Comments on: Can who we worship with become an Idol? http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:16:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alan http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-4699 Alan Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:15:18 +0000 http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/#comment-4699 While I do enjoy the way we currently worship at NFC, and I would have no problem with things staying the way they are, I also have no problems with changing things up, too. I can see the benefits to a different style, especially for the younger generation(s). But, at the same time, this conversation also strikes me as very "my-church"-centric: there's several other churches in the area which offer worship experiences geared towards these younguns. :) If we are the body of Christ in Newberg, then why do we feel the need to appeal to an even broader subset of the community at our church? Can every church appeal to every person? Should it? One thing that struck me in your writing about these idols, is that we could pretty much call anything we <em>like</em> or are <em>comfortable with</em> an idol, could we not? I feel like some people are misusing this idea of idolatry when they want someone else to do <em>something</em> differently. I get concerned a bit, though not so much on this specific blog, when I am told I need to be constantly challenged and to be moved to discomfort about things. There's many many a sermon and open worship sharing about people wanting to shake things up and make others uncomfortable for the sake of change. Is there really something wrong with being comfortable? Am I a lesser Christian because I find the current form of worship enjoyable and stimulating? And my relationship with God, while always growing and changing, to be in a good place? Can the constant desire for something new and different be called "worshiping change" and therefore an "idol" as well? Where does this all stop? Or does it? The questions being considered here by the group are difficult. I do not envy your task. While I do enjoy the way we currently worship at NFC, and I would have no problem with things staying the way they are, I also have no problems with changing things up, too. I can see the benefits to a different style, especially for the younger generation(s). But, at the same time, this conversation also strikes me as very “my-church”-centric: there’s several other churches in the area which offer worship experiences geared towards these younguns. :) If we are the body of Christ in Newberg, then why do we feel the need to appeal to an even broader subset of the community at our church? Can every church appeal to every person? Should it?

One thing that struck me in your writing about these idols, is that we could pretty much call anything we like or are comfortable with an idol, could we not? I feel like some people are misusing this idea of idolatry when they want someone else to do something differently. I get concerned a bit, though not so much on this specific blog, when I am told I need to be constantly challenged and to be moved to discomfort about things. There’s many many a sermon and open worship sharing about people wanting to shake things up and make others uncomfortable for the sake of change. Is there really something wrong with being comfortable? Am I a lesser Christian because I find the current form of worship enjoyable and stimulating? And my relationship with God, while always growing and changing, to be in a good place?

Can the constant desire for something new and different be called “worshiping change” and therefore an “idol” as well? Where does this all stop? Or does it? The questions being considered here by the group are difficult. I do not envy your task.

]]> By: Walt http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-4300 Walt Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:33:57 +0000 http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/#comment-4300 Excellent question, AJ. I'm absolutely convinced that the outward formats of worship can and do become idols - and when they do, they become empty of worship. Regarding our church, I've never been so torn: On one hand, the format of our service definitely satisfies the needs of a large demographic; on the other hand, some days I wish we could close the whole thing down and revert back to house churches. In looking forward, I read a quote from E. Stanley Jones a few years ago that I can't get away from: "People say that we must adopt the language and culture of the day to be relevant today. That is a mistake. If the church marries itself to the spirit of the times, it will be a widow in the next generation." I have no idea how to apply that thought to our (or any other) congregation, but I think it's a warning we need to heed. (BTW, my thanks to you and the others on the discerment group for your willingness to step up and ask the hard questions.) Excellent question, AJ. I’m absolutely convinced that the outward formats of worship can and do become idols – and when they do, they become empty of worship.

Regarding our church, I’ve never been so torn: On one hand, the format of our service definitely satisfies the needs of a large demographic; on the other hand, some days I wish we could close the whole thing down and revert back to house churches.

In looking forward, I read a quote from E. Stanley Jones a few years ago that I can’t get away from: “People say that we must adopt the language and culture of the day to be relevant today. That is a mistake. If the church marries itself to the spirit of the times, it will be a widow in the next generation.”

I have no idea how to apply that thought to our (or any other) congregation, but I think it’s a warning we need to heed.

(BTW, my thanks to you and the others on the discerment group for your willingness to step up and ask the hard questions.)

]]> By: Abbie http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-4297 Abbie Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:56:10 +0000 http://www.ajschwanz.com/2007/11/08/can-who-we-worship-with-become-an-idol/#comment-4297 This really excites me. Even if the end result is the services remaining the same, it's cool to see after so many years that there is a 'tug' to explore what may need to be changed in order to maybe reach more in the community. This is just one 'baby christians' opinion, but it seems that at least 1 contemporary service would be SO beneficial in reaching the 100's of college kids residing in our little Quaker town. Thanks for sharing; being so new in this church, it's fun for me to learn more about goings-on! This really excites me. Even if the end result is the services remaining the same, it’s cool to see after so many years that there is a ‘tug’ to explore what may need to be changed in order to maybe reach more in the community. This is just one ‘baby christians’ opinion, but it seems that at least 1 contemporary service would be SO beneficial in reaching the 100′s of college kids residing in our little Quaker town. Thanks for sharing; being so new in this church, it’s fun for me to learn more about goings-on!

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