End of the "Worship Wars"!

Sometimes God speaks by the simplest of means. Something we happen to see around us just becomes vivid, clear evidence of the heart of God. I saw such a thing a couple of weeks ago. Through this seemingly innocuous vision, God seemed to be saying to me, "I really don't care about the 'worship wars.'"

For those of you unfamiliar with the "worship wars" that refers to a battle that has been raging in various Protestant congregations throughout North America for the better part the last quarter century. It is the conflict between those who want "traditional" elements of worship and those pushing for "contemporary" styles of worship. Depending on denominational affiliation, "traditional" worshippers want songs/hymns that have been around for many decades and elements of worship (styles of dress, types of prayers, organ and piano accompaniment, orders of worship, creeds, etc.) that have remained in use and unchanged for whole lifetimes. "Contemporary" worshippers push for newer music, usually involving electric and string accompaniment, percussion, use of video technology, etc. Congregations will divide into virtual armed camps around this, and thousands of churches have fought or are fighting this mission-distracting war...this despite the fact that all "traditional" worship was "contemporary" at some point in history, and most of what passes for "contemporary" really isn't! (Ask any worshipper under 25 years old!)

Anyway, a few weeks ago, while worshipping in a service I will not label, I happened to look to my right to a little girl in the same service. She is new to faith and to Christian worship, having come to our congregation on the invitation of a neighbor. She was singing praise with absolute exuberance and gratitude for the chance to do so. She understands little about faith and church at this point, but she gets the fact that Jesus is someone real and someone who seeks her and invites her. I realized looking at her, that she is the goal. It doesn't matter what style of worship is used, as long as that little girl and people like her experience what she was experiencing. (And, no - I'm not going to tell you which style of worship she was in.)

So, best wishes to all my brother and sister Jesus-followers who think the most important thing is to keep fighting the worship wars. I'm out. It's not the main thing. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.