Influences on Worship

    It has been said by many church historians that one generation will try to correct the worship excesses of the preceeding generation. If this is true, then what was the generation of the 1960's-70's trying to correct in the worship of the generation that preceeded it? By looking at the forms of renewal, you will see what was implied concerning the excesses in the preceeding generations.

Question: What do you know about Charismatic worship?

 Charismatic Renewal
      This movement emphasizes the power of God and the manifestation of miraculous and revelatory gifts of the Spirit; especially tongues and prophecy. It was described by many as a prayer movement in the early 1970's and 80's. The central purpose of the charismatic prayer meeting was worship. A distinctive feature was spontaneity, as there was often no prescribed agenda.1

    The purpose is to recapture the lost element of praise in worship found both in the Old and New Testaments. 'Praise God first and foremost, then move on to other elements of worship' say  the charismatics.

  Characteristics of Charismatic Worship

    1. Singing, shouting, hand clapping, leaping and dancing before the Lord with sincere praise and thankfulness.

    2. There is an expectation by all to experience the presence of God in an intimate and passionate way in worship.
        Believers respond to the powerful presence of God fully with the mind, heart and body in worship.

    3. Worship is usually informal and casual in dress.

    4. Emphasis on singing Scripture songs, reliance upon music for praise and worship, emphasis upon congregational singing
        with the use of worship leaders, use of dance and pageantry, both spontaneous and choreographed, use of drama,
        emphasis upon the prophetic role of the worship leaders and pastors.2

   The Praise and Worship movement that has spread through many traditional churches has its roots in the charismatic movement.

9 Elements of Charismatic Renewal
   1. Focus on Jesus: Encountering Jesus, deeper yielding to Jesus and a fuller acceptance of Jesus as Lord.
   2. Praise: the first result of coming into the presence of God is praise for who He is.
   3. Love of God's Word: They have a love and thirst for God's Word.
   4. God speaks today: through prophecy, Scriptures, Holy Spirit
   5. Evangelism: Boldness through the Spirit to share their faith w/ others.
   6. Awareness of evil: sensitive to the work of Satan and God's power to deliver them from his efforts.
   7. Spiritual gifts: Free use of all spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture.
   8. Eschatological expectation: They are longing for the return of Jesus.
   9. Spiritual power: By the indwelling and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Question: What does liturgical renewal mean?

 Liturgical Renewal3

  1. Weekly Communion
  2. Fixed Prayer: Planned, written out prayers rather than spontaneous.
  3. Creeds: Confessions of faith, Apostles and Nicene Creeds
  4. Litanies: Prayers or praises made up of a series of petitions said or sung by a worship leader to which the congregation
      has a fixed response.
  5. Traditional Hymnody
  6. Processions: Ceremonial walks by the ministers who wear vestments and carry  items such as crosses, candles,
      banners and the Bible.
  7. Church Calendar: Following the church year (Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost)
  8. Divine Office: The practice of saying fixed prayers at certain times of the day.
  9. Vestments, paraments: Vestments: special clothing worn by the minister during  the service.
       Paraments:  fabric hangings covering the pulpit/communion table.

End Notes
1. Robert Webber '20 Centuries of Christian Worship'
2. i.b.i.d
3. i.b.i.d