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Entertainment, Evangelism and Worship
Godfrey, president and Professor of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary in California. ENTERTAINMENT, EVANGELISM AND WORSHIP The call for entertainment in worship in our time is often cast in a particularly seductive form. Entertainment is often sold in the name of evangelism. We are told that we must make worship interesting and exiting for the unconverted so that they will come to church and be converted. At first glance that argument is very appealing. We all want to see many brought to faith in Christ. Who wants to be against evangelism? But we must remember: entertainment is not evangelism, and evangelism is not worship. People are evangelized, not by a juggler, but by the presentation of the Gospel. And while evangelism may occur in worship as the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, the purpose and focus of worship is that those who believe in Christ should gather and meet with God. - Robert Godfrey, PLEASING GOD IN OUR WORSHIP, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1999, p. 41. This is one in a series of very helpful booklets on today's issues produced by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. < [A similar distinction between evangelism and worship is made by Dr. Marva Dawn in A ROYAL "WASTE" OF TIME: THE SPLENDOR OF WORSHIPING GOD AND BEING CHURCH FOR THE WORLD (Eerdmans, 1999). See < Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.educ |