The Future of Protestant Worship: Beyond the Worship Wars

All pastors, worship leaders, and church musicians would do well to read this book and then sit down together to discuss it. I am responsible for worship planning in a large United Methodist church and we struggle constantly in trying to find labels other than "traditional" and "contemporary" to describe what we strive for in worship. Byars helps tremendously in articulating what we really mean and want to say - and should be saying to those in our congregations. His thoughts and insights on liturgy are amazing. For those of you frightened by the "L" word, you need to hear what he has to say! I particularly appreciated Byars' perspective on keeping Christ central in worship through book, bath, & meal. Too often, worship planning is a knee jerk reaction to the marketing cries around us. This book helped me realize that what the masses cry out for isn't necessarily what they want or need. Sounds a little arrogant, I know, but he comes across much more gentle than I. In short, this is a thought provoking book on protestant worship that deals with some very heavy material in a very easy to digest manner.

There is much to be commended about this book. It values theology from above, sacramental and passionate. It values Word and Sacrament as the center. It seeks to be above all else God pleasing and culture relevant where and if possible. It sees seeker services as primarily evangelism (in the train of tent revivals) and not enduring in the long run. It emphasizes the seriousness of God's presence and what God would want to do in the Divine Service.It should be challenged on its insistence that men or women as worship leaders is immaterial; that there needs to be a confluence between Enlightenment generated worship and postmodern, all the while maintaining the central elements: Word and Sacraments. Very worthwhile read and source of discussion and contemplation for all traditions.

The author uses plain language to assess what is wrong with the "worship wars" going on in mainline Protestant churches and how to get past them. He identifies the problems with labeling one form of worship "traditional" and another "contemporary." For one thing, both are based on an Enlightenment paradigm that shied away from ritual and mystery. For another, many people find both kinds of services lacking in depth, and if done without the Spirit, both fail to praise and honor God. His solution, similar to the "convergence" worship advocated by Robert Webber, is to take many styles of music and mix them in a service that reflects an emphasis on "bath, book and meal" -- baptism, the Word of God and the Lord's Supper -- in a joyous and reverent manner. It's also a service that moves beyond tons of words or superficiality to build community and to praise God. Although I disagree with some of his solutions (a pastor splashing her hands in a baptismal font seems irreverent), I find his candor refreshing and his focus on celebrating the Risen Christ a boon.