The problem is, what someone might dismiss as entertainment could be inspiration to someone else. How does one judge? Is "Christian rock" entertainment or inspiration? What about choral evensong? A Stanford Te Deum? A dramatic reading of the Pentecost lesson?
I guess it really comes down the intent of the participants.
As I said, some people want an entertainment type church service, and they are free to go and enjoy. People attend church or don't for a variety of reasons, and who am I to judge their motives? The cartoon resonated with me, because I go to church to worship God, rather than to be entertained. I very much like a well-planned and well-executed liturgy, but one that is God-centered worship in community. At times, I participate more and other times less, but the focus of the service is on worshiping God in community.
For regular church services, I prefer a service in which the congregation participates, rather than simply watching and listening. That's not to say that Christian rock, drama, and musical performance have no place in church, but I'd view them as extra-liturgical. Choral Evensong is a participatory liturgical service, as I see it.
For me, art is transcendent; music is transcendent; nature is transcendent; poetry is transcendent. Any and all of those things can point to God for me, but are all suitable for community worship? As I've said, I'm not the decider for anyone else or for any group, but entertainment church is not for me. I love the Book of Common Prayer, so I may be prejudiced. :-)
Ditto
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, what someone might dismiss as entertainment could be inspiration to someone else. How does one judge? Is "Christian rock" entertainment or inspiration? What about choral evensong? A Stanford Te Deum? A dramatic reading of the Pentecost lesson?
ReplyDeleteI guess it really comes down the intent of the participants.
As I said, some people want an entertainment type church service, and they are free to go and enjoy. People attend church or don't for a variety of reasons, and who am I to judge their motives? The cartoon resonated with me, because I go to church to worship God, rather than to be entertained. I very much like a well-planned and well-executed liturgy, but one that is God-centered worship in community. At times, I participate more and other times less, but the focus of the service is on worshiping God in community.
ReplyDeleteFor regular church services, I prefer a service in which the congregation participates, rather than simply watching and listening. That's not to say that Christian rock, drama, and musical performance have no place in church, but I'd view them as extra-liturgical. Choral Evensong is a participatory liturgical service, as I see it.
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ReplyDeleteFive men and one woman in line? NOT the usual distribution of genders in church . . .
ReplyDeleteWhat's transcendent for me nowadays is music -- call it inspiration or entertainment . . .
For me, art is transcendent; music is transcendent; nature is transcendent; poetry is transcendent. Any and all of those things can point to God for me, but are all suitable for community worship? As I've said, I'm not the decider for anyone else or for any group, but entertainment church is not for me. I love the Book of Common Prayer, so I may be prejudiced. :-)
Delete