WORSHIP IN THE MELTING POT
By Peter Masters
The Wakeman Trust. 148 pages. £4.95
ISBN 1 870855 33 7
The author begins by setting out certain principles regarding Christian 'worship': it is to be spiritual, rational and sacred, 'in spirit and truth', and above all, reverent. The central chapters of the book are concerned with demonstrating that these key principles are thoroughly biblical. So far (generally speaking), so good.
The red lights only start flashing in earnest when Dr. Masters begins to explain what he understands to be the negative counterpart of these positives. According to him, 'worship' is not to be aesthetic, ecstatic, profane, or emotional. Under these headings, he rules out, for example, the use of drums and guitars, the singing of choruses, or the raising of hands. The chief purpose of the book is to argue that origins in, or association with, secular culture renders such contemporary music and practices totally unacceptable for Christian use.
