Worship Forms: Anybody for Change?

Worship forms in our society have utilized varying levels of participation from the worshipers. Some services are very ritualized with limited input from the attendees. Other services are highly interactive with attendees actually moving to the front or on “stage” with those leading or directing the service. Generally, there is a time of music, a time of directed communication toward God, and a directed message to the attendees. The forms may change between churches, but these 3 major functions appear each time an assembly comes together for worship.

Even Christian concerts conform to this structure. As far as I know, every Christian artist considers their vocation a ministry and their concert a time of worship. Have you ever been to a Christian concert (time of music) that someone did not share how important Christ was in their lives (message to attendees) or lead a prayer or indicate that the next song was their prayer to God (directed communication to God)?

For those raised in the church or brought into our fellowships, we have been conditioned to expect those elements in a time of worship. We perpetuate the basic forms we grew up with by passing them on to our children and new converts. While this may be very edifying for the churched, have we asked ourselves, how do these forms engage the lost who have no history with modern contemporary or traditional worship styles? Nothing in their lives corresponds to this form of communication or instruction. Perhaps we should consider if there is a new form or method of worship that moves beyond the 3 fold structure now in use. Is there a new way/form/method which would increase the possibility of engaging hearts & minds to God those who have no memory or experience with "church"?

Coming up with a completely new structure of worship may be difficult for many of us. I got uncomfortable when we left off the closing prayers! lol. I'm not advocating leaving the edifying worships of today behind. I am advocating creating a new time and form that moves the truth into formats and methodology that connects to these specific lost souls.