James K. A. Smith, author of Desiring the Kingdom, recently released a collection of shorter writings.  Discipleship in the Present Tense includes a number of quality pieces, many of them being good introductions to Smith’s view on culture and its liturgies.  One of my favorite pieces is all about praise and worship.  Praise and worship is a topic that gets many people passionate quickly.  Smith’s “Open Letter to Praise Bands” is a brilliant attempt and being pointed and succinct, calling our attention to at least three times where what happens in a congregation “is not worship.”

The letter is also a great introduction to his concept of cultural liturgies.  You can read the whole letter here.  I think it’s balanced, appropriate, and worth a read.

Discipleship in the Present Tense is available online in paperback or digital here.