Here's a quote from page 75 of Harold Best's book Unceasing Worship:
"The church desperately needs and artistic reformation that accomplishes two things at once: first, it takes music out of the limelight and puts Christ and his Word back into prominence; and second, it strives creatively for a synthesis of new, old and crosscultural styles."
How does that hit you? When you come to worship, is the music in the limelight or Christ? Is Christ's glory preeminent in your mind or is the creation of music? Does it matter more that Christ was glorified or if we did a good job? I ask myself these questions more desperately than I ask them of you. Authentic worship is first concerned about the glory of God and not the style or excellence of the music. Those questions need to be asked but if they are primary and Christ is not, we're missing the mark.
And what of a synthesis of styles? How much should we focus on this? Should we focus on it more? Can any church really be good at truly blending styles? Understand, we're not just talking hymns mixed with the new stuff but Best is suggesting music from around the world has a place in our services. How would that make us feel?
These kinds of questions are prevelant in the minds of people at our church right now. Perhaps these are some of the most practical questions we need to be asking. I am glad we're wrestling with them and I pray that we won't be crippled by the asking of them but to hear from God where he wants us to land and then move forward in confidence.
So what about it? Where do you think we need to do better? How are we succeeding at this? Weigh in!
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Maybe I'm reading into Best's paragraph a bit too much, but I find that particular statement a bit oxymoronic. To use the term "reformation" would imply that the church needs "improvement", "transformation", or "reorganization" (via thesaurus). While in the same statement, he says the church "desperately" needs to be more Word-based and more receptive to an array of artictic styles.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion? To reach both those aspects (which I agree are issues that can be addressed), the church doesn't need to look forward or reform anything. Rather, they simply need to look back to tradition. I don't necessarily mean chaning musical styles (although that may help), but (for examples) seeking the theological depth found in hymns, the cultural/racial/ethnic stories behind the spirituals, and re-examining the value in the liturgy of teh early church.
I believe that while the church is so preoccupied in making itself relevant NOW, it's neglected to look back to see what made the church relevant THEN. We can do all of that while still making the church available and "prevalent" to people now using the technological and histroical resources we now have access to (including musical styles, cool media, great literature, etc).
*sigh
I need a coffe.
He makes an interesting point about what is in the 'limelight' on a Sunday morning. Worshipping amongst other believers has shown me that what is central in a church's worship space says a lot about what is most important to them. At a brethren meeting, for instance, chairs are circled around the bread and wine. They meet primarily to take of the Lord's supper, and since there is no authority in the church, just believers, there is no 'front' or back to the space. The Reformed churches have the pulpit beautifully adorned and central to the worship space - the reading of the Word is prominent. Some churches lay aside space for dancing, for a prominent baptismal, some have mats and quiet toys laid about the room so that parents can be with their children in the worship space so that families can experience God together. Our church? The music 'stuff' takes up much of the stage. And we have some nice projection screens. I'm not saying that's the only thing that's important on a Sunday but whatever takes the stage sends a message.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder what the stage of a church devoted to prayer would look like? That's just a weird question I think about sometimes.
My brother was a part of a church in TO where people prayed publically and sang songs in their native tongues - but that was very much a part of the culture of that church - embracing these differences. And my little opinion is that the 'style' of music is less important than how well it coheres to the morning as a whole. Is it expressing themes from the sermon and scripture that are central to meeting there? Are these the songs that the Spirit is moving us to sing that Sunday?