Worship in modern evangelicalism is one that is constantly evolving. In fact, worship has almost become a sub-genre complete with its own idiosyncrasies and mannerisms. Worship looks different depending on the church, the city, the band and the style. Yet, one of the many places where worship seems "to drift" is in regards to maintaining biblical worship.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not getting on the soapbox that so many have before, which only leads to the place where we can all say, "We don't want to be a first century church. They met in homes and in the synagogues (no one has gone there in a while). They were hunted down and murdered." No one is striving for this. I'm also know that we are talking about contextualizing a 1st century message to a 21st century world. None of that is what I'm speaking of.

As I've had a chance to be a part of many services of many different styles and many different locations, I have found that there are times where things occur within the service that have no biblical context and yet are celebrated as certainly godly. The long line of saints that have responded in this way shows the authenticity of the Christian experience.

Here's what I know. If not kept within the pages of the Scriptures, worship can go to the dogs (literally). It can also go to the birds, lions and the shakes. All of which I'm sure happened with the best intentions by really great people.

Yesterday with our students, we had an opportunity to outline and give some guidance as to where the youth ministry will head and how it will keep its bearings in the future. We read 1 Corinthians 12-14 (understanding the book of Acts) and used this as the baseline by which we guide all future worship experiences (and we've had some good ones! Healings of a brain and a broken foot. Verifiable peeps!).

Would be curious on your perspective. Feel free to comment below.