The problem is not with casual worship styles, but with casually worshiping God in whatever style….There’s little room left for awe in worship, and I suspect that the form is indeed a part of our problem.

When it comes to the atmosphere of worship services in the next generation, something’s got to give.

More and more churches are focusing on the centrality of the Word in worship. The resurgence of Reformed theology among younger evangelicals, the reassertion of a rock-solid belief in the inerrancy and inspiration of the scriptures in the Southern Baptist Convention, the revival of expository preaching—this wave we’re riding is about to collide with an even bigger wave: the power and dominance of contemporary worship styles across the United States and around the world.

For many churches, it seems the biggest requirement for a “worship set” is novelty. Since the aim is to produce an experience, we construct a worship service more influenced by the latest hits on Christian radio than by the history and theology of the Church.

One of the core values of many an evangelical church is the effort to put everyone at ease. “Good morning,” says the minister or worship leader. Then comes the inevitable: “Let’s try that again, GOOD MORNING!” There’s a chatty, street-level style of worship that has become prevalent in evangelicalism. And it’s not clear that your pursuit of casual novelty in worship meshes well with hearing the Word of God set forth in all its glory.

Can a contemporary, casual service bring worshippers face to face with the glory of God in a way that buttresses and upholds the magnificent truths being expounded from the Word? I think the answer is yes, but not always.

It’s like eating steak on a paper plate.

My wife is an excellent cook. Her Romanian dishes dazzle my taste buds, and her American cooking is terrific too. In recent months, she has been using paper plates frequently. I understand why. We don’t have a dishwasher. She wants to save time setting the table, and she doesn’t want me washing dishes after dinner. Paper plates are easy and disposable.

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Trevin Wax is a Minister in the Southern Baptist Convention and is the editor of TGM – Theology, Gospel, Mission, a small-group curriculum developed by LifeWay Christian Resources. He blogs daily at Kingdom People.