tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post5994327214395734928..comments2023-07-03T08:21:29.115-07:00Comments on Theology in Worship: AgeismJonathan Powershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04156698508552110185noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-33897766590081787682010-11-18T06:42:04.890-08:002010-11-18T06:42:04.890-08:00Yeah, Jeff, you're right. These are the princi...Yeah, Jeff, you're right. These are the principles I have taken away from the ancient/future model and made priority for my own approach to worship: <br /><br />* Biblical reflection<br />* Historical awareness<br />* Contextual significance<br /><br />I may try to develop a post soon on this approach.Jonathan Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04156698508552110185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-74765277812858994012010-11-18T05:53:13.352-08:002010-11-18T05:53:13.352-08:00These are some great reflections! I hadn't tho...These are some great reflections! I hadn't thought of Chad's point of pop music. Insightful!<br /><br />If I may add my two cents, I've seen and heard enough people praising their church because they appeal to "young people" or "people of our generation"...and on the other hand, there are the signs that say "Church: the way it used to be." I think that intergenerational worship, community, and service/mission is a kingdom value that has been neglected or ignored and that largely is reflected in what you've said here, Jonathan. I've heard a bit about the ancient/future approach to worship, evangelism, and other aspects of the life of the Church. That seems to focus on maintaining rich content while recognizing its need to be adapted in style, dependent upon context. Does that make sense? I'm sure you have much more authority on this concept than I do. :-)Jeff Rudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15863699058853219072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-36954000089450666592010-11-17T07:14:54.153-08:002010-11-17T07:14:54.153-08:00Great observations, Chad! Thanks for sharing.
Wh...Great observations, Chad! Thanks for sharing. <br /><br />What does it mean when popular music is driven by the single and worship has become its own genre? How does that change things in the church? Should it? Good questions to mull over. <br /><br />I feel like I am currently in the same situation as you, Chad. The place where I currently serve is all about content. They trust the leadership for the style and structures we set in place. Sometimes we do 3rd century liturgies. Sometimes our music takes on themes from around the world. I don't think anyone in our specific congregation would consider us contemporary. We've been pushing more toward thinking of ourselves as a service of Word and Table. However, the rest of our church, and the church at large, would most likely consider us contemporary because of instrumentation. I have not had to fight this battle in my current location, but I know it's one that exists and that more fight than not. <br /><br />I'd love to hear more of your thoughts sometime! I always appreciate good reflection.Jonathan Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04156698508552110185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-43595677274938953692010-11-17T06:55:51.042-08:002010-11-17T06:55:51.042-08:00I guess I am lucky because I have only fought this...I guess I am lucky because I have only fought this one time, for about 4 months. I have been lucky to always play and lead in congregations that appreciate good songs. I will fall more towards hymns, and I am in a congregation right now that is completely fine with that...we even just stay in the hymnal many times.<br /><br />I think the greater issue that Jonathan brought up is how this shift has really happened in the last 40 yrs. It is a sociological shift, and my main reasoning for that is this. What happened in the last 40 yrs.....?<br /><br />Pop music<br /><br />Yeah, there had been forms of popular music beforehand, but it was utilitarian (you listened to this to dance, this to sing, music carried specific acts). In the last 40-50 years we have the rise of radio, MTV, various formats of owning music, etc....We now have the ability to pick and choose exactly what we listen to. Many of us listen to music for hours a day at work, study or just around the house.<br /><br />I have a few more thoughts, but I think I have gone on long enough for now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-36662737194941834062010-11-17T04:45:48.038-08:002010-11-17T04:45:48.038-08:00Johnathan, just a couple of weeks ago, a couple wh...Johnathan, just a couple of weeks ago, a couple who had been at the church just a few sundays sent a scathing email basically accusing us (me) that we were catering to the young generation and leaving out the old (which in itself is kind of funny because I don't even know which one I belong to....I don't play guitar!) Anyways, this was after ONE Sunday that all the music just happened to be contemporary praise. This doesn't happen often but when I'm planning my music I hardly take style into consideration...I think content, and for that sunday the content just happened to be praise music, but it was full of beautiful and rich scripture readings, responsive readings, the Lord's prayer and a more traditional choir piece. Not to mention a sermon that hit itout of the park! <br />I was really bothered by the email. They said that the contemporary music doesn't "speak to them". How can singing of being forgiven and thanking Jesus for his amazing love not speak to them? Now this couple who were "church-shopping" have not been back (and our church is growing steadily, so this is definitely unusual).<br />But you know, there are plenty of churches around so they should look to find one that they really like....but I think their criteria may be wrong....will they go to a church that sings only hymns but doesn't have any small groups to join, or doesn't have a ministry to the seniors?? (We have both).<br />Going to a church is more than sunday mornings....it's more than the programs they offer...and it's certainly more than the music they choose!Kellie Tropeanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-47043161723329998222010-11-17T04:06:02.446-08:002010-11-17T04:06:02.446-08:00Thanks for the comments Tom! It's a very stran...Thanks for the comments Tom! It's a very strange time for worship that we live in and have lived in for the past 40 years. So much of it is reactionary in my opinion, and not focused on delighting in God. Instead, it seeks how to delight more in the service. And I hate it that playing a guitar automatically makes a service "contemporary." We do more hymns than choruses at Offerings, sometimes we chant Psalms, and we celebrate communion weekly, but we are still considered the contemporary service because I play guitar. Again, content is not considered. Instrumentation and style have become the defining factor.Jonathan Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04156698508552110185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530741222852255049.post-67082187683473165462010-11-16T10:06:38.403-08:002010-11-16T10:06:38.403-08:00Amen! I've been fighting this from both sides ...Amen! I've been fighting this from both sides for years. I hate that we have "contemporary" and "traditional" distinctions. I hate that we divide over style and most importantly instrumentation. I am a "contemporary" worship leader because I am a guitarist. And yet I am constantly being accused from younger people of not being "contemporary" enough because I find a lack of liturgy in the service to be something that falls short of being church. I've never understood why we need to draw these distinctions. I've never understood crafting a service for a target demographic. Why not just come together and worship God and trust that the act of worship will be enough? There's so much that's broken right now. I just want to scream IT'S NOT ABOUT US! We just want these styles of worship that appeal to us and affirm us and really "speak to us" and whatever that is it ain't worship.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16227699239269299085noreply@blogger.com