Relevant Or Reverent?

 Since worship is so important I am feeling stirred to write about it again. I read that worship wars are basically between two groups of people. There are whose who view worship as relevant and there are those who think that worship ought to be reverent. The relevant crowd wants music that is hip or cool or modern. They want music that a visitor will understand and appreciate. The reverent group wants worship to be Christ-centered and God focused and life changing.

Are we there to worship Christ, or to worship music? Is worship about how I feel or is it about who Christ is and what he can do? Are we trying to sell music or are we trying to make disciples? Do people come to church to attend a concert or to be transformed by the Word and the Spirit?

One more thought. Some think that we need to make worship relevant to make sinners and visitors want to come in. I think that worship is something that the church does and is focused on what pleases God and to honor the one who saved us by His grace. For me worship is is not evangelism, it is worship. Sinners will find true worship attractive and appealing and they will not be turned off just because it is not like what is in the clubs around town.

The style of music is a personal preference and it can change. We need to be careful not to elevate preference to the level of principal or law.