Worship is at the center of who we are and what we do as communities of Christian faith. From a biblical perspective, whenever God’s people missed the mark in relationship to worship, things did not go well. (Do you remember that unfortunate incident with the golden calf?) In this week’s episode of our podcast, Leading and Thriving in the Church, John Witvliet talks about what matters most in worship.
John is the director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and teaches at Calvin Theological Seminary, but he began his vocational journey as the son of a pastor. His curiosity about the behind-the-scenes aspect to ministry drew him into the music and the liturgical rhythms of the church. The kindness and guidance of musicians he met during his youth and throughout his ministry inspired his outlook on worship and nurtured his passion for creativity.
In this episode, John talks about how the Calvin Institute’s work and research led his team to identify 10 core convictions about worship that transcend denominational traditions. These convictions are connected to every aspect of worship: from theocentricity to engagement with Scripture to leadership.
At this moment in Christian history, we see more openness to breaking with tradition and exploring new ways of being the church, including new ways of worshiping. The more we innovate, the more crucial it is that we reflect on what we do and how we do it — so that our innovations are not completely disconnected from what is good in our traditions. This conversation inspires us to embrace the witness of the church and explore new practices in worship to renew congregations and glorify God.
