So what?

I think there's a problem in worship in our churches today. Not all churches - but at least in mine (see last post). Some of you at least agree. But the question is then, so what do we do about it? What can church leaders do to change the problem?

Let's pick one problem that is easy to agree upon: People come to worship looking for what "they" get out of it. Their concern is what benefits them. As Brian commented in the last post, they leave church saying their either did or didn't "get much" from the worship. Clearly this is backward in focus since worship is about honoring God and not getting something.

What then do leaders do to address this situation? What steps can they take to remedy this dilemma? Obviously it won't be simple or easy since this problem is rooted deeply in our human selfishness AND our society's consumerism. But what are some starting points?

Church Worship Problems

Lately my thoughts on what worship should look like have changed. In fact, they've changed to the point that I'm becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my own church's worship. It's not that the worship they do is wrong, it's just that I think it's not as good as it could be.

Some of this has come from a book I'm reading by Dawn (first name slips my mind right now) called A Royal Waste of Time. The book is great at getting you to think about what worship is really about. It's also boring past p. 100...

Anyway, what are my beefs? Well, primarily I think that worship in our church has becoming man centered instead of God centered. It's hard to explain how I see this because it's bits here and there that drive this. The worship at my church is actually very well done musically. The musicians are top notch. The music is beautiful. Etc. But what kind of bothers me is that the focus is always front and center on the musicians. Not wrong. But the attention is not really directed upwards at God. A soloa few weeks ago (did I mention this here?) sang "It's all about you, Jesus" - a beautiful chorus. But the IRONY was that as the soloistbegan singing, the lights dimmed for the congregation and the spotlight shone on the SINGER! Afterwards, the audience clapped...

Argggg.... No. This isn't "wrong" but it's not the way it should be. The problem is deeper than just this one song of course. It's the fact that 2 solos are sung every Sunday. It's the fact that few in the congregation sing or are encouraged through musical methods to sing. The band is good, but it feels like a performance, not a worship service. The music is too often centered on "me" or "I" and how God makes "me" feel.

Again, I don't think any of these are wrong in and of themselves, but it seems that there is a culture at my church that has grown to focus primarily on what "feels good" or is "applauded" rather than what fosters a lifestyle of worship within those who should be "worshippers."

Does this make sense? I feel a tad judgemental, but I also feel strongly on this. I'll probably comment more on this later, but I feel like a light has been turned on somewhere within me and I see more clearly than ever that I am created to worship God. And I also feel that my church is only skirting the edge of what authentic worship looks like.

Beginning of Thanksgiving Week

Well, my breakfast went real well yesterday. I really enjoyed talking with the guys at breakfast about what the Christian walk was all about. I basically ended up describing what I have realized lately on a deeper level - that the Christian walk isn't about doing the right thing but it's about loving God with all our hearts. (and doing the right thing flows out of that love.) They didn't come to church afterwards which was a little disappointing but we'll see what happens next week.

Anyway, thanks for your prayers. I am also learning how much of a difference prayer makes.

I have big plans again this week to get stuff done for school but it's got to happen quick because Desiree's folks are coming in on Wednesday evening for Thanksgiving. Right now I'm working on a critique of my church and what I can do to bring it closer to the biblical ideal. This has been a very good project for me. It's opened up my eyes to how far from perfect my church is, but it's also helped me see how I need to step up to the plate and personally take action in the areas where I can do so.

End of Reading Week

Well, I got done very little of what I intended this week, but I'm excited about Ramos. I'm having breakfast with him and another guy tomorrow morning. Hopefully, afterwards we'll be able to go to church together and it'll be a good experience for him.

Now I'm going to work on my paper some and try to get some reading done.

Awesome Feeling

I am pretty hesitant to even post this here, but with some reservations I'm going too.

I'm pretty pumped right now because I got to share the gospel with a guy who works at our apartment complex today and he accepted Christ. We'd known each other for a while on a casual basis and hadn't really had any in depth conversations, though. What was cool was this morning I just had this weird feeling that our time here at this property was coming to a close and I asked God to use me however he would in the time we have here. What was REALLY cool was that when I told Desiree what happened she got a weird look and said that she was just praying for me and the property in the kitchen while I was out on the property (I was putting up flyers to our Thanksgiving Potluck).

WOW!

I mean there's no greater thrill in my mind then being used by God to make an impact in someone's life and the greatest thrill of all is seeing someone place their trust in Christ.

Again, I'm hesitant to even share this because I'm afraid I'm bragging. But I don't want this to be a brag about me. Instead, I just wanted to share the joy I have right now and to ask you guys to pray for this guy (Ramos) to get plugged in with other believers now.

So no "kudos" please. Praise God. I'm pumped and don't need any more "pumping." :-) Well, I'd better get back to my exegetical paper. Reading week is over half over!!! Aghhh...

Reading Week

For the next two weeks I don’ have classes at DTS. Instead this week is “reading” week. Next week is Thanksgiving. Reading week is really the result of meetings this week for all the professors at DTS. So it’s nose to the grindstone for me. These are make or break weeks on my work. Anyway, my goals for this week are to finish my exegetical paper (gag) and finish two books I have to have read by the end of the semester. We’ll see how it goes.

I will also be reading a rebuttal to Webb’s book, Slaves, Women and Homosexuals. It’s on CBWM’s website (Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood). I’ll let you know what I think about it.

In other news I am meeting with my new pastor this Wednesday. Our old pastor is retiring. I’ll let you know how it goes. He has expressed a desire to mentor seminary students like me. Sounds great! So a couple other guys and I will have lunch with him.

Also, Dan mentioned he visited this site last night. Dan is a stud. Feel free to comment.

10 foot poles

What no one wants to touch that last post with.

Anyway, I'm working on my next exegetical paper now (Ephesians 5:22-33) which just happens to be on gender issues as well.

More interesting is the fact that I have to have my thesis nailed down in the next few months. I'm thinking about the whole gender issues thing, but I'm thinking I should focus more on a practical, not theological issue in the church. Worship forms come to mind as do church planting topics. Or maybe the whole leadership in the church thingy.

1 Timothy 2:9-15

The above passage is in my opinion the crux of the "women in ministry" debate. Other passages lend weight one way or another, but that text is critical in determining what way you go.

What's so important about it is that Paul gives "reasons" to support his statement on women not teaching in a church context. they are 1) Adam was created first and 2) Eve was deceived

The question is, are these actually transcultural reasons and thus binding for all time - hence, in some respect at least there should be a hierarchy of gender in the church, OR is this something different than a "reason" here.

Currently I'm reading a book called Slaves, Women, & Homosexuals by the evangelical professor William Webb. He argues that slaves and women are similar issues and that we should take a "redemptive hermeneutic" approach to them while homosexuality does not follow similar lines.

Humm... Anyway, this is a real nailbiter issue for me because the implications are just enormous in regards to church ministry. Post if this interests you and maybe we can get into a good discussion for a while...