For centuries Protestant worship remained fairly static. But toward the end of the twentieth century, worship changed—not just in style, but also in function. The old worship was formal, corporate, and emotionless; the new worship is informal, individualistic, and touchy-feely. The old worship was about coming together to extol God; the new worship is about coming together to experience God. The target of worship has fallen half a meter—from the head to the heart.
Most people assume the transition to new worship has been a good thing. Young people seem to like it. Growing churches all offer it. It’s simply assumed that new “church plants” will offer praise and worship instead of traditional hymnody.
Read Full Article »
