Worship wars are real. There are many in the Christian faith that love the old hymns. There are many in the Christian faith that prefer newer “more upbeat” worship songs. The argument of what is “best” for Sunday worship, the war – if you will, is one that has been raging for decades and likely will rage for many more. If the participants aren’t careful, it is a war that can tear a church community apart. Some say hymns are best because they teach the faith. Others say contemporary is best because it draws in younger people. The reality is, both can be true and both are quite useful.

I sit on the fence of the worship wars. I love and appreciate the old hymns. I also love and appreciate the more contemporary music. As a musician, I often find myself looking at why we have these arguments and just simply shake my head. Why is it such a big deal to people? Well, in my opinion, it is because people are not rooted in Christ as they need to be and struggle with understanding the purpose of worship. For some, worship is about how they feel. They want to feel the presence of God, have an emotional reaction to the time of worship, or something along those lines. That’s not wrong. We all want to feel the presence of God. For others, they want to be reverent and adding a drum set or guitar just feels wrong because it is not something they were accustomed to when they came to Christ. That, also, is not wrong.

Worship should be reverent and we should feel the Spirit of God moving through the body. But worship can also be a little loud and upbeat. Worship is to express adoration to God Worship is to show gratitude to God for blessing, provision, and faithfulness. It is to be a time of prayer, confession, and repentance for our shortcomings or sins. Worship is sharing the Word of God with one another through the reading of scripture and the sharing of a message. Worship is communing with one another, sharing in conversation and growing together in connection with God and one another. It is also a time of preparation to go out into the world and fulfill the mission God has called you and your faith community to. Worship is responding to God, crying out to Him and calling Him HOLY!

This morning, all of this was running through my mind and then the old hymn “Blessed Assurance” began to flow through me. This hymn, oftentimes sung way too slow for my taste, is a full-blown reminder of who God is, what He did for us, and our hope that is only found in Him. Today, I want to leave you with the words of the hymn. In upcoming posts, I want to reflect on the text and what it means for believers.

If you find yourself in a worship war in your community of faith, remember to ask yourself these questions.

1. Is what we are doing in worship giving all glory to God, or turning the eyes and heart to myself?
2. Is what we are doing in worship building me as an individual and as a congregation to be strong in the faith, able to respond to a lost world for the hope we have inside of us or is it just making me feel good?
3. Do I ever find myself desiring God to be seen or myself to be seen and heard during worship?

Those three questions will answer whether you are in a spiritual battle, a worship war, or doing what God is calling you to do to reach a lost and broken world. Remember, that is our great commission as believers – to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ” Matthew 28:19-20a

God bless you all in your journey.

Blessed Assurance – from “Our Great Redeemer’s Praise” #570

Verse 1

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Verse 2

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

Verse 3

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love. [Refrain]