Jesus Creed
Churches also need to have spiritual disciplines. In James Bryan Smith’s new book, The Good and Beautiful Community: Following the Spirit, Extending Grace, Demonstrating Love (The Apprentice Series), we get a sketch of the disciplines that can characterize — not just an individual — but a community of faith.
The seventh characteristic is “worship.”
I’ve got a question: If you had to define “worship,” what would your answer be? I’d really appreciate your attempt to answer this question. What do you like most about Sunday worship? What do you like least?
Smith finds two false narratives about worship: that worship is a personal matter that is designed to inspire; worship is an obligation. The two true narratives: that worship is a communal activity designed to instruct a people; that worship is an invitation from God.
Many believe that worship is something one does in private and that church is unnecessary, and he’s got a very good story of someone like this. Very good story. Sad story, but a good one.
Smith reminds us that worship is not just aesthetics and can have a putrid aesthetic. Sometimes bad music sung by ineffective singers expresses the soul of worship while good music by trained singers rings hollow.
Here’s an assignment: I’d like to suggest that you ask every 18-30 yr old you meet this week what they like most about Sunday worship services. Ask the about each element, and report back here if you think of it to tell us what you are hearing. Remember that the current trends in worship service were more often than not established by, well, 50somethings or 60 somethings. (That true?)
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