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.

The New Gentiles

Our lives are touched by sadness, sickness, praise, joy, and frustration. Sometimes you just have to catch the wave and ride with the Lord....and what a ride it is! Today I have been actively trying to think out side the box. If you know me that's a scary thought. Many of my friends consider my box fairly non-existent! lol. I have been considering the early church's dilemma over synagoue worship & traditions and Gentile worship & traditions. In the end, God may it clear that is a matter of heart and not form. I wonder if we, the Gentiles, haven't turned the tables with our modern day concept of worship. Many in our society don't do and probably don't understand the "church" thing whether it's traditional or contempory. The forms we use in our assembly don't occur anywhere else in society. Some one lectures (we call it a sermon) but it's not school, there's music but it's not a concert, sometimes you eat tiny portions (communion) but it's not a meal, they ask for money...then say you don't have to give...but then make sure the bucket passes in front of everyone?...

How many of us like to go to new places with confusing things going on. It's sad to say, but if the menu at a new restureant is to hard to figure out, I usually don't go back. If the service or food is not remarkable, I rarely give it a second shot. I stick with what I know. Perhaps the time has come to place the food of God in forms that are familar and easily understood for the new "Gentiles"....the unchurched. While overall church attendace is up, the "churched" are continuing to be a smaller and smaller percentage of society. Since worship is matter of heart not form, what new forms might we utilize that will connect the hearts of the unchurched with God's heart?