ANCIENT FUTURE WORSHIP

One of the common beliefs circulating among emergent leaders is the idea that experiences effective in attracting Christians in the past are essential as a means of attracting people today who are hungry for experience. This is called ancient-future or vintage Christianity. Today’s program will explain how this works.

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Dan Kimball, author of “The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for the New Generation” [1] is one of the key proponents of the Emerging Church. He also has strong views on how worship plays an important role in attracting post-moderns into the Emerging Church. In a section of his book subtitled “Truly worshipping in a worship gathering,” he writes:

We should be returning to a no-holds-barred approach to worship and teaching so that when we gather, there is no doubt we are in the presence of God. I believe that both believers and unbelievers in our emerging culture are hungry for this. It isn’t about clever apologetics or careful exegetical and expository preaching or great worship bands. … Emerging generations are hungry to experience God in worship. [2]

Rob Redman, author of The Great Worship Awakening: Singing a New Song in the Postmodern Church agrees with Kimball. He claims a “worship awakening” is presently underway. He writes:

Liturgical churches, particularly Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, report increasing interest in traditional liturgical worship among young adults. [3]

Redman notes this renewed interest in liturgical worship style is being incorporated into Protestant worship services as part of the “great worship awakening.” Further, he stated: 

A common approach to the worship awakening among Protestant churches is to create a blended service combining older and newer liturgical elements and musical styles. [4]

Julie Sevig, in an article titled “Ancient New” summarized what is happening within the Emerging Church the following way:

Postmoderns prefer to encounter Christ by using all their senses. That's part of the appeal of classical liturgical or contemplative worship: the incense and candles, making the sign of the cross, the taste and smell of the bread and wine, touching icons and being anointed with oil. In Soul Tsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture, Leonard Sweet says: "Post-moderns want a God they can feel, taste, touch, hear and smell--a full sensory immersion in the divine." [5]

In the same article, an interview with Karen Ward further explains what style of worship is emerging in the emerging church:

Evangelicals are using traditions from all liturgical churches from Orthodox to Lutheran to Catholic. Though they have limited experience using their new-found symbols, rituals and traditions, they’re infusing them with vitality and spirit and life, which is reaching people. [6]

In this program I have quoted Kimball, Redman, Sevig and Ward to help explain what is meant by ancient future worship. There should be one thing that is very clear. Postmodern-experience-seekers are finding the experiences they are seeking by being introduced to Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

I am Roger Oakland. This has been a biblical perspective to help understand the times.

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