,
Page 77 and 78: Church. This includes ministries su
Page 79 and 80: CHAPTER NINE THE LITURGICAL CHURCH
Page 81 and 82: the sanctuary and challenged the pe
Page 83 and 84: individuals. Those gifted in this m
Page 85 and 86: strengths of this worship style int
Page 87 and 88: CHAPTER TEN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHUR
Page 89 and 90: This view of the church and ministr
Page 91 and 92:
THE STRENGTHS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF
Page 93 and 94:
He has given them to accomplish wha
Page 95 and 96:
The critical group usually attacks
Page 97 and 98:
Therefore, the question becomes one
Page 99 and 100:
However, this does not mean that ex
Page 101 and 102:
experience. Those attending The Bib
Page 103 and 104:
What are some changes in worship me
Page 105 and 106:
3. Recognize the strengths of the c
Page 107 and 108:
THE FUTURE OF WORSHIP 1. A thirst f
Page 109 and 110:
This involves kneeling at the altar
Page 111 and 112:
Churches will use more video filmed
Page 113 and 114:
The New Testament is different unli
Page 115 and 116:
ADMINISTRATION, GIFT OF APPENDIX ON
Page 117 and 118:
areas. 4. Bridging - growth of the
Page 119 and 120:
fellowship of a local church. Those
Page 121 and 122:
RENEWAL CHURCH A unique worship sty
Page 123 and 124:
of the relationship between worship
Page 125 and 126:
The Use of Proskuneo in the New Tes
Page 127 and 128:
APPENDIX THREE CHRISTIAN LEADERS ON
Page 129 and 130:
Worship is the exercise of the mind
Page 131 and 132:
Dawn, Marva. Reaching Out Without D
Page 133 and 134:
Morgenthaller, Sally. Worship Evang
Page 135:
Sermons on worship from various 19t
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PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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