With Reverance and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether.

Here is another contribution to the ongoing debate about worship that weighs in on the side of traditional Reformed worship. This book struggles with the issue of following the principle of regulative worship in the contemporary world. The authors are pastors in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and admit their clear bias toward worship that is traditional and simple – guided by scriptural warrants alone. With some of their arguments I find myself in agreement, but I don’t always agree with them on all points. This book is good correction to the sloppy theological reflection on what we do in worship among evangelical churches. Sadly, most of the contemporary style churches and their pastors would probably not even read it. After attending several PCA general assemblies and seeing the diverse opinions about worship styles and worship theology, I wish there was more theological discourse between the various groups. Practically speaking we need to strike a balance in music and liturgy styles, but we need to reaffirm the basics of our Reformed heritage concerning worship. It is part of our forgotten heritage that makes us distinctive and most of our pastors are being pressured to go the way of Willow Creek rather than draw from the rich stream of Reformed thinking about grandeur of worshipping a holy and awesome God.