Getting Their "Church Fix"
Ancient Wisdom from the Desert

Random Thoughts

Istock_000001675632small_sm_1 Here are some of the things I'm thinking about today:

  1. My feet ache.  Really ache. I've been hiking 4-8 miles each morning in the hills up behind my home.
  2. To what degree has our culture's pushing of radical egalitarianism left its mark on the Church (both IC and EC) and how we tenaciously defend its various "expressions"?
  3. In two days, our congregation will put on the first in a series of events, entitled "Sunday Sandwiches and Sports" -- a come-one-come-all invitation to make sandwiches and watch sports together after our worship gathering concludes.  In doing so, are we "caving-in" to our entertainment-addicted society, or are we simply becoming more missional?
  4. The emphasis on music-oriented worship during the 70's, 80's, and 90's was a corrective within the greater body of Christ, recovering from a prior lack thereof.  The pendulum has been swinging the opposite direction in recent years, and I wonder:  how far it will swing? How long will it swing? And when will this swing eventually reverse directions again?

Have a blessed weekend.
.

image credit: © Nicola Vernizzi, iStockphoto.com

Comments

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I don't think you're 'caving in' nor do I think you're becoming more missional. It sounds like you just want to enjoy each other.

Would like you to unpack "radical egalitarianism" some time...
Dana

H West -- thanks for the encouraging, clarifying thoughts. We, in fact, did enjoy just being together (and enjoying the sandwiches and goodies) :D

Dana -- I'm working on a post that will unpack some of my concerns over how radical egalitarianism may messing up the church far more than we realize in both IC and EC settings. Thanks for the "push"! :)

As a former contemporary worship leader, I don't see the emphasis on music-oriented worship as a corrective. I see it as devisive, manipulative and just plain detrimental to the Body of Christ. I've been involved in the worship ministry in three churches, all different denominations. So many hurt feelings, so much pride exhibited, a loss of corporate prayer in favor of "worship," divisions over style. All I could do was repent for any part I played in it and get OUT!

I do think and hope the pendulum will swing back. Sometimes I look at the whole thing as a tower of Babel.

Anne,

Thanks so much for sharing your insights. They sure made me sit up and take notice!

Musical expressions of worship are prominent in the Old Testament scriptures, but are largely absent in the NT. I guess I've always believed that the NT presupposes an OT foundation concerning worship (i.e. different from the non-instrumental doctrines of the "Church of Christ").

Your "Tower of Babel" analogy has me thinking of how many modern evangelicals have sinned by "worshipping" worship, forsaking a more holistic understanding and practice of biblical worship.

As far as the "worship wars" that tore apart churches for 3 decades -- aren't they basically over? And... were such wars really an indictment against musical worship? Or was it pride -- the same pride that was causing division in denominations and churches long before "contemporary worship" came on the scene?

Just thinking with you. Blessings,

Chris

Chris,
I just have to say that the "worship wars" are no where near being over. Maybe they are out west but in the midwest specifically in Western PA (which is about 10 to 20 years behind the western US), the wars are heated. Casulties abound. The carnage of pride is sickening. I also had enough and have gotten out. The sad part of the music styles division is that very few seem to recognize that whether it is old or new styles, they are cultural expressions not biblical mandates or the "right way to do church."

The real issue, however, at least in the Western Pa is not music or w(a)rship but dysfunctional systems in families that play themselves out in emotionally immature expressions. Music because of its personal (and powerful) nature is simply the excuse (and perhaps catalyst)for self-centered behavior and attitudes to become a ravaging, relational plague.

However, the "Tower of Babel" image is interesting. I have wondered... because of the web and modern communications, does the worship music and liturgies that are being written and used have the potential of uniting people into a common expression (not really a language)of love for God that hasn't been seen since the Tower of Babel divided human beings. Then again, maybe God is keeping us divided so that we don't really get out of hand. (no I really don't believe that!)

In Christ,
Mark

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