A buddy of mine was recently in the Waco area and he noticed all these billboards around town advertising the web site 30minuteworship.com. So after I heard about it checked it out and I would love to know what you all think about this. I have some serious doubts about it myself. Understandably I will sound similar to the old codger who can't stand the kids' new rock-n-roll music but here goes anyway.
1) Innovative... not so much.
2) Tired of the Traditional... To advertise against the way traditional church has been done is setting you up to be solely and completely anti-traditional. This is just more example of the disastrous mentality that is besetting our churches today. What you are saying is "We don't like this old method, so we are going to do things using a new method and then bash those who subscribe to the old method." As soon as you do that you paralyze yourself and become the very thing that drove you away from the 'old method.' What will happen in 3-5 years when your method is the old method? What then? In addition, this adds drastic parameters on worship style. No longer can the worship leader freely open with "I Stand Amazed" because the have labeled themselves as playing only the latest Tomlin or Crowder tunes ("they better deliver" says the trendy scene kid). However as long as Crowder and Tomlin continue to remake the old hits then I guess all will be ok. They have boxed themselves into being solely contemporary, emergent, and cutting edge at that has handicapped them from ever being everything else.
3) For those who have limited time... Granted (an admittedly perilous problem in our culture today). I see their heart's desire here but just don't think limiting exposure time with God is the correct path to take. What about dropping the tee time or turning off the television? In addition we have trained our brains into thinking in 30 min and hour long segments anyway because of our incessant addition to the God of Entertainment (Tozer) and so now if a sermon lasts longer than our favorite TV episode we cringe!
4) Has to work on Sundays... Yeah because if you can't go to church on Sunday then God hates you right? Who made Sunday the only "Lord's Day?"
5) High Energy... Ahhh, now we see the true motivation. Let's make everything go so quickly and accurately that our people don't have time to get bored. Dear God rescue us from our inability to take refuge in our own boredom and solitude!
6) Focused Package... I've tried to package God before. He doesn't like it and it never really works out very well.
7) Creatively Engaging... Really? With 2 songs, and a 10 minute devotional? Yeah right. I might as well go read Our Daily Bread or Open Windows or something.
8) Personally connect with God... What are you going to do if God actually decides to show up one morning? It might infringe on your schedule.
Listen, I know I'm being harsh here but I believe I understand these guys a little because I've been right where they are at several times before. I really wanted to see change happen so I tried to setup a system in which fostered that change the best I could. I'm sure they desire change too. I'm sure they love God and desire to see people's lives impacted. But fostering encounters with God is best left to the Holy Spirit, not our orders of service. I think these guys are sincere, I do. I just think they are going about it the wrong way.
What do you think?
3 comments:
It's like the pop-tart version of Jesus and the Church.
Exciting flavors that are filled with almost nothing that provides nourishment. They only provide filler and over time, if consumed in abundance, can lead to health problems. Plus, it only takes a few minutes, and then you're out the door and on with your life.
Alright, I'm done. I've got to go listen to my iPod while, play video games, blog some more, and watch some videos on YouTube all at the same time because I can't stand not being busy or entertained.
Scary.
I think it's great to think "outside the box" and all. But I also believe that sometimes we are just over-thinking. I agree with you in saying that we need to let the Holy Spirit work through us, instead of trying to do His job.
Post a Comment