Tuesday, April 22, 2008

You Want It

In case you've missed my cantankerousness...

I continue to be disturbed at my recent discovery that in our present ecclesial culture in the United States, Christian worship is a spectator sport. It's not an issue at Saint Patrick's Church, but if I were the rector of a congregation that refused to participate in congregational singing, I would eliminate the music program. I'd also put the choir/worship band/charismatic worship leader in the back of the nave rather than the front.

Hell, who am I kidding? I might celebrate Mass facing east, for that matter.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Studying the liturgy has been very helpful for me, especially discovering that the Mass is the ultimate act of participation in anything imaginable. Of course my parents taught me this since I was young but, you know, I didn't realize it was true. Failing to participate is evidence of a lack of understanding. I still zone out like any person but I am much more tuned in to engaging than ever.

Anonymous said...

I have thought about this lately too. My church doesn't sing out that much, yet the music program seems to always be moving. I have wondered if killing the program and devoting the money to a more "kingdom/gospel/missional/insert trendy word" might be a better idea. But can anyone imagine a baptist church without a choir?

Kyle said...

God bless you, Tom.

Chad, you must repent of your worship band-ery. :0)