Worship Wars: Old vs. New

Growing up in my church I felt this pulling, this tug, especially when I was in the youth group towards a newer, more contemporary style of worship. In truth, it spoke to me very well. At times it played my emotions. As I grew older I began to see the value in the old style of worship, the more traditional style that has been passed down through generations unchanged. Here I will look at both of these and then look at the question of the war between the two.

New

The New style of worship, in this time, is known as contemporary, maybe modern, post-modern, or even an emerging style of worship. It is known for its use of a band, usually akin to a rock band in the choosing of its members, but may be slightly different if it is a niche church. This style of worship has low lights, if any, during the worship time. The only lights are on stage, and while some try hard to guard against it, there are times this style of worship seems more like a concert than a worship service. These services try to include many more forms of worship, inviting guest speakers, a variety of ways to have communion, baptism, prayer, and also might not have a formal time to give ones tithe. There is likely a high use of technology and an underlining belief that it is the churches responsibility to constantly update this technology to reach the people in the community, which can add to costs.

Old

The older, more traditional style of worship is what has been around since your grandma and her grandma and so forth. Traditional is what becomes comfortable for most people, in the same way that newer worship brings about emotions for the younger, so this brings up memories. Traditional worship is usually made up of hymns and sometimes includes praise choruses. There is normally a particular way each service is done and this way does not deviate except in the case of special holidays. Some older worship is liturgical, while others prefer the term traditional, so not to sound too much like other denominations. Hymns bring about memories of old times with friends, of Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and the importance of doctrinal truths.

War

As I said previously, from the time I was young, to now, this issue of old vs. new comes up again and again. Like the color of the carpet in the church, decisions must be made and members (or elders) take their opposing sides. Each gets ready to state why their own side is the true and best way to worship. Contemporary is best because it brings up feelings. Traditional is best because it brings up memories. Change is good. No change is good. I want to feel. I want to remember. And inevitably, if your church is large enough, the split into two separate services will follow. But, is this the best choice?

Community

The problem with splitting the church into two services in general can be a bad idea. Why? Because church is about the community of God, in Christ Jesus, coming to gather together. When that gathering is separated the church literally becomes divided. True, there are times when the church is growing so large is MUST have two services, but much experience has shown me that at least one service is little attended, and little-needed. So, what is the answer: Blended

Blended

This is the kind of worship service that is hard. This is the kind of service you most constantly work on, asking what are the things we should value and keep and what are the things we should do away with? What are the feelings and memories we want to bring to the surface during this worship time? How can be speak to ones past and to ones future, helping them along in their journey of discipleship, teaching them how to both value traditions but also value change? Above all, this style no longer lets people take sides, but asks if they want to be apart of community, part of a spiritual compromise, to gather as one, despite differences, and worship God together. Above all, it tells the congregation that worship is not a ME TIME, it is Community and God time. We shed our individual needs and take on the needs of the community, and in doing so, realize we can worship God in many settings, for what matters most is the presence of ones heart being open to God, being available to be molded and changed into the image of Christ. Church is a time for community, not ME TIME, that is what personal quiet times of study and prayer are for in the Kingdom of God.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36-40

~ Daniel

Pic:

http://www.leslie2k.com/images/Worship%20God.jpg

http://oneyearbibleimages.com/worship_god_.jpg

Summer 2011: Provision and Change

To put it plan: I do not like change. I am mostly a creature of habit, and as an introvert, change doesn't appeal to me unless it is necessary. Well, in the case of the move to Lubbock, it was and I can already tell after two weeks it was a great decision, even if night and weekends seem a little bit more lonely without my Abilene buddies to hang with here and there (whom I will hopefully get to see in a month or so). Still, the road here was so hard for me, at one point I even broke down and wept a day or so before moving out of my new apartment and then once again when I was moving my furniture. What did I learn? Sometimes God will shake up our life, it will hurt, but there is no other way to grow besides going outside our zone of comfort, outside of what is normal for us; for we need something challenging, something risky, something different, with more of the same we are more of the same.. and then we never grow, we become stagnant, and the color of our life becomes a dull shade of grey.

One of the most interesting things I did was having to take assistance, from fb friends, from friends I knew from college, from graduate school, from work, from old and new churches, and even food stamps from the government (which wasn't really all that much, ha ha). On one hand I felt ashamed that I could not afford to live, fix my car, and move on my own. Sure, I had a plan, one in which I could barely get by but would not need help. However, when my car broke down three times this summer - well, that shot my plan in the foot and I lept around trying to figure out what to do after loosing this financial limb. I learned that it is OK to ask for help, when it is truly needed and not just because we are sad we don't have a PS3 or a 65 inch TV set... but when we are worried we cant eat, or pay student loans, or pay the rent for our apartment. I came to see that others, in a place of prosperity, who knew me were willing to share their wealth and hospitality with me, asking nothing in return; yet from Christ I heard him telling me after each generous gift, "Remember This"... "Remember Me." Does that sound odd? I heard him telling me to remember this time, to cherish it, to hold it sacred, and in the future when God has blessed me in a similar fashion, that I should be willing and charitable to others, as these people have been to me. It is amazing the things you see when you feel stuck in a corner and God says to not worry so much, that he will provide in some manner - and he did, he really did, and it still amazes me.

 

Of course, not all of my learning was on how to receive... but also how to sell, give away, and sacrifice (simplify and save). In the beginning I sold a lot of movies, books, CD's, my camera, and my PS2 and games to have money to buy food and pay bills... with just a little money I could make it, then my car had to be repaired for a second time. *sigh again* The odd part of the story is this: With the money I got from selling my stuff and the money I had in the bank, I had .49 cents in the bank, just enough to get by... and I lived on that until the next payday and was fine. Now, in some way that would seem like being way to close, perhaps a coincidence, but to me it was showing me how God provided just enough for me need, no more and no less. God was telling me that when he provides, it is enough for us to be comfortable, struggle a little or lot maybe, but not enough that we will be buying anything extravagant or using it for something other than the intended purpose.

Oh, maybe this all sounds so trivial and boring... and it is hard to put into words so far after the fact I suppose, but during this time I was so in shock, in worry, in doubt; that I found myself going blank when I tried to write about the last few months at all.

Then there is the new job... yes it is going to have its policies and procedures, long days (and nights), and is going to be crazy sometimes... but I already feel like I can see how much this next year is going to be rewarding to me both professionally and personally. The staff and other residents seem to mix together really well and I think it will be a good group and time of growth for all of us who are involved.

Well, I guess this is all I have to update for now.. maybe I am just blabbing into cyberspace... or maybe it is just to myself. But I hope that anyone going through a  difficult time might read this and feel an encouragement that God does provide, but not always in the ways in which we think or would like.... but in the end God does know best and works with us through our own sweat, personality, and others along the way to help grow and stretch us. We just have to be willing and open to listen, to hear, to obey, and to sacrifice when needed; perhaps to even make a huge life change, especially if that is what could grow us and the Kingdom of God. Will we say HERE AM I, SEND ME or will we be fearful and and squirm out of his light and back into the darkness, back into the normal, the mundane, the colorless life we have been living?

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

~ Daniel

May 2011: Change & Seeing God's Will

So, it is now almost June, in two months I will be out of my apartment and in three in another town. However, this last month has been not only making me feel more comfortable about the idea of this program the next year but about pursuing hospital chaplaincy in general. Why? What has changed?

First, the last month I have once again been looking for a job, well a summer job, but the process is the same and since I have applied for 20+ places and only had one call for a phone interview, it makes me remember why I applied for this program and why I cannot stand the current job market but also why I desperately need to branch out and do something with my degree, even if it is something I did not plan. Sometimes to grow one must take risks, these risks stretch us, make us into better people, and help pave the road for who we will be in the future. Without taking risks, we become someone defeated, someone predictable, and someone who lacks the potential for change, flexibility, and growth; not only emotionally, but also spiritually.

Second, there have been a lot of changes going on at my store recently, a lot of people leaving and/or moving up (getting promoted). I know myself, and if I had not gotten into the program when I did and was set to move, I would probably be moving up (& that would have been comfortable for me). Now, it wouldn't have been bad but it wouldn't be stretching me and it would not be what I really want to do in life, in effect, I would be promoted but likely not truly happy. The good thing is, there are people besides myself who could use this chance, so in a way it works out for everyone... but I guess I am seeing God's timing in all of this right now, like it is almost too perfect to be a coincidence. I mean, what are the odds that right before I am planning to move, after two years of working stock, a plethora of openings would occur.

I think I can now say with full confidence that this is where God is leading me, has been leading me, at least for the next year, if not a new route for my life. God truly is mysterious, and His ways are so much easier to see in hindsight then in the confusion of the moment He speaks or changes the direction of our life. Still, it is a lot of hard work on our part physically to do, emotionally to trust, and spiritually to have the faith to move forward - but in doing so transformation can, does, and will occur.

Now the only two obstacles left for me now is having an apartment open up and making the move to Lubbock in August.. and then the new stage, a much better stage, in my life can begin.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:8-11

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2nd Corinthians 3:17-18

~ Daniel

April 2011: Update on Me, Myself, & I

 It has felt like forever since I have written anything. The words just haven't come, despite topics coming through my brain, but life has been so completely crazy the last few months I guess it has just been so much I have had trouble compartmentalizing (or analyzing) it, much less actually writing any of it down.

As most of you know, I applied for CPE (hospital Chaplaincy) programs in January and got some interviews in February scheduled for March. My first phone interview felt terribly wrong and then my in-person interview in Lubbock ended up going so much better, so much so, they offered me the job on the day of my interview.. and of course I accepted. After that day I decided I wasn't going to any more interviews, some have agreed with this decision and others think I should have tried other places. I think Lubbock fits me and my first choice in Houston never called me back. Well, the last few months have been getting paperwork done for the program and also looking at apartments, which I finally found and filled out the paperwork.. now I just have to wait for an open one and I should be set to go and sign a lease in the next month or two for August.

Everyone, at church, work, family, & friends have all been asking me how excited I am about this program. I try not to be to obvious about my pessimism, but its not cause I am not happy or that I am not glad, it is because the last two years have hardened me somewhat I suppose, made me into a skeptic, maybe somewhat of a worrier. I fight against this tendency but it is there and makes me ask questions I should easily be able to ignore of give up to God yet have trouble doing either: Is this really what God has for me next? Does God want me to turn my back on youth ministry? On church ministry altogether? Will this new road truly be better for me? What happens after this program ends after one year? Will I have to find two jobs again? Where will I live? Will God provide a job or will I be thrown back into what I have had to live the last two years? These are the questions that seem to plague me...

The truth is: This is worth the risk and much better than anything I have found in 2-3 years since I graduated. I guess, the road has just been so tough it is hard for me to really think it is going to be over. I think maybe they will call and cancel me at the last minute.. or something like that. I know it sounds dumb, but doesn't worry always sound dumb. I try to claim the promises that God takes care of the flowers and birds and so he cares about me too (Matthew 6:25-34) but when your living in the thick of it, I guess it is just tough.

Part of me wants the next few months to be over, so I can just start this program, maybe it is the waiting that is freaking me out. It is also having everyone know I am leaving so they are saying goodbye, but its so far in advance it seems kinda odd right now. Also, a part of me wishes I had family close by who could help me move, but I guess I am too old now but am blessed to have good friends who are willing to fill that void and for that I am much appreciated. I have already had friends offer to help me move, to help drive my stuff, and give me a place to live for August before I move and my program starts.

And along with all of this, early in February I signed up on Eharmony during our winter Snow/Ice storm.. I guess I figured I was stuck for 3 days, so why not. I didn't really like it but I did browse and talk to some ladies but right before the free trial ended in March I put my fb info covertly on my profile and then got a msg from a girl a few days later. I have been chatting with her and actually met her a few weeks ago. She is nice, but it is kinda odd living far away, makes it harder to be certain of anything beyond friendship for now. She lives in Amarillo, so until I move to Lubbock, I can really only chat with her online and call her every few weeks. I guess, along with everything else, I am just uncertain, and while we are just friends right now, I dont want to break her heart (or mine) by getting closer than I should until I am closer to knowing my feelings towards her. Dating is just plain hard and confusing, especially when your not sure if you like that person in that way or if it would be better just to remain friends. For me, dating has consisted usually of either: (1) Me being interested in her, but she is not interested in me OR (2) she is interested in me, but I am not interested in her. Is that irony or just sad? ha ha ;.)

But I digress...

Prayers are appreciated, especially as I continue to make this transition and also look for a summer job to help get me through until August and the move. Thanks for reading friends and if you ever need an ear or a friend to pray for you, please always feel free to msg or call me and let me know.

Your Brother in Christ,
~ Daniel