News / Music
LifeWay leaders weigh in on the "worship war"
Churches should consider both reverence and relevance.
Prior to the live debate, registrants were invited to submit questions for Stetzer and Harland. Debate organizers grouped the more than 600 questions received into three main topics: Why does worship have to be either reverent or relevant? Will the music debate ever go away? And should Christians be concerned with reaching unbelievers through styles of worship?
The debate begins
Stetzer noted that the reverence vs. relevance debate exists because most churches are striving for one or the other, when they should be considering both. "I don’t think the terms are helpful because they point to a problem that doesn’t need to be there," he said. "If we look at worship in a biblically discerning, culturally appropriate manner, I think we can see both reverence and relevance."
Harland agreed and suggested that before concerning themselves with relevance or reverence, church leaders should define the term worship.
"Worship is a response – our response – to who God is and what He has done," Harland said. "It’s not trying to get God to respond to us – that’s paganism."
Often the issue boils down to the musical style of worship.
"If at the core of our worship we have a stylistic or a predetermined acceptable cultural response that we consider worship to be, we can lose our focus on God quickly," Harland said.
Will the debate ever end?
Harland appealed to church and music history to show that there has long been debate and division over what kind of music, if any at all, is appropriate for Christian worship.
"Music is something that God gave us to use to respond to Him in worship," he said. "Why would we not expect the enemy to take it and try to divide God’s people?"
Stetzer agreed, adding that there is no such thing as "Christian" music, which means that no one musical style can be labeled more biblical or spiritual than another. "There are only Christian lyrics," Stetzer said. "God can and does use any form of music for His glory and honor."
Both leaders affirmed that worship is meant to be a unifying event in the church, not a source of debate and contention. Harland went on to insist that debate and division over musical styles will continue as long as people seek unity around music.
"We need to realize that God has not called us to lead music, he’s called us to lead people," Harland said. "We will never achieve spiritual goals with a musical means."
Should styles of worship be used to reach unbelievers?
Stetzer said he doesn’t think answering the question "How can our worship best reach people?" is a good way to plan worship.
"I think what we should say is ‘How can worship best be planned that people in this time and culture can focus on God to give Him praise, glory and honor?’" Stetzer explained.
Worship doesn’t need to be "seeker sensitive" as much as it needs to be "seeker comprehensible," Stetzer said, appealing to 1 Corinthians 14. "Are we ready for company in our worship services, and if they come, will they understand what we are doing?" he added.
Ultimately, Stetzer said, the issues of reverence vs. relevance can be resolved through a proper reading Scripture and culture. "When we put others as more important than ourselves, and when we ask the question ‘How can we do what God is calling us to do in this place and in this time?’ then churches will be focused on worshiping in spirit and in truth."
A video version of this debate is available for download at LifeWay.com/rvr.
