For all those who use the word “liturgy” and “liturgical” to mean planned, shared, structured common worship – as if all community worship doesn’t generally follow a structure…
For all those who use the word “liturgy” and “liturgical” to mean planned, shared, structured common worship – as if all community worship doesn’t generally follow a structure…
Ah yes, have experienced a few things like this, and I still don’t know if I’ve attended anything that could be described as ‘worship’ or ‘liturgy’.
The video clip is funny because it’s so accurate!
I’ve seen that parody before. And I’ve even been in services like that (shudders).
A thought I had a few years back – the responsibility for how well I worship and connect with God is mine, regardless of how well (or not) the service is being led. What matters most is my own heart attitude. (This was after listening to friends spend every Sunday lunch picking apart the service and finding all the little faults in it).
Thanks, Claudia. There is truth in what you say. But not the whole truth. I believe there are God-given ways to worship together, that there are principles of community worship, and that leadership in worship bears responsibility for preparation, rehearsal, and so forth. And that these things are appropriately discussed and critiqued. Not nitpicking over Sunday lunch is probably one of those principles. But a leadership meeting to review on Monday or Tuesday morning would also be one. Christ is risen.
Funny clip but consider the general Anglican service that might meet no heights of worship. One of my adult sons [who goes to a modern church]came to one of our services and said: ‘This could be a cult – someone up the front says something and then you say something and they say something. I couldn’t bring any of my friends here. Too weird.’ He thought we were way behind the culture of today like some kind of living fossil and had lost our relevance to today’s youth.Worth thinking about as the successful churches tend to offer rock concert band worship. It can be good to worship to.
Thanks, Liz.
So much in your good comment to consider. Including what makes something a “modern church”?
The discussion, “how much should church reflect culture and how much be counter-cultural?” is a constant one. And has been throughout history. Services that have the latest popular-style music (“rock concert band worship”) are often extremely counter-cultural in beliefs, for example, about science, history, and morals.
Blessings.
Fair point, Bosco. The difference is one of position. I’m not involved in the leading of the service, and therefore am privy to neither the planning meeting nor the de-brief.
However, as a participant of the service I’m still responsible for my attitude. I could sit in a perfectly planned, smooth running service, but if I’m only half-heartedly going through the motions, I’m not engaging in worship. On the other hand, I’ve been in services where everything seemed to go wrong, yet by choosing to not let those things be a distraction to me, and keeping my attention on God, I’ve come away feeling like I’ve had a profound worship experience.
You’ve given me some good food to think about what the true nature of worship is.
Thanks, Claudia. I wonder if you spotted the post full, conscious, and active participation which was saying similar things to your points here. Active involvement goes deeper than what some people give the impression it primarily is. Blessings.
Yes I had seen that post too, and I guess I’m picking up on the overlap between the two.
Blasphamy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Urrrrrrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I enjoy watch the videos on Hillsong TV! 😉
It’s a standard principle of communication theory that the responsibility for the success or failure of communication with a willing, attentive subject belongs to the communicator, not the receiver.
So I agree with you, Claudia, that you have a responsibility to be attentive and willing – but when you get down to it, worship is the church’s responsibility. And I mean that is at least three senses.
*snicker*
Sorry- nothing positive to add whatsoever!