Your friend seems like a wise man. I hope there are more of men like he and you in the LCMS today which really needs you.
He's right: such a phenomenon is not limited to the ELCA. The excerpt he linked to of the rap version of the Sanctus betrays the text. What is Holy about dancing around, clapping your hands, wearing sideways hats, rapping, etc.? The word holy has become so misunderstood amongst so many Christians across denominational lines and nowhere is that more apparent than what Fr. Curtis excerpted from the ELCA. Where was the terror? Where was the awe? Where was the fear? When we say God is Holy, that is something that we should reverently fear, bowing your head and making the sign of the cross (respective traditions differ, of course), not by getting in your pimped out ride, waving your hands around and simply saying the word.
Whenever I enter into the nave of the church, I say the words of Psalm 5: "I will come into the multitude of Thy mercy and in Thy fear I will worship Thee."
Ultimately, what this excerpt does is prove, undeniably and emphatically, that contemporary/modern/praise worship, whatever you want to call it, is entertainment, pure and simple.
Please make sure you do everything possible to keep the historic Liturgy. I don't know for sure if St. John Chrysostom would know exactly what was going on even if he were transplanted into a modern Orthodox Liturgy which uses his (his was never done in his day!), but part of not knowing is evident that the Liturgy is doing its job. We aren't supposed to come out of Liturgy understanding everything, for how can one truly understand God, but it can help you along the way.
I had exactly such an experience as Pastor Curtis describes in Miami. Even though it was in the middle of my twenty odd year period of agnosticism, for some reason one Sunday I wanted to go to church. And walking along Brickell Ave from downtown I came across St Jude Catholic Church. Melkite Rite. And there, despite an unfamiliar particular rite, a language I do not speak, music I do not know, etc, I nonetheless was quite at home and understood what was going on. Why? Because I knew what had been my own before the Revolution, and underneath the differences here was the same thing.
Yet I have never, ever, not once experienced this at even the most reverent and faithful novus ordo Mass in English or any other language I understand. Or for that matter in other liturgical churches which have adopted movus ordo style services, with x number of "settings", y number of options for this or that part of the liturgy, a lectionary replacing one that grew for 1500 years. They are remarkably much like each other, and particularly in that they are a departure from what went before in its various forms.
It was a stunning experience.
The only thing I didn't get was the little loaves on the way out, but that was after (and has since been explained to me -- on this blog!)
Lutheranism is suffering from a massive identity crisis. We have forgotten who we are - and who we are becoming does not instill much confidence for me. Please don't turn this into an "us" vs. "them" 'worship style' dichotomy. This kind of irreverent, unscriptural, unTraditional garbage is happening and it's our fault. We didn't take a definitive stand and nip it in the bud. We Pastors didn't educate well-meaning people about the Lutheran Liturgical identity and the unity there of. We have not spoken out against Liturgical worship becoming an adiaphora. Our DPs have not worked in a conciliar manner to heal the rifts that have come because of pietistic and rationalistic emphases. We have forgotten that "our God is a consuming fire." Heb 12:29 None of us is free from sin and guilt in the mess that has become the Lutheran Church. Christ have mercy!
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up." Hos 6:1
Your friend seems like a wise man. I hope there are more of men like he and you in the LCMS today which really needs you.
ReplyDeleteHe's right: such a phenomenon is not limited to the ELCA. The excerpt he linked to of the rap version of the Sanctus betrays the text. What is Holy about dancing around, clapping your hands, wearing sideways hats, rapping, etc.? The word holy has become so misunderstood amongst so many Christians across denominational lines and nowhere is that more apparent than what Fr. Curtis excerpted from the ELCA. Where was the terror? Where was the awe? Where was the fear? When we say God is Holy, that is something that we should reverently fear, bowing your head and making the sign of the cross (respective traditions differ, of course), not by getting in your pimped out ride, waving your hands around and simply saying the word.
Whenever I enter into the nave of the church, I say the words of Psalm 5: "I will come into the multitude of Thy mercy and in Thy fear I will worship Thee."
Ultimately, what this excerpt does is prove, undeniably and emphatically, that contemporary/modern/praise worship, whatever you want to call it, is entertainment, pure and simple.
Please make sure you do everything possible to keep the historic Liturgy. I don't know for sure if St. John Chrysostom would know exactly what was going on even if he were transplanted into a modern Orthodox Liturgy which uses his (his was never done in his day!), but part of not knowing is evident that the Liturgy is doing its job. We aren't supposed to come out of Liturgy understanding everything, for how can one truly understand God, but it can help you along the way.
Thanks for letting me vent, Fr. Weedon.
Vent away, Christopher. You've expressed it well.
ReplyDeleteI had exactly such an experience as Pastor Curtis describes in Miami. Even though it was in the middle of my twenty odd year period of agnosticism, for some reason one Sunday I wanted to go to church. And walking along Brickell Ave from downtown I came across St Jude Catholic Church. Melkite Rite. And there, despite an unfamiliar particular rite, a language I do not speak, music I do not know, etc, I nonetheless was quite at home and understood what was going on. Why? Because I knew what had been my own before the Revolution, and underneath the differences here was the same thing.
ReplyDeleteYet I have never, ever, not once experienced this at even the most reverent and faithful novus ordo Mass in English or any other language I understand. Or for that matter in other liturgical churches which have adopted movus ordo style services, with x number of "settings", y number of options for this or that part of the liturgy, a lectionary replacing one that grew for 1500 years. They are remarkably much like each other, and particularly in that they are a departure from what went before in its various forms.
It was a stunning experience.
The only thing I didn't get was the little loaves on the way out, but that was after (and has since been explained to me -- on this blog!)
Lutheranism is suffering from a massive identity crisis. We have forgotten who we are - and who we are becoming does not instill much confidence for me. Please don't turn this into an "us" vs. "them" 'worship style' dichotomy. This kind of irreverent, unscriptural, unTraditional garbage is happening and it's our fault. We didn't take a definitive stand and nip it in the bud. We Pastors didn't educate well-meaning people about the Lutheran Liturgical identity and the unity there of. We have not spoken out against Liturgical worship becoming an adiaphora. Our DPs have not worked in a conciliar manner to heal the rifts that have come because of pietistic and rationalistic emphases. We have forgotten that "our God is a consuming fire." Heb 12:29 None of us is free from sin and guilt in the mess that has become the Lutheran Church. Christ have mercy!
ReplyDelete“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up." Hos 6:1
Oh, my - I could only watch part of it before I had to hit the "back" button on my computer. Words escape me...
ReplyDeleteWords escape me, too ... but somehow a mental image of the prophets of Baal does not.
ReplyDelete