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I really have meant to be a bit more faithful in keeping this page current, but things don't naturally become priorities--you have to make them that way, and I have been a bit negligent in keeping up with my self-assigned duties...
Last time I was discussing (or pontificating, or griping, or droning on and on--you get the point) the apparent antagonism towards seminary-trained musicians in our churches. Perhaps "antagonism" is a bit too strong a word, and I certainly don't wish to suggest that ALL churches share the sentiment. The lean towards an "experiential," rather than "educated" worship experience is becoming more and more desired, and almost all of the churches looking to grow seem to be using this kind of language.
I want to be careful yet clear here with what I say. I do not deny that worship is a two-way process, nor am I saying that it must first and foremost be a "thought" prospect rather than a "felt" one. I am suggesting a mix -- Paul did behoove us to take all things in moderation, and we know that the Spirit guides us to discern what issues to which we must apply that principle (not that we are to be mindless, but informed by the Word and the Spirit -- but that's another topic for future discussion). It seems to me imperative that the one prospect informs the other; it is only true worship we when perceive an emotional experience within an intentional act (though the "emotional experience" is to be personally defined; if not, then charasmatics are right in demanding that all believers should speak in tongues), but I do not believe that a worship service is best developed on a whim. One of my professors stated it best: "We do not have to assume that the Holy Spirit will not use a little planning."
Must we always plan our services to the nth detail? Can the Holy Spirit not move spontaneously? Of course He can, and Pentecost is the first example in the early Christian church of this very experience. But the circumstances at Pentecost were considerably different then they are now -- people were first receiving the Holy Spirit, not just worshiping. It was something Jesus had promised, but we have no reason to think the early Christians had any idea what would be going on beyond Jesus' promise of power. What, they might have asked, does he mean by that?