Featured SongWorship Values: Worship Must Be Theologically Deep
Home » Blog » GeneralPosted by David L. Ward on March 21st, 2011
[ We've been working on rewriting our mission and also creating a series of "values" about worship that will communicate our vision for what worship should be all about. While those aren't completely finalized, I think it will be helpful to share some thoughts about each value in a series of short posts. ]
What kind of worship do we want to cultivate? Third: Theologically Deep
We have already stated that we believe Christian worship should be Christ centered and biblical. As a reminder, we defined worship as "biblical" when the Bible directs our understanding and practice of worship and also drives our worship as we seek to encounter God in response to understanding Him in Scripture. If worship flows from understanding God, then it follows that the more deeply we understand God's character and works, the more deeply we can experience Him in worship. Just as the writer of Hebrews encourages us move on beyond the "milk" of elementary principles to "solid food," which is for the mature (Hebrews 5:12-14), so we should seek to make every element of our worship, from songs to sermons, characterized by a pursuit of the knowledge of God both biblically and systematically.
This doesn't mean that every element of our services should use advanced vocabulary; we must not confuse intellectual depth with theological depth. There are some words, however, that we would do well to teach to our people and use in worship - words like propitiation. One of the characteristics of the gift of teaching is an ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise way. A commitment to theological depth also does not mean that the style of our liturgy must feel "old." We must not confuse historical language with theological depth. A prayer that uses archaic words is not necessary theologically deep!
While we should seek to expand our people's understanding of God's character and works, we must consider new Christians, children, and those at lower intellectual level as well. We should strive to communicate the deep truths of Scripture at an intellectual level that is accessible to our particular congregation and provide a balance of simple and complex elements of worship. This means that while we will use theologically deep elements of worship, we will also seek to explain complex ideas in simpler language and include simpler songs or prayers which work particularly well in response to a deeper or denser element. In our passion for theological depth, we must make sure that we don't leave the sheep or unbelieving visitors behind.
May we be committed to theologically deep worship that our people might ever grow in their understanding and appreciation for what God has done for them in Christ. As Paul prays in Ephesians 3:16-19, may God "grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."
Charles,
Thanks for your feedback. Using historic liturgy is an excellent way to help us remain Scriptural, Christ-centered, and theologically deep in our worship planning. At the same time, we want our forms or worship to be culturally relevant and understandable to both believers and unbelievers (with no church cultural background). I've elaborated more on the wisdom of using historic liturgies here: http://www.reformedpraise.org/blog/general/worship-values-worship-must-be-historically-informed/ The next value will explain why I believe our services should be "culturally relevant" and what I mean by that.