PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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.