"Worship and the Reality of God: An Evangelical Theology of Real Presence" by John Jefferson Davis
In general, American evan- gelicals have lost a true sense of the holiness, transcendence, and majesty of God. This is due in large part to a philosophy of public worship that appears to be focused more upon the presence of felt needs than upon the presence of God—and his divinely appointed means of grace. In an effort to reach the unchurched, well-intentioned church leaders design worship services that are informal, loud, amusing, chatty, and culturally hip. But can this trendy style of worship possibly communicate the awesome and weighty reality of the nature and redemptive work of the Triune God? In other words, have recent trends in worship placed more emphasis upon the temporal realities of this "present evil age" than upon the eternal realities of God, redemption, and the glorious age to come? In his book, Worship and the Reality of God, John Jefferson Davis helpfully addresses these and other important questions in relation to the gathered worship of God's people.
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Rev. Dr. Jon D. Payne is minister at Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Douglasville, Georgia.
Issue: "Word and Sacrament: Making Disciples of All Nations" July/August 2011 Vol. 20 No. 4 Page number(s): 59-60
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