The Future of Protestant Worship: Beyond the Worship Wars

by Ronald P. Byars

Overview

Over the past several years, churches have engaged in an ongoing debate between two different styles of worship—"traditional" and "contemporary." Here, Ronald Byars argues that many of the differences between the two styles are superficial. Authentic worship, being wholly theocentric, can and must be both responsive to contemporary culture and grounded in history and tradition. Thus, rather than merely trying to please their members, congregations must focus on exploring worship that is biblical, honors our communion with the saints, and takes seriously the ways that our culture is reshaping us. He concludes with a description of an authentic, postmodern Protestant worship service.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664225728
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	08/30/2002
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	138
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Ronald P. Byars is Professor Emeritus of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Virginia.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	1
Chapter 1	The So-Called "Worship Wars"	8
Chapter 2	What Folks Are Looking For	21
Chapter 3	Is There Such a Thing as "Traditional Worship"?	36
Chapter 4	Is There Such a Thing as "Contemporary Worship"?	49
Chapter 5	The Ecology of Word and Sacrament	65
Chapter 6	What Will the Future Bring?	82
Chapter 7	A New Paradigm for Worship	98
	Afterword: Neither Contemporary nor Traditional	125
	Notes	131
	For Further Reading	137