[Worship] Cultural expressions of worship wrapped up.

[Chris Conley <conleycd@muss.cis.McMaster.CA>]

Sorry don't mean to *further* this thread, but I think that is well
stated.

Now I hate messages that say "Amen".  i think that it is crucial that we
examine what we *like* and what is okay biblically.  To be honest I would
hate having estern music in the church (the 1/4 are very difficul to play
on guitar :))  I like very contemporary music in the church.  this doesn't
mean that someone who wants to do something a little different is
wrong(assuming that what is stated below is what we consider to be right
and wrong and I think that for most of us it is) , but what it may mean
is that I would not go to that church that uses whistles.  That would
drive me nuts being that I am a very critical musician and the thought of
someone blowing a whistle out of time would drive me crazy.  Yet I do not
think that there is something wrong with it.

If we examine what *we* like and what is allowed (biblically) there is a
great deal of freedom.  So choose where you want to express or not express
that freedom that we have.

> Hi,
> 
> I don't think we disagree on much...
> 
> No one said a particular culture is Christian.
> No one said theatrical effects are not acceptable.
> No one said once heathen always heathen.
> No one said to recognize a culture is denigrating to God.
> 
> Most said not all pagan practices ought to be in church.
> Most said not all theatrical movements or expressions ought to be in church.
> Most said specific identifiable heathen expressions ought not be in church
> Most said to recognize our difference is not the purpose of church.
> I also elaborated, that those cultural expressions done for the sake of
> having a cultural expression is rooted in pride and politics, not worship.
> Therefore, expression of diversity is not always good.
> 
> We affirm that the American church is too Anglo-European. We also affirm
> that American church is too "American".
> We affirm that the American church ought to be exposed to diverse cultural
> expressions of worship
> We affirm that the American church ought not object to the use of all
> instruments in worship
> We affirm that all God has for us is to be pursued.
> 
> I also said that the Hebraic culture and eastern music forms and instruments
> are closer to the Judeo-Christian *heritage* than what we experience in
> church today; and further, we ought to be more concerned with our
> Judeo-Christian heritage than we are currently, and than we are concerned
> with other heritages. This is the milieu and heritage in which our religion
> was founded. Therefore, our Christianity cannot be properly understood or
> fully expressed or experienced without knowledge of this heritage.
> 
> Most of us affirm the use of guidelines for such activities in church.
> Most of us do NOT affirm the use of everything- whatever it is, or wherever
> it came from, or a free for all in terms of expression in church
> 
> Most of us do not want to continue this thread... ;-)
> 
> IHST,
> Geoffrey M. Williams, M. Div. PTS
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 

Chris Conley
conleycd@mcmaster.ca

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