CyberGroup Discussion - Beyond the Worship Wars

Catherine Pace

In chapters 2 and 3 of Thomas Long's Book - Beyond The WOrship Wars - Building Vital and Faithful Worship we will be discussing the first 2 of Long's premises about vital and faithful congregations. Namely that they: 1. make room, somewhere in worship, for the experience of mystery and 2. make planned and concerted efforts to show hospitality to the stranger,

Long asserts that people come to worship for many reasons: " some come from habit, some from gratitude, some from guilt, some from loyalty. Some show up because they have a spouse who coaxes or coerces them to come; others come because they have a child who "needs to be brought up right." Some come out of deep conviction, and still others come for reasons of the heart they cannot quite name."

What he finds as worrisome however is the growing trend of isolationism in the world. Fewer people are finding it necessary to worship corporately. This trend is also invading our whole society as more people than ever are bowling but fewer are joining bowling leagues. I wonder if this tends to show a lack of willingness to make a committment for fear of failure or not being able to live up to what people will expect from them.

Long in chapter 2 shows a real bias in stating that worship should not be based on market research. While for the most part I agree with him we also need to acknowledge the whole shift in societal thinking - especailly around music. Where once militaristic hymns were very acceptable - today they are not. Military action is often questioned and blowing people up is to say the least, questionable in today's society.

His bottom line premise is well noted though that " at the heart of worship is an encounter with the living God." He also contends that "worship is about awe, not strategy." " Specifically we need to be in communion with God, to belong to God, to be in right relationship with God ... because we belong to God, we need to join ourselves in community with others to give ourselves away to God."

Be that as it may "vital congregations need to make room somewhere in worship, for the experience of mystery." There are many times in worship when the tone is set, people wait for something to happen and then often as not the minister looks, talks, moves, and commits liturgical vandalism.

This experience of the mystery cannot be contrived. It either happens or it doesn't. To be sensitive to it happening and to allow the Spirit to be present without distraction is a delicate and vital step in the developement of worship.

In Chapter 3 Long continues with a long discourse on the sense of belonging in worship and the church. He talks a lot about hospitality and the difference between just greeting someone and truly welcoming yet not smothering and frightening them off. It takes a person who has the spiritual gift of hospitality to work in this ministry area not just someone who can have a hail and hearty welcome. He contends that the step beyond being welcome is the step to be invited to share yourself with the community in the mission of the church, often within the church but more often in the outreach of the church.

He has some interesting premises in this chapter.

I think the thing I find most fascinating about this book is that Long is so sure he has the answers and there is no proof that his way is any better than what the church at large has done before. He is on a learning curve and an observation curve and his bias shows as clearly as anyone else's. The encouragement of this book is challenging us to think in new ways. The down side is to say that what is happenning will not last. Who's to say? What is wrong with multi - track worship as long as people respect one another?

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