Worship Wars

Many churches are involved in what church growth experts have labeled “worship wars.”

Not wanting to lose a particular style of music, many churches find themselves in a battle to maintain their preferential style.  It’s more than contemporary vs. traditional.  It has to do with instrumentation, volume, genre, layout, lighting, etc.  Unfortunately, many churches split over such things.

Question: how many minutes a week are we the church?

Sometimes we confuse it and think we go to church for an hour or so at a time.  But we are not called to go to church, we are the church.  So how many minutes a week are we actually called to be the church?

There are 10,080 minutes in a week.  Therefore, we are called to be the church for 10,080 minutes a week.  We are called to encourage one another, serve one another, reach out to the lost, study God’s Word together, disciple the next generation within our own homes, pray for one another, among so many other blessed opportunities.  With so much to be done, we have not choice but to be the church for 10,080 minutes a week.

How much is music a part of the church?  Anywhere to 15-30 minutes a week.  If you do the math, that means that .1% of your church’s activities is music, and yet in many places, that is what gets the most focus – positive or negative.

In many churches, we let 100% of our identity be determined by .1% of the activity.

This, my friends, is a tragic distraction of the enemy to keep our eyes off of the essentials of the church.

I know you have preferences.  I do too.  In fact, my preference of musical style is not what I lead at my church each week – not even close.

But I am involved in a church who truly cares for one another, serves one another, preaches the truth of God’s Word, provides accountability for holiness, invests in Kingdom’s endeavors, reaches the lost, disciples all generations, and so much more, and if we can do that, I honestly could care less concerning what .1% of the soundtrack sounds like.

Somehow, heaven is characterized by worshipers of all types of different backgrounds going all out in their worship of the King.  It’s not contemporary.  It’s not traditional.  It’s not emergent.  It’s not blended.  It’s worship.

Worship is a big thing.

But when we focus on the style over the worship itself, we are in danger of idolatry.

Whatever church you are a part of, let me encourage you: Do not let 100% of your identity be determined by .1% of your activity.

Do not let 100% of your church’s identity be determined by .1% of your musical activity.

7 thoughts on “Worship Wars”

  1. Have you seen the video by Lifeway–Worshi​p: Reverence vs. Relevance? It's a great discussion on this issue. What methodology do you think a church should use as they determine which style of music to employ in their services? Just curious to hear your thoughts on this.

  2. Have you seen the video by Lifeway–Worship: Reverence vs. Relevance? It's a great discussion on this issue. What methodology do you think a church should use as they determine which style of music to employ in their services? Just curious to hear your thoughts on this.

  3. Sadly, to many worship is a formof entertainment that makes us feel good rather than something we give to our Heavenly Father because He alone is worthy to receive it. I believe many of the problems are the result of a shallow understanding of what genuine worship is.

  4. That's a good question, Adam. I hope you answer it, Travis. I'm always so sad to drive by a church and see separate services for separate styles of worship. But since it is something that worship leaders have to choose- how to lead a church in worship at each week's services- I'm interested in your answer to Adam's question. I wonder if in heaven everyone just worships the way they know how, but it blends together in a beautiful melody for the Lord.

  5. I went to Saddleback Church last year for a conference. They have at least 4 worship centers on their grounds. Each plays a different style of music from Hispanic to heavy metal. Each service starts at the same time and Pastor Rick is preaching in each one, either in person or via video. The effort should be on clearing the path to God. If it is not then you need to reevaluate why you are doing what you are doing.

  6. I think you have to lead in Jesus' favorite style. What I mean by that is you use each Sunday and lead scriptural songs and know the DNA of the specific church to give that congregation the best shot at making Jesus pleased with what you offer.

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