Sunday, September 22, 2013

Reflections on Contemporary Worship

Several years ago, I wrote this draft post, but never published it to my blog.  I've done some editing and decided it's time it saw the light of day.

There seems to be a misconception younger generations prefer a more contemporary style, whether it be in music, furniture, religion, etc.  As such, in our churches today, there is push for rock-band, pop-style music to dominate the worship service.  This has become true even within historically traditional, conservative church bodies, including the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), but is this type of worship music really beneficial to our worship?

As a young confirmand, I went through Luther's Small Catechism and learned to ask the "Lutheran" question, "What does this mean?" Unfortunately, time seems to have dampened Lutherans' ability to really mean it when they ask this question.  The result?  We read through our Catechism and we do our memory work and we take for granted what we're being taught.  We stop questioning and started accepting.

Once we start accepting what we are doing in worship without question, then our churches start thinking that contemporary is the way to go.  The younger generations love rock concerts and pop hits. It's what they want, right?  Let's add it to the service then!  But there's a problem with this kind of thinking.  The contemporary worship style tends to shift the focus.  The band is up front.  The focus is on them.  The music is loud.  The musical focus is on the beat and the rhythm and not the words.  There is applause after each number; it is for the performers.  Much of the music (although certainly not all) is upbeat, with quick tempos and major keys.  The audience leaves feeling joyful, full of life, whatever the music conveys. The service is all about the music and the praise that is being given to God.  Does God really need our praise?  Is there really anything that we can do for Him?  Isn't it He that has done everything for us?  Where are the gifts He has given to us received?

Today's culture is all about me.  It's about what I want, what I feel.  I want this new awesome technology.  You hurt me; my pain is your fault.  Doing this is what makes me happy.  Contemporary-styled worship follows suite. It's all about the awesome music, the good feelings, the hanging out with peers.

Liturgical worship is not focused on making you feel good.  It's not about the music, the feelings, or the people you're with.  It's about receiving the gifts God has given to you!  The liturgy points to Christ.  The hymns point to Christ.  The readings point to Christ.  The sermon points to Christ.  The pastor even points to Christ!  There is no clapping after a hymn.  It's not about how great the arrangement is or how talented the organist or other musicians are.  That's why musicians are usually not at the front of the church.  It's not about them.  They are trying to get the congregation to pay attention to the words being sung, the words that point to Christ's saving work, for you, and to the gifts of life and salvation, given to you!  And the pastor doesn't wear a slick suit; he wears a white robe of servitude, signifying God has called him to administer the gifts to you!

The liturgical service is not straight-forward with songs and Scripture readings and a message.  It has many different parts to it, many of which retain their Latin labels.  Guess what that means!  We get to ask the question, "What does this mean?"  What's that mean in Latin?  Why is it called that?  Why is it in the service?  What gifts are given through it?

Many today are drawn to contemporary worship, but not everyone under the age of 25 enjoys it.  I am a young person and the contemporary service seems empty to me.  When I attend a liturgical worship service, I do not understand every part of the service, but that doesn't matter.  I know that everything in the service is based off of Scripture and delivers God's gifts to me.  As a young Lutheran, I am intrigued by what I don't understand and I am driven to search for the answers to questions of "What does this mean?"

Thursday, September 19, 2013

A Thought on Community

Since leaving for college, I've learned a lot about what it means to live in community.  Community is not only important in the life of the Church, but also in life together with each other, whether it be with friends, family, or the people we live with.  The people in our communities are the ones who support us when we are struggling and who we can support in return.  It is our communities that make us feel that we are important, valued, and not alone in this world.  Some of my fondest memories are connected to some of the strong communities I've been apart of.

I have been struggling in a lot of ways since moving back home.  One of the things that has made the transition more difficult is that I'm still trying to find a sense of community.  I've grown a lot as an individual since graduating high school, and I no longer fit well into the communities of which I was once a part.  This isn't to say I'm not in a community, it's just taking me a while to settle into a new one.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Seasons Are Changing

We've had it quite warm (in the 80s and 90s) here in my home state until the start of this week.  Suddenly the we're in the 60s and 70s and its been cloudy and rainy!  On my way home the other night, I couldn't help but think how beautiful the mountains were, even though I couldn't see most of them!

the smell of cold and precipitation
the taste of winter on my tongue
a blanket gently draped across the peaks
the thought of summer obfuscated
by the hint
       of fall's arrival.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

The State of the Church and Teaching

The Church is dying and few seem to be taking notice.  I've read many an article about how the American Church is losing people of my generation.  These authors discuss how the Church is attempting to draw in and keep young people engaged, but that this is not working.  Many young people are beginning to see through the smokescreen and rebel, or they are turning their backs on the Church.  Why is this?

I've heard it said that my generation is beginning to see the modern American church for what it is:  a cheap imitation of coffee shop, rock concert, have-it-your-way Christianity.  They're tired of the Church trying to appeal to the culture by mimicking the culture.  I think this may be part of the problem, but I don't think that it's the main issue here.

The real problem with American Christianity is that the Church has stopped teaching.  It's succumb to the practice of coming to service on Sunday morning and that will be enough.  Get confirmed in sixth or eighth grade and that will be enough.  The Church is on the periphery and being constantly in the Word and Sacrament is not the center of our lives.

The Lutheran Church has always been a big proponent of teaching and education.  I learned today in Bible Class that the Reformation is what brought about widespread education in Germany, regardless of class, because the reformers wanted to get the Word of God directly into the hands of the people.  A similar thing happened in England.  The time period of the Reformation brought a revival in teaching the people what Scripture actually said.  I would argue that the Church of today needs a similar revival.  We need to teach what we believe and why we believe it because if we don't put the knowledge into the hands of our young people now, there is no way they will pass it on to future generations.

So many people shrug off the traditions of the Church because they're outdated rituals from a previous age.  How many of these same people would brush off these traditions if they really knew what they stood for and why we still practice them?  Education stops at confirmation and it shows in our churches.  Many stop attending once they are confirmed.  If they do still attend, they become disengaged and part of a youth group that is concerned with having fun and not further exploring Scripture and what it means for us today.

Think about other groups, like the Mormons, that continue to educate their youth rigorously throughout high school.  So many of their young people go out into the world ready to defend what they believe and they're passionate about it.  How much more would the Church's youth be able to engage the world if we actually continued to teach them things of substance?

I would propose that we stop watering down Scripture and continue to teach our youth past confirmation age.  Youth group is not enough; we must challenge them to grow by confronting them with the meat of what we believe and why we believe it.