A recap of our last class session is found in the previous post "Revival" followed by comments echoing the sentiments expressed by our class members. Essentially, we found agreement with Brother Pat when he said, "Discipleship over Membership, and Intentional over Institutional should be our watch words" in guiding the church back to reclaim it's roots in genuine Methodism.
Brother Pat went on to say: "Not only an increase in discipleship, but an increase in the faith filled practices of worship, including testimony, prayer, and spirit led worship are also needed to complete the change. There must be others who recognize this. Who are they?"
This is the question that I'd like to address and I solicit your input as well...
But perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask the question "WHERE are the others who recognize the need to let the Holy Spirit lead us in open and sincere worship unencumbered with rigid and rote liturgy? Where are THEY? They might very well be sitting next to you in church on Sunday morning and you'd never even know it.
Why? Because, unlike you who have undertaken this course of study in order to serve our Lord in a powerful way, most church-folk don't want to get involved, rock-the-boat, be branded as a renegade by their peers, and above all - move beyond their comfort zones - even for the benefit of their faith. In spite of the growing restlessness in the pews (and some defections), few are willing to step out in faith and pursue the path to authentic worship that is on a lot of our hearts. Are you?
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3 comments:
Hopefully there are those who will. Church politics can get ugly and hurtful. I can't even begin to describe what just this week has been. Makes me question my direction. Is hateful, turf-protecting politics really necessary? Right now, I am hungry to see the gospel lived, not fought over.
It seems the gospel message gets lost and that alone keeps people less involved. They see someone get mistreated and hurt and don't want to get in line to be the next one. Then you end up with only a few people calling all the shots in a church and everyone else just slowing drifting at a safe distance.
I hope I am not to bold to ask to be considered in your prayers to help me sort out all I have endured this week. Will keep you all in my prayers.
We need to remember the Gospel is our commission, not politics, and maybe then the folks in our churches will have something to respond to.
Brett Warnecke, Iola TX
I'm sorry to hear of your recent experiences, Brett. We normally associate our churches as the last bastion of peace (as found through Jesus Christ) and safe sanctuary from the callousness of the world we live in. Unfortunately, that is not the case, quite often, as we all live in this world and are subject to its influence.
What can we do in the face of open adversity in the church? Well, you hit the nail on the head when you asked for prayer - and you can be assured that I'll be praying for you and your church.
Beyond that, we are called to maintain a quiet presence above the fray. Don't allow yourself to be drawn into the drama being created by those pushing their own agenda, as opposed to God's intent for the church.
Pray also for discernment of what role God is calling you to in this situation. Maybe its the crusader of justice who brings a clear vision that all can embrace and breaks the domination of those currently calling the shots.
Perhaps its damage control, helping those hurt most recover from their woundedness. Regardless of what it is, your most effective
role will be the one you discern from Him. I'll be praying for you -
- Shalom -
"WHERE are the others who recognize the need to let the Holy Spirit lead us in open and sincere worship unencumbered with rigid and rote liturgy?"
I was one of those who felt that liturgy was a problem until I attended Upper Room's Academy for Spiritual Formation which uses the Worshipbook and its liturgical liturgy. And I found that openness and sincerity are in the presentation and careful selection of scripture and music. Scripture reading became a thoughtful vibrant message directly from God thru the reader, not a rote reading. Music was varied in style and tempo - from meditative to songs we sang marching or dancing about the chapel waving scarfs - although always either from the Worshipbook or The Faith We Sing. And the words and prayers of the liturgy that were repeated every morning and every evening became the prayers of my soul, new, yet familiar. And now when I need them, the familiar words rise from my memory to be my prayer. soo - the issue isn't really liturgy, but worship planning and choices of scripture and music.
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