Avoiding "Worship Wars"
Those interviewed for this article suggest the following guidelines for avoiding worship wars:
-- Worship leader must be a mature Christian with a sincere approach.
-- Keep focus on evangelism and worship, not on the worship team's "performance."
-- Be selective in praise and worship music. Avoid music that contains a diluted message, or where the music and instrumentation overpower the worship aspect.
-- Introduce changes gradually, keeping respect for both traditional and contemporary tastes. Just because you got excited at a conference doesn't mean the congregation is ready for it to be "sprung" on them all at once.
-- Look for ways to incorporate the senior generation's wonderful experiences with enthusiasm, excitement and new ideas from the younger generation.
-- Be prepared for worship. A praise band that is not together rhythmically or spiritually is disconcerting and creates havoc in the service.
-- Do not seek to be entertained. Seek to give from your heart to the service more than you glean.
-- Always keep prayer and Bible study a central part of choir or praise band practice. Do not simply gather together to rehearse like a "rock & roll garage band."
-- Do not let the praise and worship music or drama overtake the meat of the message, which is God's word.
-- Find a place where you are comfortable with the worship style and stay with it if need be, but do not degrade someone else's worship experience as long as it is scriptural.
