I listened to a conversation yesterday among clergy, active and retired, about what “contemporary” worship means. These conversations often center on style rather than content. The contemporary style often focuses on a “praise band” performing and leading lyrics that have more in common with the Nicene Creed than with mainline Protestant theology. The song, “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,” is a good example of the Nicene Creed singing its way into non-creedal denominations like mine. I want for my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to embrace “content” over style in our worship. Content that takes seriously the context in which we worship and the world in which we live.
Here is the outline of the Examen that I did today.
Opening Music to Ponder . . .
“I’d Love to Change the World”, Ten Years After, 1971.
Psalm 4
Reflecting
For what moments was I most grateful today?
For what moments was I least grateful today?
When did I give and receive the most love today?
When did I give and receive the least love today?
When did I feel most alive today?
When did I most feel life draining out of me today?
When today, did I have the greatest sense of belonging to myself, to others, and to God?
When did I have the least sense of belonging?
Psalm 118:1-9
Departing Music to Ponder . . .
“God Must Be a Woman”, Travis Tritt, 2002.
I’ve decided this year to publish some lines, some sentences, from sermons when I preach. This morning I was honored to worship and preach at Southern Hill Christian Church in Edmond. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to worship with DOC congregations in Oklahoma where I serve as Associate Regional Pastor. Some of my words this morning.
My Friend Thomas
John 20:19-31
We (Disciples) begin and support ecumenical and interfaith missional ministries that offer grace, reconciliation, love, and justice whether we, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are direct beneficiaries or not.
Christianity, painting with a broad brush stroke for a moment, Christianity it seems to me is more comfortable finding Jesus among us through “reality” competitions like “Survivor” or “The Voice” rather than the old, old show, “To Tell the Truth.”
If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven and if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven. I doubt Jesus ever said that. But, if he did, I think Jesus was trying to help the disciples remember what he meant when he washed their feet and what he meant by “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our lives are immersed in skepticism, doubts, and we hold some of these to be very important.
Does “doubt” mean I don’t have faith? I doubt it.
The first disciples asked questions about their religious traditions, about civic symbols, about imperial laws, and from those questions, those doubts about what is important, the life and death of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth was resurrected in the Christ of faith.
One of the best questions (or doubts) a person can have is, “Do my beliefs make sense? Not, do my beliefs make me feel better about myself, but given all that I have experienced do my beliefs make sense enough for me to order my life by them?
We become a Church that is concerned with the “letter of the law” rather than the spirit of the law. We allow doubt to become a fear that can lead to an anger that give way to hate and hate, hate always leads to suffering . . . for someone . . . for all of us.
Peace is with you and in Christ’s example God is sending you.