03/24/2026
How about a discussion? A famous theologian noted that the roles in worship were all wrong. The role of the preachers, singers, and musicians had become like that of performers in a play. God’s role had become that of the encourager for those performers. The congregation had become an audience. Meanwhile, in worship, the congregation is supposed to be performing for God (who is supposed to be the audience) as they offer praise and worship. The role of the preachers, singers, and musicians should be that of encouraging the congregation. Interestingly, the theologian was Soren Kierkegard, who suggested this almost 200 years ago.
Where are we today? In many churches, the acts of worship that used to be important for congregation participation are no longer in the service. Though offerings were always a central part of worship throughout the Bible, some have taken the offering completely out of the service. I recently watched a service where the observance of the Lord’s supper consisted of the congregation being instructed to find the little cup and cracker and “take it when you are ready” so that the musicians and singers did not have to stop the music. In many services, the Bible is read before the sermon, and only then, when in the past churches had a scriptural call to worship, offertory statement, benediction, and more. In yet another service, there was one prayer, at the end of the service, when in the past there were invocations, offertory prayers, prayers for the needy, etc… And finally, in many churches the congregation made a joyful noise, and sometimes it was just that, a noise, but in came from the congregation. Now, the sound is better, but the participation is far less from the congregation.
Your thoughts?
