This unit is not intended to be an exercise in liturgics so much as to take some of the issues raised last week a stage further and think about continuity and change in worship style.
The readings provide comparisons from churches in other cultures experiencing similar tensions and trends to those familiar in many New Zealand congregations.
Maintaining continuity with heritage and the culture of an older generation while connecting with musical and other culture tastes among younger generations within and outside our congregations is an issue for all traditions. Sometimes it seems just a matter of common sense to cater for a variety of tastes, in other situations even small concessions to traditional or a variety of contemporary styles can anger those who have other tastes and a different sense of what is appropriate.
Often we find it very hard to distinguish between matters of taste and matters of truth or what is considered honouring to God yet authentic to who we are. Worship in faith involves both presenting our best and being ourselves, and those things are sometimes quite different.
A sense of occasion goes a long way for those with the responsibility of planning services, but it is not possible to please all of the people all of the time.
It is hard to believe this was not a New Testament problem, but did Paul write anything about it? Perhaps he did!!
As well as the readings supplied, there is website information on http://roxborogh.com/REFORMED/worship.htm (check out some of the links including the Directory for Worship).
Our question for discussion is "What does your congregation do to avoid culture wars in worship?"
Note what works well in your experience to help different generations and tastes to worship as part of the same family. Are there biblical principles as well as practical steps to note?
Only a few weeks to go!
John