Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Worship Wars, by Pastor Rick Johnson, WELS
Lately I've been reading the discussion on another blog about worship in Lutheran churches. The title of the first blog post that sparked the discussion was "Worship Wars in the WELS." Some of the posts are thoughtful and thought provoking, even if I have reached a different conclusion. Some of the posts reflect an attitude that seems to be, "if only I present my way of thinking with enough force, make unsubstantiated and often times false accusations and resort to sarcasm, I win the day." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] Most of the posters believe that traditional worship using traditional liturgy is the only way in which Lutherans can and should worship. Some even go so far as to state that those who offer other worship styles such as contemporary are not really Lutherans or at the very best, suspect in their theology. [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] It comes very close to making a New Testament ceremonial law. [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] As one brother pastor put it, their argument is the "dirty dog" argument. There is no New Testament law regarding worship but "you're a dirty dog if you don't do it my way." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] A few have expressed the belief that when it comes to worship in our church body, it's "my way or the highway." [GJ - Straw Man fallacy alert] They would rather see the Synod be divided than allow that other churches have the Christian freedom to select a worship style of which they do not approve even if they know nothing about the ministry context of those churches and probably will never worship there. [GJ - Straw Man in a run-on sentence]
Here's my take.
1. It seems that the "worship wars" are only being fought by one side. Churches such as Crown of Life that offer worship choices to members and visitors are not fighting the worship wars. We understand that in Christian freedom, we are able to be flexible in how we proclaim the Gospel. In order to get people before the Word, if we have to do it in a different language, so be it; if using visuals, so be it; if a more contemporary musical style, so be it. The harsh words, judging hearts and fighting the worship wars is coming only from the side of those who see no other way but their way. The worship warriors are fighting but they are all alone in the battle. Is it really a war if there are not two sides fighting?
2. God is his mercy and grace is bringing new worshipers to our church in both the traditional service and the contemporary service. He is honored in both services. The Word is preached. The Sacraments are administered. The Holy Spirit is working through His means. All of this in both services. Last Sunday, one member who sometimes worships at the traditional service and sometimes at the contemporary service told me, "I love how the same Jesus Christ is preached at both our services."
3. I am thankful that at Crown of Life, we do not have worship wars. Most of our worshipers attend the same service, be it traditional or contemporary, whether out of personal preference for the style, force of habit or just because they like the service time. New people show up at both. However, thank God that we are blessed with no rancor about personal preferences couched theological arguments.
As an aside, I am also thankful that especially our contemporary service provides an opportunity for many Christians to use their gifts and talents to serve God and their brothers and sisters. Last Sunday, the band included a high school sophomore on bass who has been playing now for almost a year and a junior high student singing for her first time. A lead guitarist in his fifties plays with one of our bands. High school students, college students, young adults and adults in their prime (how I like to describe middle age) also play. There are young adults who run the sound, videos and lights. We are blessed with keyboardists, guitar players, drummers, singers and even a sax player. While I would love to have a piano player or organist to play at our early service (we used to have two but they both moved to different cities), I believe that the organ or piano is not the only God-pleasing musical instrument.
***
GJ - I believe Rick Johnson is talking about Bailing Water, where another Church Growth advocate is making fun of the historical liturgy and those who favor worship based on the efficacy of the Means of Grace.
Ichabodians may remember Johnson as the pastor who removed a gushing mention of the latest Leonard Sweet book from his blog (without mentioned that fact) while complaining I discussed his published offering figures.
He said it was "unclassy" to mention his offerings.
RJ said it was "unclassy" to publish them in the first place.
At another WELS Church Growth site, the sermons went from being plagiarized, to being plagiarized and footnoted, to being removed from the website altogether. Printed copies are now available in a plain brown wrapper at an undisclosed location.
Readers will notice the typical WELS argument that everything is an adiaphoron, a matter of indifference. If so, then why does Rick Johnson use the Straw Man logical fallacy to argue against traditional worship? A Straw Man fallacy constructs a parody of the other position and then attacks the parody. Voila. What brilliance. As I often tell my college classes, a Straw Man argument only convinces the people who agree. Using the Straw Man is a sign of intellectual weakness.
As Augustine noted a few centuries ago, error progresses through three stages:
1. We have a right to be heard.
2. We deserve an equal voice.
3. We will not tolerate any opposition.
Pastor Rick is proud of his contemporary services. I, for one, would be happy to have a saxophone honking his way through the Gloria in Excelsis. But why not substitute "Morning Has Broken" for the Gloria? A good recessional would be "Time To Say Goodbye" with Cousin Brunhilda belting out the high notes.
Lutherans wonder why the Eastern Orthodox services are filling up with their former members. I have been at a few Greek Orthodox services. Nobody played the sax or snare drums.
