Last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Chorus Church hosted our second “School of Worship.” Two hours (theoretically) Thursday and Friday nights and most of the day Saturday, concluding with a concert that evening. I spoke at the leader’s luncheon Saturday.
I’ve been reading Frank Viola’s book, Pagan Christianity, in which he argues that most of what we do “in church” has its basis in pagan religions and philosophies rather than Scripture. A most interesting read to say the least.
So I’m listening to these gifted musicians (so far as history reveals, instruments were not used until several hundred years after the church was established), worship leaders (Frank Viola argues against worship pastors in favor of spontaneous singing, prayer, and sharing from the Word), and tech people talk about how to better draw people into an environment of worship … and I’m thinking how complicated we’ve made worship.
After all, in the first century Christians gathered and one had a song, another a word from God, another a prophecy, another a word of encouragement for a brother or sister. They shared a common meal in which they took time to remember the death, burial, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus. There was no preacher (as we experience preaching as the center of our time together). No praise team. No tech issues. No building maintenance. No church staff. Just fellowship and Spirit-led worship.
But that was then and this is now. A different culture. Trying to reach a different generation.
And I heard these leaders express time and again their passion to bring people to know Jesus and to worship him from the heart.
Yes, we’ve complicated things. But as our heart remains centered on Jesus and we can keep a passion for bringing ourselves closer to God … others to know Christ … and providing an atmosphere for praise … God will honor that.
Our church has a large media and tech team, with roadies to set it all up and tear it all down (we meet in hotels). It’s all done because we can set up a place for people who are curious to come in and be exposed to the Gospel using the best of the talents of our videographers, editors, musicians and others to present the gospel.
I find it pretty silly to argue about how simple everything was in the first churches. They didn’t have sound boards, speakers, trusses, projects and all the rest of the paraphernalia.
I just remember what my 8th grade teacher said – everything is neutral. It’s the human behind the thing that makes it good or evil. Surely that could be said for churches that use all the technology they can.
A neat book I found in the throw out bin a year or so ago is Seven Words of Worship: The Key to a Lifetime of Experiencing God by Mike Harland and Stan Moser. It’s a practical book with a “call to worship, reflections, and a prayer at the end of each chapter. I really like his seven words: creation, grace, love, response, expression, presence, and experience. His thesis is that worship is the key to experiencing God. In light of the fact that we will spend much of our time with the Father worshiping him in the place without time, it seems we should be doing some practicing while within time.
Peace.
Sometimes we do make it complicated….but almost every week I see someone who speaks from the heart about how real it is in their lives and see true tears acknowledging the difference made by only Jesus. You are right, as long as heart is centered on that the rest is just details.
A dear friend and I were sitting out on our back porch yesterday afternoon talking about “home church(es)” and how refreshing they are (it is) for her brother-in-law and wife and another couple she knows. I told her that is what I have longed to engage in for quite a while, if I can get Tom & I both well enough at the same time to commit to such.
I’d told her several years ago about how simple New Testament Christianity was and how the fellowship I was in at that time was that wonderful and simple. Then, I was in a second one just about as simple . . . until Hurricane Katrina took it all away.
Now, unfortunately, I cannot find such a simple, God-loving group and it greatly saddens me. What passes for the cofC here locally leaves a whole lot to be desired and I personally found it so depressing that I could no longer go there. Now, I am seeking a better fellowship within I can find meaning and all of the good things you talk about here today, Greg.
Until then . . . I don’t know. I haven’t found an answer. I keep seeking.
Dee
I know I’m a little late in responding to this post, but I’ll weigh in anyway. Granted that the early church had limited technology and instituionalized infrastructure, but maybe that wasn’t even needed. I have no problem with all the bells and whistles of collective worship as long as we don’t ever think that we can’t worship God without them. As a leader and a person who is sometimes responsible for what happens on Sunday mornings, I find myself often dreading our assembly because of all of the plates I have to keep spinning just to make that two and a half hour block of time meet the congregation’s expectation of what “needs” to happen. My heart is often not where it needs to be. It may be just my problem, but I don’t think the Lord wants the technical side of church to inhibit real praise ond worship.
Just had a thought this morning.
Re-read the building of the original Ark and the tent, etc. Re-read the whole sacrifice ritual stuff, etc. Re-read the building of the Temple, and the pageantry of worship – all the instruments and singing and marching and artwork and craftsmanship.
I think therein lies the answer to peoples’ problems with modern worship using our current technology.
I am involved with a group that is studying Frank’s book “Reimaging Church”. We had to read “Pagan Christianity” before we started the class. My favorite of his is “From Eternity to Here” and “Jesus Manifesto”. Not sure where we will go from here…….
[I'm about half way through "Pagan Christianity" though I'd read another book many years ago (while living in Florida) with much of the same information. I have "Reimagining the Church" on my night stand to start as soon as I finish "Pagan Christianity." He gives much to think about.]