A Theological Vision for the Contemporary Worship Service at FPC Winston-Salem, NC
A Proposal for Ancient/Modern Worship
By Peter B. Barnes
Approved by the Worship Committee and Session August 2014
Introduction.
In his book Center Church Tim Keller says1 that two generations ago, almost no one was asking,
“How shall we worship?” Every church in North America was solidly encased in a particular
theological tradition or denomination, and worship was done in conformity with the tradition.
Today, however, there is a dizzying variety of worship approaches and styles that are being
used, not only in churches across the country but even in churches within the same
denomination (and even in the same church – like FPC W-S!). Unfortunately, this new diversity
has been the cause of some strife and confusion within churches.
The last couple of decades have been an interesting season of the growth and development of
contemporary expressions of worship in the North American context, and we have also seen
the rise of what one friend calls the “Worship Leader Industry.” Fortunes have been made and
Christian singer/song writers have become celebrities through the making and marketing of
praise music. The proliferation of worship styles mentioned above has created tension in many
churches and between generations over which style of worship music congregants prefer, and
the worship wars continue even in contemporary circles. I recently conducted an exercise of
developing a list of the different approaches to the musical expression of worship in churches
today, and I came up with twenty different categories!
In the face of so much diversity, what is a church to do in finding its niche and determining the
direction they believe God is calling them to go? What is the Lord inviting First Pres to do as we
think about revisioning our contemporary service at 11 o’clock?
Keller suggests that an important place to begin is to acknowledge that all worship is culturally
and socially situated, and as such it must be contextualized. We have to admit that while many
of our ideas about worship are drawn from the timeless truths of Scripture regarding the forms
and approaches to worship, our preference for a particular way of worshipping God is largely
based on a mixture of principle, temperament, and culture. The Bible doesn’t prescribe or even
address a great many practical considerations. For example, it doesn’t indicate the level of
formality and predictability of the service; the length of the service or the amount of time that
should be devoted to each part; or even the order of worship (although Calvin pointed to Isaiah
6 as being a solid guide). The Scots Confession of 1560 humbly acknowledges, “Not that we
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think that any policy or order of ceremonies which men have devised can be appointed for all
ages, times, and places. For as ceremonies which men have devised are but temporal, so they
may, and ought to be, changed.”
Regarding music, Scripture doesn’t tell us the kinds of harmony, rhythm, or instrumentation
that should be used, or the level of emotional expressiveness worshipers should strive to
achieve. Instead we read of various forms and expressions of worship, and we can only imagine
what the musical styles the people of God in Scripture employed in their praise of God. In the
NT we read of the early church using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to worship God. What
exactly these were, we cannot say with certainty. We see some form of expression of all three
of these in worship services today.
We may conclude from this that the Bible actually gives us a level of freedom when it comes to
many of the practical issues of worship, including the musical styles and forms we use to lead
people in the praise and worship of God. The challenge is to use this freedom wisely and to
develop a method to determine which approach to use.
For a long time, I have felt a yearning to explore the creation of a new expression of
contemporary worship. Most versions of contemporary worship services, while appealing and
effective in many ways, have nevertheless left me wanting more. I sense I’m not alone. In
conversations I’ve had with people who come from a diversity of ages and backgrounds, but
especially among millennials, I’ve discovered there is a widespread desire to connect with God
in a deeper way than most people experience in many of the contemporary services they
attend. They enjoy a number of the aspects of contemporary worship, but there are other
elements which they believe inhibit their ability to worship as fully and as deeply as they would
like. And this is not simply born out of a consumer mentality. Rather it is rooted in a hunger for
the great traditions of the Church through the centuries set in a modern context that is fresh
and relevant, and a desire for worship that is less of a performance and more authentic and
accessible.
Guiding Principles for Connecting People to God Regardless of Style and Format.
Keller says there are several helpful guidelines we can utilize in guiding one’s effort to design
and lead worship, regardless of the style and format. The first principle he calls the Normative
Perspective. This involves looking at the Bible and looking at the past. Our biblical theology of
worship shapes the formation of the service, and a study of many passages of Scripture (such as
Isaiah 6, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and the book of Revelation, etc.) should help inform our ideas
about worship. But it also involves drawing on our historical tradition to inform how we
worship. Over the years Christians have developed a number of historical worship traditions,
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and this is valuable because it connects us with the saints of the church in the past and we rely
on the tested wisdom of generations that have gone before us. For us at First Pres, both the
Reformed Tradition and the Evangelical Tradition are good guides that should speak into the
forms and approaches we use to design and lead worship services at our church.
The next principle Keller calls the Situational Perspective. It looks at cultural context and the
core values of a church in developing and leading worship services. Calvin recognized that a
worship service shouldn’t only be shaped by theological and historical considerations. He often
said that “whatever edifies should be done. If we let love be our guide, all will be safe.”2 In
other words, it is critical to consider what appeals to the people of our church and to the
people we are seeking to reach in our community. Studying the culture and being familiar with
the new winds of the Holy Spirit which are blowing in the world is important if we want to
create worship which is not only timelessly true but also relevant and connects with people
today.
The final principle he says is the Existential Perspective. This deals with temperament and
affinity. As worship architects and lead worshippers we need to be aware of our own personal
preferences when it comes to worship, and we should play to our strengths without privileging
ourselves over our congregation. It is easy to use theological arguments to rationalize our
personal preferences and tastes, and we should avoid playing the “God card” to justify why a
particular preference is best. But at the same time we can’t lead a worship service in a style
that leaves our own hearts cold, and we can’t lead worship unless we are actually engaged in it
personally. The music and songs must necessarily touch and stir our own hearts. However,
there is a reason this principle is listed last. We should consult the Bible and our context before
we consult our own preferences and taste.
Ancient/Modern Worship
The theological vision I have in mind for this new contemporary expression at FPC in WinstonSalem is what I call Ancient/Modern Worship. It’s an effort to articulate a new vision that is
drawn from the best the Church has had to offer in the past and the present as we lean into the
future. It tries to weave a rich tapestry of praise that is appealing to multiple generations,
including Millennials. Ancient/Modern Worship as I describe it is an effort to design and lead
worship in ways that are different from most current contemporary expressions, and it’s an
effort to reposition contemporary worship and set it on a trajectory that will blossom and thrive
in the future as new generations come into our fellowship.
Ancient – The timeless truths of Scripture and the historic traditions of the Church which have
stood the test of time are key building blocks in the design and leading of worship in this new
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form, but they are expressed in fresh and modern ways. Liturgy and sacrament figure
prominently in the ordering of worship; old words are articulated in new ways and in the
context of new settings. The Saying of Creeds, Prayers of Thanksgiving, Confession of Sin, and
Assurance of Pardon are presented in a variety of ways and forms, sometimes being said, other
times being sung, and still other times being presented visually or through art. Creativity and
diversity in expressing ancient words is a priority, and the language used and the symbols
employed will be drawn from Scripture rather than the therapeutic culture that is sometimes
utilized in worship by some churches today. In addition, the Story (or narrative arc, as some
have called it) of God’s redemption provides the framework for worship. We enact and retell
the mighty and gracious acts of God in Christ on our behalf.
Modern – The musical sound and other artistic elements of the service are very contemporary,
and the service will have a younger modern “feel” or vibe to it. The instrumentation and
vocalizations are very current and attempt to connect with people in ways to which they can
relate. It is worship in the vernacular while at the same time helping people learn the deeper
meaning of the language of worship. Old hymns are set to modern tunes, and there is a
blending of the best the Church has had to offer then and there in the here and now.
Eclectic – Many people are looking for something that is different from the musical expressions
of worship one typically finds in contemporary services today. There are many different
expressions in the contemporary church these days,3 each of which has its strengths and
weaknesses. In contrast to most of the expressions that are prevalent, Ancient/Modern
Worship draws from a variety of musical styles and approaches. It utilizes a diversity of
instrumentation to accompany the congregation in singing the praises of God and leading
people to the throne of grace, and the musicians of the worship team must be flexible and have
the ability to play a variety of styles, such as pop, rock, roots, jazz, bluegrass, and Americana,
among others. The worship team must be a stable of musicians who play all the usual
instruments commonly found in worship teams (guitar, piano/keys, bass, drums), but also other
instruments such as the violin, cello, hammer dulcimer, drum box, flute, and accordion, etc.
Intergenerational – This approach to worship has an appeal to multiple generations, and it
scratches the itch of a broad number of people. However, Ancient/Modern worship is
intentionally geared more to what appeals to younger generations in order to build a bridge to
the future. It is important that we engage Millennials now as a bridge to the future and at the
same time continue to engage Boomers and those who are GenXers. While Boomers have the
ability to flex and accommodate a younger sound and vibe in musical styles because they like
the energy and youthfulness it creates, GenXers and Millennials are not as flexible and aren’t as
willing to adapt to what they perceive is an older sound or approach. If the worship music must
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err, it will err on the side of a younger sound and feel. However, the goal is not to be hip or
relevant but to be deeply authentic to the biblical narrative – the Story – of God’s redemption
in Christ. In some ways this will result in an expression that is counter to the dominant cultural
motifs that form much of our lives outside (and even inside) the Church.
Use of the Arts –We live in a highly-mediated culture, and visual images are critically important
in worship today. Video, live art, drama, dance, and other expressions of the arts will be
employed regularly to express praise and lead people in their worship of God. Art speaks to a
different part of the brain than verbal communication, and Ancient/Modern worship takes
advantage of all the tools of modern art available today to minister to the whole person.
Perhaps a new Ministry in the Arts in our church will also emerge from this renewed emphasis,
and God will raise up artists in our congregation who will help facilitate our experience and
expression of worship in new ways. Perhaps we will also expand our intern program to include
a Worship Intern or an Artist in Residence Program.
Participatory – Ancient/Modern Worship is highly participatory, and it sees the audience in
worship as God, not the congregation. Members of the congregation are the actors on stage in
the drama of worship with the worship leaders serving as the prompters to the actors on stage.
Newcomers are allowed to simply observe if they choose, but everyone is encouraged to
engage and participate. To this end, we will make an intentional effort to move away from the
worship leader model that has dominated much of contemporary Christian worship. The role
of the Worship Team will be to accompany as well as lead the congregation as it sings praise to
God, and performative aspects of worship leadership will be discouraged. Worship is a verb,
not just a noun. It involves and engages the whole congregation to move from being simply
spectators who worship vicariously through the Worship Team and instead become full
participants and worshippers themselves.
Musical Style –This is one of the most critical aspects of the service which sets it apart from
other contemporary expressions in the church today. The following traits describe the musical
style:
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Diverse – The musical style of Ancient/Modern Worship is a fusion of pop, acoustic
rock, soft rock, roots, Americana, Celtic, and even jazz.
Variable – It is variable in that it may change from week to week and avoids falling
into a rut or becoming predictable.
Instrumentation – The core band is comprised of instruments of a typical worship
team (acoustic guitar, keys, drums, bass, electric guitar), but it is supplemented with
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a diversity of instruments such as violin, cello, flute, hammer dulcimer, drum box,
and accordion, etc., depending on the needs of the musical support for the Sunday.
Vocals – The vocals will be minimalistic for congregational singing with a lead singer
and one or two support singers at the most for harmony. A larger number of singers
may be used for presentational music, such as during the offering or other special
moments during the service, and occasionally a worship choir may lead. But the
primary task of the vocalists and musicians is to accompany as well as lead the
congregation in worshipful corporate singing.
Hymnody – Frequent use of modern hymns (such as “In Christ Alone”) and ancient or
older classic hymns put in new modern musical settings will be at the core of the
congregational repertoire. Original tunes and settings for older hymns which are
easily singable are welcomed and encouraged.
Song Selection – Special care will be given for tying the music to the sermon text, the
season of the Church calendar, or theme of a sermon series. Efforts will be made to
avoid songs whose lyrics are thin or lack theological depth and accuracy. Transitions
between songs and other elements of worship are important to keep a tight, well
thought-out, and beautifully choreographed worship experience while not being
overly scripted or inauthentic. Song selection will avoid a Top 40 kind of approach
many contemporary services employ today, and instead will strive to create a
unique approach to selecting songs for worship. Again, Ancient/Modern worship
works to draw upon the best the Church has had to offer in the past and the present
as we lean into the future.
Form and Structure
Ancient/Modern worship is adaptive to context, and a variety of forms and structures can
provide the skeleton, or “bones,” upon which the service is built. The principle of drawing from
what has stood the test of time as well as the best of what the larger Church is developing
today also applies here. Some of the forms churches have historically used include:
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The Holy Vision – Encounter, Confession, Pardon, Word, Response – taken from Isaiah 6
The Four-fold Path - Gathering, Word, Table, and Sending – taken from Luke 24
Narrative – The Gathering of God’s People, the Praise of God’s Name, the Celebration of
God’s Family, the Reading and Proclamation of God’s Word, the Celebration of God’s
Grace (Table), and the Sending of God’s People.
Frontier - Praise/Revelation/Response
Thematic – Flavor of the week, usually tied to the church calendar or the Lectionary.
Each of these forms of worship has merit, and ancient/modern worship is experimental and will explore
the best form that should be used given the context of a particular congregation and its tradition in
seeking to provide the structure on which the content for the worship service is built. Up to this point,
the forms which have been utilized most often in the design of worship services at the 11 o’clock service
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have been the Frontier and the Holy Vision forms. We will explore using other forms as well during this
season of experimentation.
Conclusion
We are living in a time of significant social and cultural upheaval, and the need to provide
worship that offers people a solid yet fresh and modern worship experience is an exciting
challenge. In an ever-changing world, Ancient/Modern Worship has solid roots in historic
biblical orthodoxy yet it also develops new branches that lean into musical expressions and
innovation and provides a dynamic context to praise God in fresh ways today. We plan to
experiment and be a laboratory for the Holy Spirit to try something new in our church. It will be
an exercise in trial and error, and we may make some mistakes. But the challenges of leading
worship, doing ministry, and sharing the Good News of God’s love in a post-modern, postChristian world call us to take risks for our Lord in order to reach the world for Christ. May God
guide us, and to Him be the glory!
1
Tim Keller, Center Church, p. 297.
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2:1208.
3
Some could be described as what I call “Top 40/KLOVE” worship music; whatever is hot on the radio is what the
worship team is playing on Sunday. This kind of approach treats worship music as disposable (rarely is anything
sung that was written before 2000), and the Worship Leader Industry sets the trend that others follow. Another
approach is what I call the “Concert/Wall of Sound” format. This approach has the sound and feel of a rock
concert, and worshippers are essentially spectators watching a concert. It is visceral worship, and people feel as
well as hear the music. People worship vicariously through the band members, much as concert-goers do with
their favorite bands when they go to hear and see them. I’ve even discovered what I call “Grunge Worship,” which
employs Alternative Rock with a very “edgy” sound as the primary genre of music. Worship leaders even scream
the words to the songs the sing to give expression to the cries of the heart.
2