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Expanded Kierkegaard Model

Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard, in the often-quoted model, compares worship to a drama in which God is the audience, the congregation the actors, and the worship leaders the prompters.5 This model can be further developed to provide even more insight into the dialogical nature of worship when God is viewed as the star of the action — the one around whom the entire drama revolves. While becoming the star of the action, God also remains the audience for whom the action of the drama is directed. The congregation serves as actors in the drama of worship and the worship leaders serve as both prompters and actors — they are involved in the drama as they model and prompt worship. While our worship is for God's sake, God does not remain passive in our worship, for God is always present and active in worship. Without God's action, worship cannot occur; for only through God's grace and initiative are we allowed to worship.

3 For an overview of worship history, see Robert E. Webber, Worship Old and New, rev. ed, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994).

4 Franklin M. Segler and Randall Bradley, Understanding, Preparing for, and Practicing Christian Worship, 2nd ed., (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 225.

Worship Form and Musical Style

Too often we confuse worship with form and musical style. We often become so obsessed with external issues that we overlook content and may even lose our perspective of God's role in worship. Genuine worship can occur in many different traditions and through many forms. Worshipers can worship through musical styles ranging from contemporary to traditional. Although some worshipers will worship more effectively through particular forms, liturgies, and musical styles, worship transcends these issues. Worship is intensely personal and involves an individual's response to God. Furthermore, since we all have different intellects, learning styles, personality types, relationships with God, and personal preferences, we will relate to God according to our individual understanding of God. Even in corporate worship, we find ourselves as individuals in the company of other Christians who share our common goal — the worship of God.