I just read a great post by Ed Stetzer of Lifeway. In it he talks about how Christians need to end the worship wars with truth rather than a truce.  In other words lets not compromise but rather find the truth about worship and let it reign king in our hearts and churches on Sundays.

I love the idea and I support what he says.  My fear is that too many who are embattled in the worship war will never see it or listen to it.  The one idea he advocates is the crux of the problem.  He says:

The reason worship wars exist is because the church thinks it is fighting for something permanent when it is actually temporary. Musical styles and service preferences are like a jacket that can be taken on or off depending upon the temperature.

True.  And that permanence is the issue.  I am thankful I am not really involved in the worship wars at my present ministry, but I have been in the past.  The key issue is that people think their way is the most spiritual way and should be THE way.  He also said we need to remove preference as the key choice.  What I like is different than what you like.  However, I can worship the way you like.  I do it all the time.  In one week’s time I went to worship experiences that included old hymns and Revivalist gospel tunes.  Later I went to a service that included a blend of contemporary songs, praise choruses, and hymns.  Then, with my  youth group, I went to a concert that included both a country rock style and and a bee-bopping boys band.  All were worshipful to me.  Not all were the kind of music I’d download to my iPod.  But I worshipped.

I hope you can worship no matter where you are, who you are with, or what is playing over the speakers. If you cannot, then the problem is not with the music but your heart!