Posted by Rob Borley | Posted on 24-11-2006
Category : Bruce Springsteen, Church, Worship
I’ve posted this mainly for Felix’ benefit. Our friends over at Crookedshore posted this week on their experience of the final leg of Bruce Springsteen’s The Seeger Sessions Tour in Belfast.
Like us here at Threedays, there have been a number of posts on Crookedshore around the subject of worship (Threedays: Someone please lead us into battle�. | Crookedshore: Contemporary Worship and Congregational Singing). Well it seems the answer has been found. Get in somebody famous *smile*.
It’s amazing the impact music can have, as I think I mentioned on here before I have had some of my deepest worship times at secular concerts (the non Christians at the gig are too, although they are probably unaware). If Bruce can lead worship with “This Little Light of Mine”, then maybe there is hope for church yet.
Felix, while I’m sure you’d probably point blank refuse to play that song in Church, I’m sure you’d change your mind if Bruce was leading *smile*
Posted by Jo Borley | Posted on 21-11-2006
Category : Bible, Bible Study, Church, Zechariah
I am immediately struck by the combination of fulfilled prophecy and that which is yet to come. I wonder how Zechariah received a word of prophecy like this. Is it all a straight prophetic word or does it come from a flowing combination of his feelings, God�s general heart for his people and some prophecy? How much of what is written is prophetic and how much of it is his emotions?
I love the way Zechariah�s words change. Zechariah starts with what feels like condemnation upon Israel�s enemies, in a very conventional way, verse 4
ââ?¬Å?But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.ââ?¬Â
This is a typically Old Testament way of viewing Gods power and Lordship. He will come with destruction and physical power. Then all of a sudden in verse 9 we hear ââ?¬Å?gentle and riding on a donkeyââ?¬Â. What a very different image, one that would be seen as weak.
I think that we can understand something of people�s disappointment and expectation when Jesus did not defeat and conquer the Romans. Not quite the victory they had in mind. This is a prophecy of victory, but with hindsight we know that the victory of Jesus upon the cross is in no way a human perception of victory. Only this exceptional plan would be worthy of God�s hand.
Verses 9 to 12 amaze me; I love it that Zechariah had these words 500 years before Christ. This really shouldn�t amaze me, if God can create the heavens a few prophetic words is nothing to him. After all he is the Lord of time. I wonder how we respond to prophecy that doesn�t seem to come true in our life time. Were people really waiting upon Zechariahs prophecies with expectation before the birth of Christ? Do we have prophets from the last thousand years whose words we are expecting to be fulfilled? How do we deal with prophetic words from our congregations?
I wonder if prophetic words are mixed up because of our humanity getting in the way of Godââ?¬â?¢s communication with us or if God intends it that way. Part of me thinks it has to be Godââ?¬â?¢s plan as itââ?¬â?¢s in the Bible, but I wonder if thatââ?¬â?¢s a bit close minded. Is it possible that some of what Zechariah has to say is from him and not God? Verse 8 says ââ?¬Å?Never again will any oppressor overrun my peopleââ?¬Â, this has clearly not been fulfilled. The question is, will it ever be fulfilled or is it the passionate desire of a good intentioned prophet?
Posted by Rob Borley | Posted on 03-10-2006
Category : Church, Literature, Men, Religion, Society, Worship
I’m still marching through my latest read;
Why Men Hate Church. I’m simply enthralled in a journey of self discovery; page after page describes me to a tee. I must say it’s a little disconcerting. I will post up some more complete thoughts when I’ve completed it but here is something that made me laugh and then a little concerned when I saw the truth in it.
David Murrow has spent some time talking about the ‘worship’ part of the service and how this can often be more of a hindrance to men meeting with God. Obviously talking in wild sweeping statements and in very general terms it discusses the battle that has raged between champions of different worship styles since the 1970′s. Those who like the hymns and those who like ‘contemporary praise’.
Scratch the masculine itch
The problem is that neither particularly scratches the masculine itch. Many old hymns have fantastic battle cries. The words conjure up visions of fighting the good fight, good verse evil, we are in a battle that has eternal consequences. However, the music is dated and simply not relevant and therefore turns many men (and young people and women) off.
On the other hand, modern praise music has the relevant ‘contemporaryââ?¬â?¢ tunes (even if the general flow seems to be towards soft, gentle love songs) but the words are more akin to leading somebody into the bedroom than leading somebody into spiritual battle.
Women can engage with this because (generally speaking, please don’t shoot me) they want safety, security, and often have an image of Jesus as the prefect man (great husband material). Men simply do not want to feel romantic about another man!!!
Lead us into battle!
So I echo David’s question / plea. Can worship leaders / song writers please stop trying to lead us into the bedroom? Lead us into battle! I’d be interested to know what you make of this analysis of worship services (especially the worship leaders among our readership)
