PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

True worship involves change and it also includes that which never changes. We must be
careful that we don't get the two mixed up. It is we who change because we have been in the
presence of an unchanging God. He doesn't adapt Himself to us, we adapt ourselves to Him
(which is usually a very shallow expression) because we yield to Him, we obey Him, we magnify
Him and we lift Him up.
The unchanging nature of worship doesn't mean we never change our forms of worship,
nor does it mean we never re-arrange the order of service. Because worship is a response to God,
and He never changes; then, there are certain "self evident truths" in worship that cannot be
manipulated. It is imperative that God be worshipped, our music beat is not imperative, nor is
the atmosphere of the room. It is imperative that we worship Him in truth (John 4:23), which is
the substance of worship. It is not imperative whether methods of communicating truth be a
Bible expositional sermon, a devotional message, an evangelistic presentation of the gospel or a
pastor's exhortation to godliness. It is imperative that we worship Him in spirit (John 4:23)
which is the sincere expression of our hearts. It is not imperative whether we express it with
reverently bowed head, raised hands of praise or shouts of "Hallelujah."
Worship is like a car to get us from where we are . . . to where God wants us to be.
Transportation and communication are imperative, the mode or vehicle is not imperative. While
it is imperative that we worship God, how we do it has second importance. Worship is like a car
that gets us into the presence of God.
Some worship God in cathedrals with the rich traditional organ tones of Bach, Chopin
and the classics of Europe. They travel in a Mercedes Benz.
Some worship God in simple wooden churches with a steeple pointing heaven-ward and
sing the gospel songs of Charles Wesley or Fanny Crosby. They travel in a Ford or Chevy.
Some worship God with the contemporary sounds of praise music with a gentle beat.
They travel in a convertible sports coup.
Some worship God to the whine of a guitar and the amplifiers to the max. They travel on
a motorcycle, without a muffler.
This book is descriptive, not prescriptive. It will describe those who worship by
European tradition and those who follow the southern gospel tradition. Which one is right?
Right for whom? Which one is best? Best for whom?
What is the best worship for you? Six expressions of worship will be analyzed in this
book. Rather than prescribing any one of the worship expressions, each will be described. And
while this book does not focus on methodology, i.e. how to successfully conduct a worship
service; at the end of each of the six worship expressions, some suggestions will be made for
implementation.