In the church’s foyer, a young boy looked at a plaque on the wall with the names of men and women who had died in various wars. He asked the pastor who the people were, and the pastor told him they were church members who had died while in service. To which the young lad said, “Which one, the traditional or the contemporary service?”
After centuries of traditional liturgical services, praise services have quickly taken hold. Initially, the change involved an uphill battle in many churches. I can still hear one lady say she would leave the church before attending one of “those” services.
Today, however, most churches have either a separate time for contemporary worship or a combined format. Some churches have even eliminated most of the worship traditions altogether. But if we look back at original worship in synagogues, we recognize almost everything included in the traditional format.
Some of the components of the original services were Old Testament readings, psalms, prayers, and preaching/teaching. The first-century church body “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and the prayers.” During Jesus’ time, about four hundred synagogues emphasized learning, philanthropy, meditation, and prayer. They needed no priest, just ten males and a learned rabbi or teacher.
Today’s churches choose their form of worship. The church leader or worship leader may tweak the format, but most people expect certain traditions at particular churches. To me, the format isn’t that important. Instead, the essential thing is that the worship should be a microcosm of our lives in Christ.
We should worship regularly. Our worship should include praise for God, prayers for each other and those in need, fellowship with other Christians, tithing and extra giving when needed, and teaching or preaching of the Word. How each of us fits that into our lives is a personal decision.
Find your niche and worship the Lord.
Carl Schleede is a writer.