Worship Service VS Divine Service

The past few days I have been reading over the Lutheran Confessions and reflecting on my own spiritual journey and asking myself some questions. How and when did the divine service become transformed into a Worship Service led by a Praise Band? Does doctrine lead worship?

As I read the Confessions a portion of a text jumped out at me:

The impiety and tyranny of bishops cause schism and discord. Therefore, Paul commands that bishops who teach and defend a godless doctrines and godless services should be regarded as accursed. Gal. 1:7-9. (Concordia the Lutheran Confessions, pages 328-331)

Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, The Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

It seems that historically the Lutheran church has clung to the liturgy as a form of worship focused on Christ and the clergy protected this form of church. The center of the service was Christ and his saving work on the Cross. Yet over the last decade or so it seems to me that the WELS theologians turned their focus from the historical Lutheran liturgy to the culture at hand. I imagine this shift occurred slowing and some say the WELS is walking in step with Missouri just a decade behind. Those of you more learned may know when this shift in the focus entered the WELS church service. And so I ask is the focus still “strongly” and ritely focused on Christ.

At a blended or contemporary WELS service I attended not long ago. The service began with the announcement to greet your neighbor. After the worship leader (not the pastor) quieted the people, the children were asked to come up front for their message. The children were ushered out of the service after this children’s message so that they could go have their puppet show elsewhere (children’s church). What I wondered is why even have the children’s message in with the adults. Then I remembered the old show “Kids say the darndest things.” So there usually is a comically moment like the time I saw a young 3 year old sprinting around the room as mommy chased him and the audience (congregation) laughed.

So then the adult praise band began to play as the powerpoint proclaimed “Here I am to Worship.” After a few more pop songs the reverend walked amongst the people and held an interactive Bible study. I recall that the Lord’s Prayer was observed but no creeds or confessions. The blessing at the end did happen but I felt sorry for the young children in the other room missing out on this part.

Is this an example of a godless service? Now I know some readers will scream you are focusing on style again. It is only a worship style that isn't listed in the 10 commandments. But I say don't forget about the 3rd commandment. It is interesting that in the statement above godless doctrine is listed and then godless worship. So is impure doctrine creeping into the WELS as Praise Band worship takes hold?

Throw me a bucket

Through this blog I have highlighted a few “observations” that I have witnessed in the WELS including a pastor allowing a woman to lead a co-ed Bible Study and a young girl giving a children’s sermon. As well as a perceived double standard on how a few on the cop choose to treat or discipline some clergy. The “officials” choose to exercise doctrinal discipline on some yet allow questionable and unscriptural practices to go unchecked and the cry is to put the best construction on his case (cause he’s got a synod name) while someone else gets the boot.

I have also continually brought up the divisive nature of the Church and Change group. I believe, divisive in nature by its very name and its history of inviting heterodox Unitarian speakers.

There have been many comments on the blog about how the WELS perspective on the OHM has shifted (or not). We float along as "every member is a minister" becomes the slogan of the day and then no one is left to shepherd the people.

Some posters have commented about the struggling school system. Is it because of a lack of support from the church? or are the educational standards not high enough? Lutheran schools are struggling.

I have said that maybe the struggles financially are a call to repentance.

So the good ship WELS continues to drift along. The layman is left to bail water. Maybe a Confessional clergy will throw a bucket now and again.

Church Growth theology - help me

I was asked by a comment to explain how I view Church Growth taking a hold in the WELS. I had already mentioned the Church and Change conference in which the workshops are built upon the Church Growth model and theology. I will leave it to others to defend how these silly gimmicks that are being presented are not of the Church Growth theology.

Please tell me.

When all else fails the usual defense is the out of context statement from Paul of becoming all things to all men. What I see Paul talking about is preaching of Law and Gospel not changing our practice and methods.

What is church growth? Is it about sharing the salvation found in Jesus “Go ye therefore and teach all nations” "Repent and be baptized" and their numbers grew. This is the theology of the cross.

We preach Christ crucified. (but what is being preached ..how to be happy) Stay at some WELS churches long enough and you’ll find out more about the pastor’s life than the life of Jesus. But boy those stories about t-ball and soccer are so funny.

It is the theology of Church Growth that has taken hold in the WELS. I believe it is truly driven by numbers and money I suppose. With this focus the Word and sacraments are pushed aside along with ancient creeds and liturgies. It is said by the Changers we aren’t changing the message just the methods (ie see Methodist or the Changers conference). It is the methods at this conference that are the focus of discussion not the Word and sacraments. Doctrine and practice are closely aligned. The Church Growth theology is rooted in post-modernism. We need to change our style to meet the post-moderns. The post-mods believe there is a God but not necessarily found in Jesus, so check out some of the modern sermons which focus on God but not on Jesus. These WELS sermons are out there on the net. We need to make the believer feel comfortable and happy (note Change presentation “ A positive view of Believers is Realistic..and practical) . No, again, Robert Schuller is not presenting, yet. Wait it is bait and switch tell ‘em their so good and they can be so happy but oh yea we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

But the cry for several years has been it is all adiaphora. It is like the time of the Judges when everyone did what he saw fit. It used to be that at DMLC the young lads and lassies had to take piano for several years. Now I think they must pass electric guitar in front of a panel of professors.

The youth service has been all the rage for a time in the WELS. Let’s let the youth take over a Sunday and conduct the service. What a great way to get them involved. I’m sure we could all think of more long-term service opportunities, but this is what is being done.

A comment said to me that it would be fine for a young girl to give the children’s sermon during a divine service as long as only women were present. What I said earlier was young girls are allowed to give the children’s sermon during the divine Sunday service. I saw it happen. The men weren’t covering their ears. Everyone was laughing…maybe the young girl’s sermon was better than the reverend’s??

So has Church Growth methods taken root in the WELS??