Before continuing with this series, I'd like to offer a few more clarifications.
Again, this is a complex topic to discuss. I have heard dozens of people share my dissatisfaction, and I'd like to give voice to these issues. I take pains to make it clear this is my personal reaction to the typical Adventist service; that of my neighbor's can differ. And of course, I am focusing on the external vocabulary of worship. My neighbor's heart may be more prepared to receive God than mine; God may be nearer to them than to me; they may be invisibly worshipping in a way I cannot see. This is not a matter of whose inner spiritual experience is superior or inferior (may mine always be inferior). But the "worship wars" in modern Adventism are very much about the external vocabulary of worship. The Reformation certainly was; the II Vatican Council was. After all, Christianity is a religion of public worship.
If you want to capture my heart: I believe Adventists can and should reform certain aspects of their worship. This is why this series is not truly a Catholic v. Adventist one. Adventists do not need to become Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, or Jewish to be more intentional in how they approach God. But they can learn from these traditions, as also from "Seeker churches," contemporary churches, charismatic churches, emerging churches, etc., many of which seem to be more intentional with the question: "what is worship?"
I find it disappointing that the Adventist "worship wars" are more often arguments about the supposed detrimental effects of an "offbeat" rhythm, and nostalgic memories of brother Stephen on the piano, than an honest examination of the questions: "are we giving enough time to the praise of God? do we sing to Him or to ourselves? does prayer punctuate our define our 'worship'?" The Adventist worship conversation must change.
Again, this is a complex topic to discuss. I have heard dozens of people share my dissatisfaction, and I'd like to give voice to these issues. I take pains to make it clear this is my personal reaction to the typical Adventist service; that of my neighbor's can differ. And of course, I am focusing on the external vocabulary of worship. My neighbor's heart may be more prepared to receive God than mine; God may be nearer to them than to me; they may be invisibly worshipping in a way I cannot see. This is not a matter of whose inner spiritual experience is superior or inferior (may mine always be inferior). But the "worship wars" in modern Adventism are very much about the external vocabulary of worship. The Reformation certainly was; the II Vatican Council was. After all, Christianity is a religion of public worship.
If you want to capture my heart: I believe Adventists can and should reform certain aspects of their worship. This is why this series is not truly a Catholic v. Adventist one. Adventists do not need to become Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, or Jewish to be more intentional in how they approach God. But they can learn from these traditions, as also from "Seeker churches," contemporary churches, charismatic churches, emerging churches, etc., many of which seem to be more intentional with the question: "what is worship?"
I find it disappointing that the Adventist "worship wars" are more often arguments about the supposed detrimental effects of an "offbeat" rhythm, and nostalgic memories of brother Stephen on the piano, than an honest examination of the questions: "are we giving enough time to the praise of God? do we sing to Him or to ourselves? does prayer punctuate our define our 'worship'?" The Adventist worship conversation must change.
1 comment:
First I think we need to define what exactly worship is.
To my mind, there are many forms of prayer that are not worship. The gimme/thank you prayers certainly are not worship. Even the praise prayers are not worship. Meditation/contemplation prayers may be getting closer to worship.
If I were going to give an example of worship, I would cite, moxex' experience on the mountain, when God covered him with his hand and passed his hindmost part past Moses. Another example, would be Thomas when he saw the resurrected Lord, "My Lord and My God." Worship is the natural reaction of the creature to the presence of the Creator.
The Bible shows the Seraphim worshipping God, with two wings they covered their faces and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew, crying Holy, Holy, Holy.
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