What Has Become of Lutheran Worship?

I have been, for some time, trying to understand the attraction of praise worship to some Lutherans. While not being a strict orthodox, I can't quite understand what this type of worship means to be Lutheran. I recently checked out a video on You Tube, entitled Cross Walk Music. You can access it on You Tube or at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center. Minnesota. If after watching this video one can say this is an outpouring of God's spirit and has some sort of identity to The Lutheran Church, than more power to you. However, I can't quite come to grips with the laughing woman in the video drinking some substance from her bottle, supposedly water, doubled over in laughter at the service, or the testimonials of the church members that state going to church is about fun and dancing. That's just not quite what I go to church for. Maybe I need to be reeducated about what Lutheran worship is.

Comment by Didymus20X6 on March 20, 2009 at 9:21pm: Whatever else can be said, I can say that these folks sound like they need a healthy teaching concerning what true worship is. Worship is not about fun and dancing, it is about God's people gathered together by His name to receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament.

In other words, they've flushed Lutheran worship down the toilet and replaced it with something entirely different.

Comment by Dr. George C. Adams on March 21, 2009 at 9:00am: Any congregation such as Cross of Glory needs to immediately leave Synod, take the word Lutheran out of its name, and truthfully advertise themselves as what they are - a church practicing a perverted form of worship and totally worldly in their orientation. Worship is about being served by God through His Word and Sacraments. This bunch is strictly interested in pleasing and glorifying themselves: true worship is the farthest thing from their minds.

Comment by Alden Swan on March 21, 2009 at 10:52am: You folks probably don't remember the Lutheran Pentecostal movement of the 70's, and the annual Lutheran Conference on the Holy Spirit. There are many ways to worship; remember that Calvin called Luther's worship unscriptural. Where grace abounds, there will be excesses- but does that justify legalism? Unless these folks are doing away with the sacraments and the Gospel, aren't they still Lutheran? Or is being Lutheran now become restrictive?

Comment by Robert Martin on March 21, 2009 at 11:05am: Certainly there are many ways to worship, but the bottom line is that it should be reverant and respectful and least of all it should not be a display of egocentric, self-indulgent behavior. Finally, a church is identified by its creeds and public worship. Therefore,should others assume than that we are Pentcostal in nature because some in the church subscribe to this type of worship? That type of worship does not fit our heritage nor our doctrine.

Comment by Alden Swan on March 21, 2009 at 11:30am: There may indeed be room for correction. However, couldn't the liturgy also be egocentric and self-indulgent, putting too much joy (and pride) in our organ and our wonderful choirs? Worship is not a matter of form, but of the heart.

Comment by James Robertson on March 21, 2009 at 11:41am: John 4:23 But a time is coming – and now is here – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 4:24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Comment by Suzee on March 21, 2009 at 11:42am: http://www.crossofglory.us/mark.html
Is this the video? If not, this is another doozy.
This is NOT for me!

Comment by Robert Martin on March 21, 2009 at 12:05pm: Yes Suzee, that's the one. It is an ELCA church. However, LCMS is not immune to this type of worship. Another "doozy" can be found at www.hcl.org, an LCMS congregation. If you go to their video file, click on their Christmas service. The service consisted of a skit with two millde-aged characters portraying Christmas angels in white ear muffs. It was so amateurish and swarmy that it was almost laughable had it not taken place on one of the most holy nights in the Christian Church.

Comment by Dr. George C. Adams on March 21, 2009 at 1:11pm: Alden:

The liturgy focuses on God ministering to us. It is not about fun and dancing, nor swigging something from a bottle. Calvin's attack upon Luther's as unscriptural needs to be cited by you. Since we hold different views on the Sacrament of the Altar than Calvinists, I suspect that this is part of Calvin's problem. Liturgy does not call attention to itself, a choir or an organ. It calls us to attention about what God is doing in our midst. I think your criticism of liturgy is way off base. Terming worship a matter of the heart makes it anthropocentric - centered on our feelings - and not centered on what God is doing for us.

Comment by James Robertson on March 21, 2009 at 1:37pm: Believers’ Salvation and the Work of God
1:3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 1:4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 1:8 For if 28 these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. 1:9 But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins. 1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.

Salvation Based on the Word of God

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