something struck me today...as i was sitting in church trying to soak in the last of rev. bosch's sermon about God's gift of grace...and a Christian's life of thankfulness...
i've noticed that when i worship with people who are from 'other' denominations (pentacostal, presbyterian, baptist, whatever--i guess somewhat more 'liberal' churches than the good old canadian reformed church) it seems that there's a whole dimension to worship that's missing in the conservative, dutch community that i've grown up in.
i guess this is an extension of the worship/music debate that's been hacked to pieces in neighbouring blogs---feel free to comment (nicely)---but this is different.
it's not about the songs that we're singing, it's about the way we're singing. (or not singing!) i don't feel any emphasis, any longing when i'm singing with the can ref on a random sunday afternoon. 'repressed'? 'reserved'? just plain not expressive? IS it the music? genevan tunes and stiff pipe organ don't lend themselves to the kind of worship that i enjoy experiencing in an interdenominational service... (they're still wonderful when treated the right way---) but a couple different musicians and musical instruments, some harmony maybe, more of a community event...would really make a difference.
maybe it's the lack of unity that i feel in my own congregation (although i find it in other can refs as well): sometimes a song can just bring a group together...but maybe this church just doesn't 'bring together' very well. i don't want to have to look for that somewhere else though: this sense of belonging should come from a home congregation, not just from church hopping.
that's just my rant for the day... something i've been thinking about a lot lately... got some insight?
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(adding more..the next day..after reading comments etc..and realizing i'd forgotten to say some stuff)
i don't really know what else to say about this, actually. it's in my head and i just want to get it out...
i'm really just having trouble writing a paper...so i thought i'd organize these thoughts first and get them out of my head.
i WANT to sing. i went to a retreat a couple weeks ago, and we sang. the worship was good: we repeated a lot of songs (ones i didn't know and that was annoying.... :} but it was good. same with Church in the Box (redeemer UC) i like it because you really notice that people get a lot from the singing...and give a lot. and campfire!. and...yeah. but why can't church be like that?
maybe that's what i was getting at: these conservative people who stand in one spot and barely open their mouths... maybe it's just the uncomfortable tunes and such like i said earlier. maybe i totally lost my train of thought.
oh yeah. got it again. i just had a question about this worship aspect...and the way that it carries over into the lives of the people in the reformed church. i had a friend who just couldn't accept the two-facedness of the church...and this drove him away from the truth.
i don't want to point fingers, i just want to question the reality of worship in peoples' lives...and why do I think there's something wrong. people sing in church...but why is a worship experience elsewhere such an enriching experience as if church isn't enriching...if we're a community of believers, coming together each week to worship, to fellowship, etc, then why aren't we SINGING together? do we take grace for granted? yes there's community, yes there's fellowship, but i don't think there's enough of it...and it's sad.
maybe there's also 'too much' emphasis on doctrine and tradition, or just not a nice balance of that and personal response. we have such a rich store of biblical teaching. USE IT. don't get me wrong, i like my church, but i think it could be SO MUCH BETTER.
yes it's getting late, and i'm having trouble following my argument...haha... but do i make any sense? is there anyone out there who's noticing the same things i notice?
'[Jan]Sephiroth102', i don't know who you are, and you haven't said much about how or why you formed your opinion about music in church...and i don't know what church would sound like without music but i bet it sure would suck.
ok maybe i can write my paper now. riiight...
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