God/Culture.
Is it one or the other?
Part of me, actually the majority of me, wants to lean toward the modern church movement. The emergent’s. The relevant’s. the hippie’s. The house churches. The McLaren’s…and I want to see my church, Twelve Oaks, develop into something like that. I want to see people get excited to come to church and to worship and fellowship. A place where the music is energetic, the message is engaging and entertaining, and the coffee is fresh… and it’s just so much more fun than traditional stiff-collared types.
But there’s also a part of me, which at times also seems like a majority, that wants to lean toward the traditional teaching of people like John Piper, Ravi Zacharias and Alistair Begg. Teaching that searches the scriptures for deeper truth and meaning. I can’t listen to their messages and NOT be moved to a place of being very uncomfortable. I don’t mean uncomfortable as in a legalistic, guilt-ridden path of forced action, but as an inspiration to follow and pursue Christ’s teachings out of love and authentic joy.
Why does there have to be a one-or-the-other mindset at all? Why can’t we mix this sort of teaching and doctrine with the music that people get excited to hear/sing? Rick Warren said that he didn’t have his church make music with organs and choirs at Saddleback because that “wasn’t what people were listening to on their car radio.” I’m not a pastor, I’m a worship leader (and a volunteer one at that). But it doesn’t take a seminary educated church leader to see where people are truly worshipping God and where they aren’t. And where God’s Word is having an impact through teaching… and where it’s not.
Categorized as Ministry, Christianity, Culture, My Life, Marriage, Ministry, Twelve Oaks, Worship
I was totally struggling with this same concept today (http://5purposedriven.wordpress.com/2006/08/14/worship-leading-challenge-question/). I guess that’s what sent me searching for an answer to my own question. I see the same in music and lyrics as in teaching. We are in a “celebration”, new facility mode right now…the bigger, the brighter, the more eye catching, wow-some, the better…a “casting the net wide” stage.
I came home from worship after a day starting at 4AM, headache all day, coming home from PM worship,and you know what I longed for? Bible study.
I guess that is what distinguishes the mature from the immature? Or how do those “growing” know there is more…deeper…deep calling to the deep as scripture puts it. And do I risk exposing them to that? Can the immature…or younger in the faith, handle the deep without being overwhelmed. I, as even a child and youth, was at “deep places” others could not appreciate or handle. I wonder if those things have to be reserved for worship times with those seeking “the deep”…otherwise, it’s back to “emergent”. A spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down?
A question I wrestle with today before another rare opp to lead.
Sorry for the length.
Thanks for a great post to put thoughts into better words.
“Maggie”