 |
 |
 |
     |
|
|
Perspectives Worship is at the core of our humanity. We were created to “glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." Our tendency, however, is to look elsewhere for our joy and happiness. At Redeemer, our worship exists to turn us away from the trivial and artificial objects of worship which have captivated our hearts and return us to the person of true worship—The Living God. Today’s clamor regarding worship styles and content reflect a growing awareness of the centrality of worship in the Christian life. Nevertheless, the common lines drawn—traditional, contemporary and blended—are limited and do not capture the fullness that should characterize this sacred activity. While no terms are perfect, we would say our worship strives to be characterized by two words: Truth and Vibrancy. To value truth means our worship seeks to be: 1. God-centered and Gospel Driven: The central purpose of worship is connecting with the true God. God is the infinite, holy and majestic Creator. God is also the ever-flowing fountain of grace and mercy. True worship must recognize His matchless glory and his matchless grace by being powerful and reverent, yet not cold, stiff and impersonal. At the center of all true worship is the person and work of Christ. Worship regularly takes us back to the renewing message of grace in Christ found in the Gospel. A heart that is freed from both the guilt and power of sin is a heart set free to worship the living God. 2. Historically connected: Redeemer recognizes the long history of true and vibrant worship by God’s people through the ages. For this reason, we seek to draw upon the rich resources of those who have gone before us by making use of ancient hymns, creeds and liturgical forms. To value vibrancy means our worship seeks to be: 1. In Our Time and Our Place: Redeemer realizes that while connected to the church historic, we are present day Christians. We must worship in present-day San Antonio and its culture. As a result, we will utilize current idioms, musical styles and hymns arising in the present. 2. Engaging the Whole Person: For many, worship is either about motivation for “trying harder”, an emotional uplift amidst an uncertain world or a simply about learning new information. Lost is worship’s central purpose—for God to be present with his people. True worship must be a dialogue between the worshipper and God. God speaks and then we respond. The order of worship facilitates that dialogue and creates meaningful participation. Central to this dialogue is a person’s heart. The heart is the internal wiring of a person. When worship engages the heart our false objects of worship—money, careers, approval, achievements, power and relationships—are exposed and redirected to the infinite majesty of the Creating and Redeeming God. |
|
|
|
 |