PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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CHAPTER ONE NEW WORSHIP STYLES Historically, when Protestant church members have moved their home from one location to the next, they usually chose a new local church on the basis of doctrine, not on the basis of worship style. While the style of worship was important to them; doctrine was the final criteria. The priorities were (1) doctrine, (2) the name of the church and (3) denominational alliance. 1 Historically, most denominations had the same style of worship that went with people's denominational or doctrinal loyalty. Presbyterians tended to choose a Presbyterian church when they moved, and if one was not available they would choose a church with Reformed theology. But even stretched to the limits, Presbyterians would probably not have chosen a church with pentecostal or Arminian beliefs. One would have expected them to choose a church that at least held a similar view of eternal security. Denominational alignment meant people were comfortable with a church's heritage, lifestyle or policies. This included the worship style that usually reflected in their individual churches. In the past, most denominations were not influenced by interdenominational television services and by ministers trained in interdenominational seminaries. Because HOW PEOPLE HISTORICALLY HAVE CHOSEN A CHURCH 1. Doctrine 2. Name 3. Denomination denominations were relatively homogeneous, people could transfer from one church to another and fit in rather comfortably because there was little difference from one congregation to another. Their worship expectations were usually fulfilled. Americans generally have not been quick to choose a church with a nonstandardized name. People have chosen churches with names that tended to be as acceptable as "mainline" names--Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal or Lutheran. Everyone knew what these names reflected. Historically, nonacceptable names to people from main-line churches were generally Holiness, Temple, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Mennonite or a Bible church. To mainliners
these names represented a sect, an unknown entity or an outcast group. People didn't know what to expect when they visited the worship service in these churches. CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP Today, Americans are not as choosy about church names. Now they choose a church primarily by its style of worship or its philosophy of ministry. People are not looking for denominational labels, doctrine or a predetermined name. Presbyterians are not necessarily looking for a church that has Covenant Theology or Reformed Doctrine, or Presbyterian in name. They may attend and join a charismatic renewal church because they enjoy clapping, lifting their hands or singing praise choruses. If they feel comfortable, they feel this is the way God should be worshiped. So they sublimate their doctrinal preferences and abandon their tradition for a new philosophy of worship. What is the primary source of this change? It is coming from without the Church, not within. Culture is influencing the Church more than the Church is influencing the culture. What is in our culture that is influencing the way Americans choose churches? It seems to be no single experience but the whole thrust of society. DEMANDS OF AMERICA CULTURE FORCED ON THE CHURCH 1. User friendly access 2. Participatory services 3. Experiential involvement 4. Electronic amplification 5. Contemporary music 6. Options of worship time 7. Choice of different worship experiences
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: under Martin Luther was a reformati
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 and 40: METHODOLOGY APPLIED TO WORSHIP How
Page 41 and 42: CHAPTER FOUR WORSHIP WARS The churc
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
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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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