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Re: [Worship] worship statements
Hi Jill,
Keep it very simple and open. We are all created to worship. I am sure
there are many on the list who have statements and other such material. I
encourage you not to put too much emphasis on the statement. Mission
statements are great for businesses. It keeps them focused on what they are
here to do. It is designed to keep them focused on a deliberate path.
Churches evolve to grow and mature. They change and evolve just as people
do. When they stop this proccess, they also stop growing. I find that
statements inhibit churches down the road. The greatist thing about our
constittution (American) is it's ability to evolve and expand with the
people. If you "have" to create a statement, keep that in mind. Use only
biblically binding words, and never use preferential idealisms. EVEN IF YOU
REALLY THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! Chances are, a young buck
will one day tell you, that was the days of old, we are a new generation
with new ideas. Though you may be creating it now, remember that what you
are creating is probably going to be considered "binding" in the future by
someone else. This usually means they are defending a method and not a
biblical truth. Is it wrong? Well, probably not, but if you have ever been
in a position where you have a burning desire inside and the only thing
standing in your way is some peice of paper from thirty years ago, it's
nasty irratating feeling. It leads to division. That's why we have so many
battles with traditionalism in the churches now. Don't create a document
that can't be added to. Don't create a document that is perfect for you
now. Allow someone else's vision to easily line up with yours. Remember,
presently you carry the baton, but you are running a relay race, not a
sprint. It's your responsibility to pass the baton to the next leaders
and/or generation. Chances are, God will give them a new vision, a new
revelation, a new desire, a new burning inside their hearts. Don't make
your statement so binding that they have start over. By the time the get
through the battle doing away with it, they won't have the energy to
continue the race.
I'm sure there are many who disagree with my statements above. I only know
that IMHO I see NO purpose "at all" for such documents. Over time, the
documents become the focus point and the bible is secondary. Most will
probably disagree, but I have yet to see it in my life time where this isn't
true. It's almost ironic, that we argue that these things keep us on
target, even though we have God's word already. It's as though we feel
compelled to add to His wisdom in order to make it acceptable for us. I
don't have a problem with sifting through the scriptures to pull out bullets
for us as guidelines to follow. As long as they are kept in context and
they are only as binding as the Lord makes them. Even Paul differentiated
between his personal opinions and preferences and God's law or word.
I am not against traditionalism or statements such as your asking about. I
do believe they can be helpful, it just seems (to me) that they end up as
articles to argue about. Thus they become the stumbling blocks and not the
building blocks we had hoped to create. Look at where you are now and where
you have come from. Open the areas you have changed in, and create a
document that will promote these changes. If you must create a statement of
Worship, keep on a short leash. Meaning, write for now, then revisit it in
three months. Then revisit it again in six months. Do this for several
years and see how you change it. Then give it to the next "potential"
leader and see how they change it. This way it will insure the maturity
continues to grow. It will also allow for change and keep the document on a
short leash so others may add to it. Remember we all see in part and hear
in part, we all need one-another as different parts of the body. Assume God
hasn't sent all of the parts and others will come with new revelations, new
wisdom, new ideas from our Lord. Then you will have a document which can
grow and mature with your church.
That's my .002 cents.
David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dlaur@us.hsanet.net <:{{{{:><
Malichi 1:5
"You will see it with your own eyes and
say, GREAT IS THE LORD - even beyond
the borders of Israel."
Habakkuk 1:5
"Look at the nations and watch -
and be utterly amazed. For I am
going to do something in your days
that you would not believe, even
if you were told."
>Help!! I am meeting with the worship committee this week, and one of the
things we need to do at this point is to come up with a formalized statement
of why we do what we do. (And what it is we are going to do.) There is
great pain going on in the church right now, and worship issues are in the
thick of it. We feel a strong need to have a unified statement on the
subject, with scriptural support of why we do the things we do in worship.
To come up with the rough draft on this in the next two days boggles my
mind. (I'll have to pull out those old seminary papers). Do any of you
have such statements that you could share? I would sure not like to have to
reinvent the wheel right now if it's already been done well by someone out
there. Thanks.
>
>Jill
>
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