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Worship and Evangelism
a chapter entitled "Don't Let the People Cop Out of Witnessing," the author offers thoughtful insights on the important differences between worship and evangelism. WORSHIP AND EVANGELISM Worship is the language of love and growth between believers and God; evangelism is the language of introduction between those who believe and those who don't. To confuse the two and put on worship the burden of evangelism robs the people of God of their responsibility to care about the neighbor, defrauds the believers of transforming depth, and steals from God the profound praise of which he is worthy. Of course the distinction is not total, for if believers worship with gladness and passion, anyone not yet a part of the community certainly will be attracted to the One who is the object of their worship. But to focus the worship on evangelistic introduction deprives believers of deeper nurturing toward Churchbeing and deprives God of the intimate and involved worship due him from the Church. - Marva J. Dawn, A ROYAL "WASTE" OF TIME: THE SPLENDOR OF WORSHIPING GOD AND BEING CHURCH FOR THE WORLD, Chapter 9, "Don't Let the People Cop Out of Witnessing," Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999, p. 124. [Here's a little more from the same chapter] As you read these pages, keep in mind that I am convinced that we SHOULD be using new music and new worship forms; however, we use them not to attract people, but because they are faithful in praising God and transforming us to be his people. If we choose a certain musical style or other elements simply to appeal to those outside our walls, then we are forcing worship to bear the brunt of evangelism, which is instead the task of all believers. Don't misunderstand: good worship WILL BE evangelistic, but that is not its primary purpose, for it is directed toward God, not toward the neighbor. No passage in the Scriptures says, "Worship the Lord to attract the unbeliever." Rather, in countless texts we are commanded, invited, urged, wooed to worship the Trinity because God is worthy of our praise. As stated at the beginning of this chapter, WORSHIP can actually be done only by those who recognize that worthiness. (p. 123) Have a great week of worship, but don't cop out of evangelism! Chip Stam Pastor of Worship and Music Chapel Hill Bible Church Chapel Hill, North Carolina |