Book: The Future of Protestant Worship: Beyond the Worship Wars

Ronald P. Byars. Louisville: Westminister John Knox Press, 2002. 144 pp. $12.95. ISBN 0664225721. www.ppcpub.org

Ronad P. Byars’s newest book is a helpful interweaving of both a survey of the history of Christian worship and current worship practices in North America. Byars both cautions and encourages. He cautions the impulse to mark success in numbers and the related desire to follow the current worship trends. At the same time he recognizes the need for change and encourages congregations to reflect on their worship practices, particularly whether or not their worship is more representative of a previous era then our present postmodern context. Byars also offers practical suggestions, reflective questions, a process to consider, or even whole new paradigms. Through it all Byars encourages the church to hold on to or, if necessary, to reclaim the centrality of the pulpit, font, and table—the Word and the sacraments.

Rev. Joyce Borger is a program manager at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship for the area of practical worship planning and leading, which includes co-managing ReformedWorship.org, as well as serving as a content editor and resource creator for the website. Joyce is keen to listen to the questions being asked by churches and then identify, learn from, and amplify wise and gifted voices who can speak to them, as well as create platforms for gifts and learning to be shared. She has worked in the area of worship for over 20 years and has served as editor of several musical collections, including Psalms for All Seasons, and Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2011, 2013). She has taught worship courses at Kuyper College and is an ordained minister. 

Reformed Worship 70 © December 2003, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.