It should usher us into the presence of God and send us out in the service of God. It should speak not only with words but with symbols and sacraments, with hymns and silence. As you may suspect, I am suggesting that there are far more important issues for a pastor and congregation to ask than when a hymn was written or what musical instrument, if any, leads a church in praise. The integrity of our worship depends far more on the focus of our attention and the theology of our prayer and praise. It has become clear that there is a great temptation in the culture in which we live to participate in Sunday morning entertainment rather than to call people to worship.
Entertainment looks to focus on the wants rather than the needs of our people.
Entertainment tickles the ears but finally leaves the heart strangely unmoved. Entertainment requires that each and every week we create new ways to keep people coming back. It finally wears out a pastor and tires a congregation. Worship that is focused on God and fed with the inexhaustible spring of Scripture, finally feeds the human heart. It speaks with words and sometimes without them.