Category — Theology

“Religious pluralism” is the acceptance of mutually exclusive beliefs and/or practices as equally valid. I just read an interesting article by Terry L. Johnson, a Presbyterian pastor in Savannah, Georgia, where he calls our attention to “pluralistic worship” — worship services that contain mutually exclusive elements and practices that are held to equally valid by church leaders.

You can find the article in its entiretly at Ligonier Ministries (it’s short, to-the-point). Here is what I found interesting (and I included my own comments in brackets for explanation purposes only… he uses some “religious” language that I do not, so I thought I’d include some definitions, etc. It is not my intention to deviate from the original content, only to explain.):

During the Reformation era, debates raged over what things must be considered crucial to Christian faith and practice, and what could be considered adiaphora (Latin for “things indifferent” [things neither morally mandated nor morally forbidden]). All sides agreed that the doctrines of the Trinity, the atonement, and justification were central. But what about worship issues? What about the elements of worship…?

We regard as axiomatic [self-evident] the principle that worship cannot be entertainment. Worship as entertainment is idolatry. By definition worship must be about God, not my amusement. Here is where disagreement exists: stages, theater-lighting, bands, dancers, dramatists, hand-held microphones, all up front, the service performed on behalf of an audience relaxing in theater-style seating. Is this adiaphora? Normally, issues of seating, lighting, placement of musicians, style of platform might have qualified as things indifferent… but a line has been crossed in our generation. Much of what passes for worship today is nothing more than lightly baptized entertainment, and therefore is idolatrous. It is idolatry from which serious churches must distance themselves. Our principle must be (with apologies to Luther): “Let us, therefore, repudiate everything that smacks of entertainment.”

Has the time come when the sanctuaries of evangelical Protestantism must be cleansed of everything that reflects the world of entertainment? Our Reformed forefathers took axes to the altars, and they whitewashed the walls of medieval churches. If our analysis of worship that entertains is correct, similar iconoclastic fury must be shown, and soon, in our houses of worship lest they become houses of mirth: theater seats pulled out; stages broken up; dancers and actors banished; musicians’ and choirs’ roles redefined as that of simply supporting and enhancing congregational singing; pulpit, table, and font ["table" and "font" used in reference to the two biblical ordinances of the Lord's Supper and Baptism] restored to their proper places; pastors moved back behind pulpits; and simple services of the Word read, preached, sung, prayed, and seen (in the sacraments [ordinances]) reestablished. What was once indifferent can be considered indifferent no more, not if Reformed Protestantism is to continue to practice purity in its worship and avoid idolatry. “Little children,” says the apostle John, “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

I don’t know if I’d throw out the “baby with the bathwater” on how we “do” our Sunday services. I mean, we have a “stage” (an elevated platform) in our services and three people that “lead” singing with microphones. Is that “entertainment” vs. “worship.” I don’t think so… but, pastor Johnson certainly has a point that we should seriously consider, and I most certainly appreciate his zeal on the issue.

Where is our focus during our Sunday “worship” services? Is is solely upon God and His Word? Or is it on entertaining the folks so they’ll come back… making them feel good… “pumping them up” emotionally and giving them a good “Christian experience”? Worship is about God and church is about glorifying God and edifying God’s people. Therefore, the Word (both Living and Written) must be central. The moment we deviate from that norm, we have strayed from “worship” into “entertainment.” And, frankly… I’ve had enough of that road… I’ve made too many of those kinds of mistakes before… and I don’t want to go there again. Let’s remember Josiah and what God thought of him (2Kings 23.25 cf. 22.8-23.14).