iPhone schm-iPhone
The reviews of Apple's newest gadget are starting to come in and they're not great. That won't matter a bit. This is the newest "must-have" status symbol and people will line up for days to get their hands on one, despite the $500+ price tag. Because, of course, anybody who's anybody will have one.
Here in Waterloo, home of the Blackberry, the iPhone debut is mostly being ignored. Disdained even. Apple making a smartphone? Please. The consensus is, when people discover the drawbacks of using their iPhone they'll quietly put it away and return to using their Blackberries. Until the next new thing comes along.
It's rampant consumerism and it makes my teeth rattle. Thank goodness Christians aren't like that, right? Not so fast.
Here's an interesting article that examines the influence that consumerism has had on Western Christianity and the danger it poses to the message of the Gospel. It's a bit long, but an interesting read.
I'd never thought before how consumerism may or may not have shaped the church. We're called to be in the world but not of the world, yet it's sometimes hard to not be influenced by the secular worldview that we are exposed to every day. In some cases, the secular worldview is so pervasive we're not even aware of it's incompatibilty with Christianity, especially if it has also entered the church.
We used to go to a Lutheran church just down the street from where we live. This church has embraced a "contemporary" style of worship services. While we attended there, I didn't mind it so much, but we ended up leaving the church because we found that on the whole it was shallow. (Please don't misunderstand me, I love my brothers and sisters at Messiah and it was not a bitter parting.)
We now attend a church all the way across town where the congregation is quite orthodox. The services are wholly liturgical, the music is traditional...and the members are more spiritually mature. No one ever complains that the music "isn't relevant". They understand that worship is not about getting their needs and desires met. It's about receiving God's gifts, and having received them we are empowered to go back out into the world to serve Him.
Like the iPhone, we tried contemporary and it just had too many drawbacks. We're going to stick with traditional.
8 comments:
I am in total agreement with you on this my dear friend.
Stop by my blog, I have something for you.
funny to be battling popups at the same time I'm reading this anti-consumersism article. I haven't even finished it yet but I've got so many thoughts I have to get them out before I forget.
I. There are some people who believe that a person should fellowship at his local church. period. I don't know how right or wrong this thinking is - I'm just putting it out there.
2. a quote from Spurgeon's The Soul Winner: "There is such a thing as selfishness in our eagerness for the aggrandisement of our own party; and from this evil spirit may grace deliver us! The increase of the kingdom is more to be desired than the growth of a clan...We would bring men to Christ, and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity...To make proselytes, is a suitable labour for Pharisees: to beget men unto God, is the honourable aim of ministers of Christ.
C. I know the people ARE the Church (big 'C'), but beyond that, is a church (little 'c') for the people or the people for a church?
I'll probably think of more stuff later.
Oh and I found the constant references to Starbucks a little overdone. :-) (I can say that, right? I hope I'm not insulting a friend of yours.)
IV. style is not substance. Christians should get over judging each other based on style. I worship more loudly than you do. You raise your hands to God. Joe claps to the music. Jane meditates quietly. Romans 14:4. Christians should probably also get over judging churches based on style. but whatever - I just want to know that I can come together in fellowship with my sisters and brothers who may have a different style of showing giving glory, honor and praise to God but who, nonetheless, serve the same Lord as I do.
Gonna go read that article ASAP - it has to be good if it sparked so many thoughts from Sara! *wink*
One other thought...this is the first time EVER I would like to ask for a clarification! LOL
"They understand that worship is not about getting their needs and desires met, it's about receiving God's gifts, and having received them we are empowered to go back out into the world to serve Him."
Having not received any training or instruction in worship growing up, I only recently began learning what my local body understands as worship. Teaching on this area and that of praise is a favorite of one of our pastors.
Anyway, she's always emphasized that worship isn't about us...at all - it's only about giving thanks and praise to Him. It is due Him simply because of who He is. It is not about receiving anything other than being received into His presence.
As I have always admired your faith training, conviction, and explanation of the Lutheran tenets, I just wanted to see if you might expand on that paragraph from your perspective.
Thanks! ((hugs))
But that's exactly the problem - my experience is that contemporary LACKS substance. I get what you're saying about one worships quietly, the other enthusiastically. I have no problem with that. But I question the motives of Christians who want the worship service itself to reflect THEIR personal taste. It's not ok to absent oneself from the assembly just because "I don't like the music". And that's what I saw happening at Messiah. The older folks who didn't enjoy Contemporary Sundays (it was once a month) in the least still came out faithfully every Sunday. In their maturity, they understood that in worship they were having needs met far greater than being "comfortable with the worship style". They were receiving the Word. The Supper. Fellowship and encouragement. In contrast, many (if not most) of the contemporary devotees ONLY came on Contemporary Sunday. That strikes me as a bit selfish and immature. I'm glad they came at least that once, but I think (and I think what the author is saying) is that as long as we cater to the idea that we are ENTITLED to worship choices tailored to our personal preferences, we are encouraging spriritual immaturity.
This was a great post with great comments. Lots to chew on. I also tried contemporary and did not like it. I don't have any profound thoughts on this topic right now (maybe because I still have the flu), but I know what works for me and I stick with it. :)
Okay, you all might start throwing tomatoes at me or something but my experience has apparently been VERY different from most of yours.
As most of you know I was raised in the rlds religion and didn't accept the truth about it's falseness until I was 39 years old - about 6 years ago.
The rlds are pretty much what one would consider to be fairly rigid in their rules and practices of "worship."
I have to put that in quotation marks because I'm not at all convinced who or what they are worshiping since the entire religion is based on false teachings from a false prophet who was into the occult.
So, anyway, over the past 6 years or so I have learned a TON of truth - straight from the Bible!!! - AND I have learned a lot about worshiping our Lord and Savior!
Since the rlds are about having to "help" ourselves get into Heaven through good works and traditions, NO ONE would ever raise a hand or sway to the music. It just wasn't done. Our eyes were kept on the hymnal or looking out at whoever was in front. (since there are no full-time paid pastors the "speakers" rotate and take turns being up front)
Close our eyes and focus on how much we love & worship our God??? NOT in the rlds!
We sang ONLY traditional hyms. Contemporary Christian music is seen as a sort of blasphemy.
Fast forward to today.
I TOTALLY LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MY PRAISE ON WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST - TWICE EVERY SUNDAY!
My understanding of worship is that it's a time when we totally let go of the world and of our personal concerns and issues, and we just totally give 100% of ourselves to a one-on-one time of kneeling at His feet.
For me, and for many others that I know, contemporary Christian music is a very powerful tool in which to really connect with our Father in Heaven.
When I worship, I sing with my whole heart, with my hands raised, with my head held high, sometimes dancing... as well sometimes kneeling, head bowed low, hands folded in reverance...
It's not about what the person next to me is doing or what anyone else thinks about what I'm doing.
It's TOTALLY about spending time with Jesus!!!
I absolutely PRAISE and THANK Him!!! I talk with Him. And... I also feel His presence and often I hear His voice.
Worship (to my understanding) is simply spending QUALITY time with our Heavenly Father.
I think it's VERY important to do that regularly because it's so easy to get caught up in our earthly lives, obligations, responsibilities, etc... and not only do WE NEED that time of close communication with our Creator, but I believe that's what He created us for!
I will worship with contemporary AND with traditional music (and our contemporary services often include some traditional stuff) but I will never again "worship" with my eyes focused on only the words or the people and my attention focused on doing it the "proper" way!!!
I will worship with my eyes and heart on God and the world tuned out!!!
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