PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

the sanctuary and challenged the people to hear and apply the moral truths of the Scriptures to
life.
At the conclusion of the sermon, the pastor directed the congregation to the hymn book.
The congregation was invited to respond to the sermon in worshipping God. The hymn, written
three hundred years earlier, expressed a theme remarkably similar to that which had just been
preached. The choir leader led the congregation to stand. As the final verse of the hymn came to
a conclusion, the pastor made his way to the podium to pronounce the benediction. He raised his
arms and recited the words of the Aaronic blessing.
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make His face to shine upon thee;
and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace. Amen.
As he pastor concluded the blessing, the choir sang a seven-fold "Amen." The
congregation quietly sat in their pew, bowed their heads in silent prayer and reflected on the
worship experience of the past hour.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LITURGICAL CHURCH?
The Liturgical Church exists with a two-fold ministry emphasis. The first part of its
mission may be defined in the context of serving God and ministering to others. The word
"liturgy" is derived from the Greek verb "latreuo" meaning "to serve." In pagan Greek cultures,
this word was most often used in the context of serving the gods or serving in the name of the
gods. In a Christian context, this word describes two aspects of our worship. First, we serve
God with our praises and worship. Secondly, as we serve others in the name of God, we express
our worship of God in practical ways. Serving God with worship is the emphasis of the
Liturgical Church. This is why it is called the worship service.
In the process of serving others in the name of God, the second aspect of the mission of
the Liturgical Church emerges. Many Liturgical Churches view themselves as a prophetic voice
in the community striving for social justice on behalf of all people. The minister of a Liturgical
Church is often the first pastor in a community to preach sermons addressing the social issues of
the hour. Also, members of Liturgical Churches often take a leading role in the development and
implementation of strategies designed to reform society and address social problems.
Throughout history, leaders and members of Liturgical Churches have been involved in the
abolition of slavery, the women's suffrage movement, the civil rights movement, the pro-life
movement and the religious right. As in any other church type, one's doctrinal convictions and
personal political views dictate which side of a social issue a person adopts, but members of