Worship That Changes Lives: Multidisciplinary and Congregational Perspectives on Spiritual Transformation

by Alexis Abernethy (Editor)

Recent years have seen widespread changes in worship, and numerous studies have considered the importance of those changes for the church. This volume offers a balanced and wide-ranging approach that focuses particularly on the relationship between worship and spiritual transformation.

This book, the second in the new Engaging Worship series, is divided into three sections. The first considers the connections between worship and spiritual development, the second looks at the role of the arts in the church, and the third examines the results of multidenominational studies of spiritual experience in worship.

The contributors offer a unique collection of perspectives, both practical and academic, on contemporary changes in the worship of the church. Professional and academic readers will find this an engaging and enlightening work.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Alexis Abernethy (MA, PhD) is professor of psychology at the Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California).

Reviews

[Andrew Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This (specific to chapter one) was written well with the most profound statement Paul made about worship in his letter to the church in Rome in chapter twelve verses one and two. The question is asked, `Why do Christians assemble for worship?'The central statement to this is not found until the end of the introduction with a specific focus: consider the nature of public worship and the ways in which it presents itself as a primary locus for spiritual transformation. The classic answer is that the Bible tells us to assemble and not to forsake this sacred assembling together. But the article unpacks more than the usual bland answer to an exploratory question.

As an Englishman I was pleased to see the Westminster Catechism wonderfully quoted that the chief purpose of human life is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Calvin and Luther and also quoted along with C.S. Lewis with the Book of Ephesians as an intriguing introduction to an exploratory question. This combined resource believes that the reason we gather to worship is more than the classical reason but a personal one. It is because we get closer to God, or, we become more like the person we worship. I have to disagree with this statement, even though great men have been quoted. I am not Jesus, and never will be. I am not his earthly culture or his heavenly divinity. I do not have his purpose of laying down my life for humankind or his anointing that was distinctly from the Father. I agree my old nature has been crucified with Jesus, buried with him and subsequently resurrected to a new nature encased in the flesh (or sinful ways).My flesh waits for the coming of Christ so I shall be glorified (John chapter seventeen) but I am nothing like Jesus. I object to the premise that worshiping God makes me more like Jesus. I would say that it makes me more like God intended me (individually, in community, and in fellowship with Trinity) what I should be. The article does state that being like Jesus is hard work and naturally not accomplished, but to say that this is the work of the Holy Spirit in me to make me a mini-Jesus is something I struggle with.

Selfish and unselfish acts of service or self-service were well discussed in the article as a result of worship, or a lack of it. This leads me to agree that the more I worship in the corporate setting of the church with other believers I am more likely to live an outward life of unselfish acts. If this is like Jesus, then I agree. This would be a self-assessment of spiritual transformation: is my life (not really mine, but Jesus in me, as I died with Jesus) seen in community as an unselfish life living for `others' in such a way that it is powerfully descriptive of the question, `why do we assemble to worship?'

I utterly agree that the uncommon manifestations of charismatic ministry are not really measurable in self-assessment. Neither is the musical perspective measurable of transformation. It was wonderful to read something that classical Pentecost can sometimes struggle with. To see the brief description of `liturgy' to include songs sung by the congregation, scriptural sermons, prayers, reading of scripture, creeds, tithes and offerings is getting closer to an answer of why we worship and what that does in spiritual transformation. The article breaks it down into three levels of private, public and outward transformation quoting Volf about the rhythm of adoration and action (don't you just love the language he uses!)

Finally, what caused me to think further into my own experience with God and with others is the discussion on the Holy Spirit. I would imagine that if Charles Dickens was resurrected and sat in on an English Literature class he would burst out with, `hey, I did not mean that when I said this!' In a unique way, this article avoid being dogmatic and fully conclusive about the Holy Spirit's work in and through our worship. Mere Christianity would be further reading along these lines as the article quotes. Observing how worship transforms is a fresh thought for me.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great discussion on what the 'transformation' of worship is... and whether we should be expecting one. Also great diversity of artistic mediums, with good relevance to real life. Not just a PhD chow through... could be read with a coffee for enjoyment!