Ancestry

Ancestry 

 John 15

 For the most part I think most of us dismiss or try to avoid media advertisements (commercials on television). We use these commercial breaks during our favorite sports show, or soap opera as an opportunity to run to the kitchen for a snack or take a restroom break. It may be only during the annual football championship game that television commercials take center stage. These mostly humorous vignettes of salesmanship vary from informational to annoying. They also are sometimes an unsettling look in the mirror as they reflect our social and moral values.

 

One particular set of ads is selling an opportunity to identify our ancestral roots.  If I can summarize, it usually starts with someone who is mistaken about their lineage. They thought they were Irish, for instance, but after sending their DNA to a laboratory for analysis, they found they were more German. The narrative continues as they confess to being misdirected in who they were and now are more content and happy in finding who they really are. The ad closes with them actually correcting their dress to be more in line with this new identity.

 

The need for identity is strong within us all. We want to belong; we want to identify with a group. Whether it be family, nationality, club or organization, we seem to long for roots. Once we have landed, we want the uniform.  Not only do we want to find our social niche but we want others to see it. We seek out the language and culture of this alter ego and buy the costume. 

 

While we celebrate our individuality in American culture, there is an irony here as this commercial advertisement is appealing to another side of us. We want to belong and we are willing to dress the part of uniformity. It seems in this one instance we are willing to give up our uniqueness and gladly step out as more conformed to a single identity; looking the same, being the same.

 

Being part of a faith family is more than a statement of faith. Living out our faith in worship is a unifying event that should serve to remind us of our common lineage. We are all branches of the same vine. Identifying with our roots (our lineage) means we should be willing to give up our own agenda and take on the identity we proclaim.  Too much of the time our pre-occupation with individuality impedes our corporate worship. 

 

Once we have acknowledged our spiritual DNA, we change our wardrobe and spiritually dress in a new way. We need to shed our individual uniqueness for a holy hour and worship as one body, robed in His righteousness alone, all looking exactly the same…..sinners saved by grace.

the friar

Every Man for Himself, or ...

Every Man for Himself or…

Colossians 3:16

I remember when my son, Drew, joined the United States Army. I had never served in the armed forces, but I knew a little about what he was going to go through in boot camp. They were going to make a soldier out of him and he was going to learn some important life lessons. He served overseas and thankfully returned safely.

Recently, he and I  recalled those days of his service to our country. He told me on the very first day of boot camp he was assigned a “battle buddy”. Besides himself, he now was responsible for another. The two of them served together side by side and learned to take responsibility for each others’ actions and well being. He was also taught the importance of their group (platoon) and its coordinated actions. In other words, they learned to work together. The unit was no stronger than the weakest among them. When the unit was given a mission, it was a mission for all. Each man or woman took their place and gave it all they had to complete the mission. The stronger helped the weaker; the more agile assisted the clumsy. Each member of the group brought his or her own talents and used these gifts in a coordinated way that helped them accomplish the mission. The “every man for himself” mentality is a losing strategy if you want to accomplish the mission.

The Body of Christ functions in much the same way. On Sunday morning the local Body is never more tangibly or physically displayed. Though we are diverse as individuals, the Bible teaches us that our individual giftedness works together under the Head of the Body, Jesus Christ.  Among other things, corporate worship teaches us how to be one in Him. In worship we are learning to put aside our personal tastes and preferences to demonstrate our oneness as the Body of Christ.

The “admonishment or encouragement” that Paul writes about in this passage (Colossian 3:16) is more than a hearty pat on the back or fond embrace. It points to a responsibility that we have for each other. As we worship, we should be focused more upon a joint experience with God, rather than an individual experience.

In “after-worship” conversations, I often hear “I” this and “I” that; or the worship was very meaningful to “me”.  I believe this reflects a near-sighted focus we bring to corporate worship. We “silo” ourselves into a vertical experience that sometimes reduces our faith family to a mere distraction rather than a fellowship of believers.

If this is true, then each of us should re-examine our focus in worship.  Corporate worship should be uniquely focused upon a joint experience, rather than an individual experience with God. We need to take responsibility for the worship of others; to come along side one another much as a brother or sister would and bring them into the worship time. The “every man for himself” mentality has no place in Christian corporate worship.

Our individual relationship with God is primary and we should bring the gifts born of that relationship to the table each Sunday as we gather in His name. A measure of the depth of that relationship is how we bring it to corporate worship. Are we coming to worship to find our special seat and shut out the distractions around us or are we coming to take responsibility for our faith family worship? 

Corporate worship is a two-fold endeavor. First, it is an annunciation of our leader, Jesus Christ and second, it is a demonstration of a coordinated unit that follows Him together, with no one left behind. Can we step from our silos and unite together in worship?

the friar

Let’s Do This!

Colossians 3:15-16

A few months ago I sent out an invitation for a walking partner.  I needed the exercise and wanted to lose some weight.  Times and schedules were arranged with the respondents and the journey began. Six months later and twenty pounds lighter my walking regimen has been a success.  Looking back, there were lessons learned.

As you might guess, a partner who encourages and provides accountability is an important key to keeping it going. Of the starting group, one stayed with me and got me out of my chair on those days it just wasn’t in me to get up and out.  I don’t know if I would have stayed with it without my walking partner.  There were days when I was the encouraged and days when I was the encourager.  I am sure many of us can recall a time when a coach, teammate, or co-worker stepped alongside and kept us focused and moving forward.

   

It did not take a large leap for this student of worship to draw some parallels between Christian worship and what I learned from my exercise experience.  I believe the most neglected part of our worship is what I call the “encouragement factor”. I believe we fall short of a more complete worship time because we miss our responsibility to one another.  Commonly, in congregational worship, we strive to focus on God but are much less aware of the presence of others.  Ironically, we strive to close out our fellow congregants.  This is sometimes reflected by our seating pattern in worship which reflects an effort to be alone with God. We spread ourselves across an auditorium as though we are carriers of a deadly virus.  I admit there are other cultural forces at work here, because the “spread formation” is not unique to seating patterns in group meetings. What is disappointing is our seating pattern is truly alien to Christian worship. Corporate worship is about God and us, not God and me. Without going into a long explanation, let me add we gather to do what we cannot do alone. We are called to gather for a reason. (See my blog post: Why We Worship Together)

The “encouragement factor” has a dual role in worship. We can either assume the role of one who encourages or the one who is encouraged.  I hope we can all admit there are times we don’t feel like worshipping. Sometimes the liturgy does not include our favorite song or scripture passage. Other times our minds and hearts are other places and we are just going through the motions. We need to be reminded worship is an intentional act involving more than a passing feeling or moment of inspiration. Corporate worship is a team effort that involves an upward focus as we embrace one another.

Our time of worship together is when we renew our relationship with God as a family.  Our homework should already be done (time alone with God). Intentional worship means we don’t wait for the “feeling”, but we reach out and assume the role of either the encourager or the encouraged.  Embracing and sharing with one another cannot be done if we are spread across an auditorium at “safe distances”.  We need to be close enough to hear each other sing and pray. Our mantra should be, “let’s do this!” and turn to God together in unity.

As a good congregant, don’t be the distraction; be the partner that challenges. If you are the tired or discouraged walker (worshipper) who is ready to quit, seek out a partner who will take you by the hand and pray, sing and seek God with you.  Let’s do this!!

the friar

Flash Mobs and Rock Concerts

Flash Mobs and Rock Concerts

Luke 19: 37-40

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

I am not a social scientist by any stretch, but I am a student of gathered worship and have tried in recent years to help Christian worshippers rediscover the purpose and meaning of what is commonly called the Sunday morning worship service.

In recent years, a new social phenomenon has emerged dubbed the “flash mob”. Nearly everyone has experienced a flash mob, either live or by video. Some of you may have actually participated in one. Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English defines flash mob as "a group of people who organize and then assemble in a public place, do something bizarre, and disperse”. The bizarre activity varies from acting, dancing, singing or coordinated demonstration that initially appears spontaneous. It is, in fact, a well rehearsed and choreographed few moments that gradually grow from one or two participants to sometimes hundreds of people in a unified message. I have seen flash mobs that carried patriotic or religious themes, as well as simple celebrations of joy.

I believe flash mobs have an unusual element of social magnetism. They draw us into the experience as a concert or theatrical presentation but uniquely take us by surprise because they occur outside the concert hall or theater. For a few moments we experience our world the way we wish it was; a place where we all know the words and have the audacity to share them out loud (a bizarre thought, indeed).  

Those that followed Jesus into Jerusalem before his crucifixion may have appeared as one of our 21^st century flash mobs. Their declarations and praise were absurd and defiant given their political circumstance. They had little reason for joy while living under Roman rule. Yet they broke out in spontaneous chants of praise. It is also important to note that this group experience was not rehearsed. Their uninhibited joy was born out of inner hope for their future. They erupted in a unified, spontaneous response to a long anticipated event; a new day was here and their king was here to bring it! Had they stopped, the first “rock concert” would have begun.

When we worship together, unity can break out if we are individually audacious in our demonstration of joy, lament, hope or thanksgiving. This Sunday, respond to our Saviour as He brings a new day of reconciliation with God. Don’t defer to the rocks!  

the friar

“Why Worship Together?” Part II

Why Worship Together? Part II

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  – Ephesians 5:19-20

Most often worship falls into four categories, each having its own unique features. There is what I call “lone worship”, which obviously is that time we spend alone with God. It can be characterized by a scheduled reading of the Bible, praying, meditating, singing and listening. It’s just God and one lone worshipper and is customized accordingly. The worshipper is not an intermediary….he is the worshipper; prostrate before God, seeking to maintain a relationship that clearly identifies who is Creator and who is created.

Second, there is “serendipitous worship”. This is an unplanned, un-orchestrated time that springs from the moment. It might be brought on by a miracle, a crisis, or an inspirational word of another (ex. written thought in a book). Serendipitous worship might involve only one, a large group, or all numbers in between. Its main attribute is spontaneity. It is a response to God in a moment when it was not expected.

Third, there is “lifestyle worship”. Lifestyle worship is characterized by ones’ daily habits that are markedly God-oriented. One sees God working in all aspects of life. The lifestyle worshipper lives in an expectancy mode that is watching for what God will do next.

Finally, there is what is commonly called “corporate worship”. Group or corporate worship has unique characteristics setting it apart from lone and serendipitous experiences (see my post, “Why Worship Together?”). Approaching corporate worship in lone or serendipitous mode is akin to trying a “solo” worship experience among a few hundred people; or waiting for God to show up when He is already there waiting for us. 

Corporate worship calls for an interaction between the worshippers as well as interaction with God. Fellow worshippers are part of our mission. They are not obstacles or distractions to our worship, they are an integral part of it. Our embrace of God should include them.

Christian worshippers are not to sprinkle themselves across a large auditorium or strategically maneuver to a select observation point. We are to move close together where our singing, amen’s, prayers, cries and laughter are easily heard. There is an accountability in worship that requires us to be inclusive not reclusive. Just as I placed my young children on my shoulders to assure they saw a passing parade, so we should elevate one another spiritually to see the activity of God. Our responsibility in corporate worship is not to “silo” ourselves into a holy cell, but to reach out, left and right, and hold one another up to see God in all His majesty. This Sunday, bring strong shoulders to worship and lift someone up, or be prepared to be lifted up.

the friar

Good, Better, Best

Good, Better, Best

2 Chronicles 5:11-14

I have read many articles on worship that refer to good or better worship that present a tried and true formula of liturgy (liturgy = recipe) that will revitalize congregational worship.  Mix a bowl of well-blended music, add a sprinkling of relevant Scripture, insert the right amount of prayers and flavor with a tasty homily; bake it in a warm worshipful attitude and you can’t miss. Right? Well, maybe. Maybe not.

Before you read further, remember this series of blog entries are for the worshipper in the pew, not worship leaders.

In my pilgrimage of Christian congregational worship, I have come to learn the quality of our worship experience is not so much about our efforts to reach a perfect mix of ingredients as it is about overcoming an affection for our liturgy. As a congregation gathered for worship, we need to step beyond the recipe and worship God outside the limits we set with preferred styles.  Are we married to a tradition that defines us as footloose or straight-laced? Is our focus truly on the presence of God, or are we more concerned with staying between the “lines that bind”?
I believe our challenge in Christian worship is to take good worship and make it better, hoping for the best worship of all.

Good worship is intentional. Good worship involves  ingredients that are consistent with whom we honor.  Hymns, prayers and Scripture unify us and point us in a single direction.  Good worship is when our minds and hearts are remembering  who we are and who God is.  

Better worship is when we move beyond the recipe of good worship. We purposefully or accidentally deviate from our usual path or tradition.  (Maybe you wandered into the contemporary service when you meant to attend the traditional worship service.) Like children, our crayon sometimes strays  outside the lines or a tree might be colored blue instead of green.  I vividly recall when our refrigerator was covered with drawings and cards for Mom and Dad. What appeared as chaotic scribbles were cherished works of art by my wife and me.  Those young expressions of thankfulness were precious in our site. Better worship is more related to effort; not the effort of master craftsmen, but more like a stumbling toddler learning to walk.

The best worship is when the worship plan is exhausted and we recognize the greatest obstacle to the worship of God is prideful liturgy. A congregation worships best when they realize they cannot impress God.  The Scripture in 2 Chronicles 5 tells of one of the most meticulously prepared worship celebrations of all time and yet it broke down. The priests failed to complete their acts of service and what was meant to be a great showing of tribute fell flat. The irony of this narrative is there was no lament for the liturgical faux pas. God’s presence disrupted their worship and there was no regret. For a glorious moment God was so overwhelming they could not stand. 

When we worship, we are not dependent upon an undisturbed path that stays between the lines. Remember, our best efforts are as a scribbled crayon. 

Good worship is better when we hope for the best; a distracting presence of God that moves us beyond our favorite recipe.

the friar

Our Name

Psalm 139:1-6

Our Name 

Making your way in the world today

Takes everything you’ve got.

Take a break from all your worries

Sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

 All those nights when you’ve got no lights,

Check is in the mail;

And your little angel hung the cat up by its tail

And your third fiancé didn’t show;

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

And they’re always glad you came;

You want to be where you can see,

Our troubles are all the same;

You want to be where everybody knows your name.

-          Gary Portnoy

You may recall those verses from the theme song of a popular television show from the early 1980s. The appeal was compelling; we all need a place where we can be unconditionally embraced and called by name.  Portnoy wrote insightful words that are sometimes closely associated with the call of the Church, but the unsettling fact is these words introduced us to a bar named “Cheers”.  It seems odd and uncomfortable for us to associate a dimly lit room of folks sipping brews with a gathering of Christians worshipping God, and yet we must admit we want to be known by name.

I live in a small town and one of my favorite moments of the day is being recognized and remembered at the places I frequent. When my banker, grocer, pharmacist and barber know me by name it allows me to continue my story where I left off last time. I don’t have to start over again with introductions.  “Cheers” was a place where folks were recognized and could start and continue their stories.

Our biographies start with our name. Beyond our given name, the Christian community shares many common names: sinner, forgiven, and loved, to name a few. These names help us communicate our stories. The stories we share have their own twists and turns but the story is common for us all.

Another song also reaches out with great promise.

   “Come, ye sinners poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore.

                            Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and pow’r.

                             I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms;

                             In the arms of my dear Savior, O, there are ten thousand charms"

                                     -          Joseph Hart

A part of our gathered worship should be to tell our stories. We not only praise and worship God in unified chorus, but sometimes go solo, as others listen. These shared moments are not “spotlight moments”, but confessions of failure and success that are courageously and humbly shared.  Once shared, these stories heighten and deepen the congregants chorus of worship.

In contrast to the bar, or any other venue that brings us face to face, the proper posture when we gather for worship is shoulder to shoulder. We should be aware of the crowd but focused upon the Host. Worship happens when we hear our true name and answer. The embrace of God awaits us; the embrace of the One who knows our name and is always glad we came.

the friar