Passionate Worship (Long but worth the read...)

In his newly published book, Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation, Bishop Robert Schnase highlights the practices that shape and sustain a vital church: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.

Schnase writes, "People are searching for worship that is authentic, alive, creative, and comprehensible, where they experience the life-changing presence of God in the presence of others" (p. 33).

Unfortuantely many people think of worship as the "be kind to God hour" (my words) in which worship gets planned around the rest of our schedule for the day. Studies show that the time of a service is more important than style in most parishioners choice of worship service. But Schnase states, "We don't attend worship to squeeze God into our lives; we seek to meld our lives into God's" (pp. 33-34). In worship we give God the worth due him, and in return God gives to us what we need in the way of identity, formation, discipleship and calling to service.

Worship is communal in character. Private devotional time is not an adequate substitute.

Corporate worship is indispensable for Christians as we have been called as a people. Worship must be passionate, for it is the most likely place that people will come to the realization that they need to be in relationship with God, that they need to become part of God's people. "Worship is the most likely point of first contact the unchurched have with a congregation, and in some churches, many visitors do not find genuine warmth, a premium on excellence, or a message presented in a form that engages them. When a congregation loses touch with the purpose of worship, people come and go without receiving God" (p. 37). Passionate worship creates a "mindset of expectancy." It is in worship where people come to realize that God wants to be in relationship with them. As they offer their best, God offers his best in return.

"Passionate worship is not restricted to any particular style..." (p. 39). What makes worship passionate is how it is offered. One should not assume that so-called "contemporary" worship is naturally passionate, and "traditional" worship is naturally dull. Moreover, passionate worship cannot only take place in a sanctuary setting; it can also happen in a gymnasium. "Worship leaves people challenged, sustained, and led by the Spirit of God" (p. 39).

Passionate worship must be not be poor in quality. Poorly offered worship, whether it is found in the music or the preaching, makes it difficult for people to enter into the presence of God for a life-changing experience. Thus those persons involved in worship and its planning, must be intentional about worship, and must not take a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. "When worship is a high priority, Passionate Worship is evident" (p. 41).

Context is critical in passionate worship. There is no "one size fits all" style or pattern that will fit every congregation. Some people will connect with less formal worship, where others will find vitality in formal expressions. Some will find guitars and drums to be a worshipful expression in song; others will prefer the pipe organ. The important point here for Schnase is that "[w]orship wars erupt when church leaders force a dramatic change of style in music and liturgy upon an existing service. Nobody can make country-and-western fans enjoy rap music, or rock 'n' rollers appreciate Mozart. Nor can traditional organists, choir members, and worshipers be forced to give up the music and liturgy that has helped them connect to God their whole life. Traditional worship forms and music can be improved, enhanced, and deepened in a thousand ways, but people cannot be forced to change their taste in music" (p. 45).

The solution to this is not to exhange the style and form of the one service, but to offer an additional and alternative service. If more traditional folk cannot be expected to change their taste in music, neither should they expect younger folk who like modern sounds to have to change theirs in order to come to church. Schnase observes that one hundred years ago all persons from every generation listened to the same music and shared the same culture. This is no longer the case. Thus the church must offer alternatives to attract those whose music tastes and culture are different without taking away the current traditional forms that have spoken to many generations throughout the years.

Schnase ends the chapter: "The motivation for enhancing the quality of worship is not only about deepening our own faith but also allowing God to use us and our congregations to offer hope and life and love to others. God works through us to change the world. Worship is God's gift and task, a sacred trust that requires our utmost and highest" (p. 56).