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Worship Culture In The Salvation Army
by Phil Laeger
Recently I was asked my opinion on the
state of the worship culture of The Salvation Army, and what,
if any advice I would give towards a more healthy worship
culture. This is an impossible question to answer because our
Army is global and diverse, but I do have a couple of thoughts
based on my experience over the last 30 years of leading
worship in different TSA contexts.
1. I am encouraged by the hunger of
(especially young) people to experience the presence of the
living God in corporate worship settings. And when I examine
the lives of many of these people, this hunger is not divorced
from a real desire for authentic discipleship to Jesus in all
of life. This is a winning formula.
2. There is a willingness by many
leaders to give way to longer times of uninterrupted sung
worship in place of jam-packed meetings. This is a good trend
that allows us to keep the main thing the main thing and not
get bogged down in formality and “the way things have always
been” — we are a family gathering for real life friendship,
fellowship, feasting on the Word, and fanning into flame the
gifts of the Holy Spirit—not a gathering to witness
note-perfect performances.
3. Our local, divisional and
territorial music programs around the world really are second
to none. I am so thankful for that upbringing, and especially
for those leaders in those settings who modeled spiritual
depth far outpacing musical excellence. Past investment in
these programs has blessed the entire world both inside and
outside the Army.
4. We should continue building on those
investments by also training people in worship leadership (a
different set of skills built on top of musical training).
We’ve already begun to do this in some places. More is needed.
5. We need more new songs. Songs of
faith that inspire more devotion and wholeheartedness to
Jesus. I am as ecumenically-minded as it can get in terms of
lifting one song as a universal Church. But we have a distinct
voice within the body of Christ. We have a wonderful history
of music originating in our movement. We can’t rest on our
laurels though. We need new music. Otherwise, “if the salt
loses its saltiness, how can it be seasoned again…”
6. A bona fide worship conference for
and by Salvationists. Maybe it needs to happen as something
that is ancillary to the Army (aka not an official event) with
blood & fire flavor. A time set aside. “Consecrate yourselves,
for tomorrow the Lord will do wondrous things among you.”
7. Brass bands are not going anywhere.
Sure, we have seen a steep decline in the number of our
worship centers that have active bands. But that is a
multifaceted issue. I can tell you this, that the healthy
brass band communities that I have seen are doing wonderful
things to include those who normally would not step foot
inside a church.
8. Simplify the meetings. Give your
brass band the Sunday off. Give your worship team the Sunday
off. Don’t jam everything into one meeting. If you have only
allotted an hour for meeting once a week (in place of, mind
you, the 3-5 meetings per week every corps used to have), then
at least make sure you use it well. Don’t waste the time on
offering collection. Put a plate at the back of the sanctuary.
Don’t waste time on announcements—put it on screen or email it
or text it or social media or or or or… / Welcome everyone.
Worship for half an hour. Preach for half an hour. Or do what
I have heard one corps does: worship for an hour, break for
refreshments for a few minutes, then listen to the Word being
preached for an hour!
9. If you have a praise team, an hour
on Sunday mornings before the meeting is not enough rehearsal
time. Not if you want to grow in impact. Have another time
during the week for rehearsal if at all possible. Pre-meeting
is for tuning things up. If the hour before the meeting is
indeed all that is possible, then again, simplify what you are
planning.
10. God is good. He is showing all of
us what is and isn’t important. We need each other. All kinds
of styles and preferences are welcome. We just need to keep
holding out what the main point of our meetings is and see if
what we are actually doing helps us meet those goals. God will
help us in His infinite and infinitely available wisdom.
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