Life In Liturgy
A couple of days ago someone told me that it is disrespectful to send a text message during church. Given the laid-back atmosphere of our church services, I was a little taken aback. But I replied that some folks think it’s disrespectful to write in a Bible (for the record, I find neither disrespectful). Isn’t “disrespect” more a matter of tradition and style than anything else? After all, given the various styles and traditions of public worship, I think few things could be labeled disrespectful. But it begs the question: what is the role of public worship? What practices are worth holding on to? And what practices need to be rediscovered?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day when folks walk around with soot marks on their foreheads. 46 days from Easter, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. I started observing Lent and attending Ash Wednesday services about 7 years ago. I longed to connect–to root–my faith in the historic practices of the Church, something Pentecostals have been loathe to do. In the process, Lent has become one of the most important seasons of my life. It’s a time of repentance. Through fasting and acts of self-denial, I force myself to reflect and stand in solidarity with the sufferings of Christ and sufferings in the world.
In previous years, I fasted sweets, TV, the internet, but I’ve found the most fruitful and powerful fast is one that is consistently before me and one that causes me to focus on a justice issue. That’s why I’ve chosen meal time fasts (sweets, meats, etc). Multiple times a day I’m forced to change my eating habits.
With changing practices of public worship, it seems that one of the most “respectful” ways to worship is to re-engage with our liturgical pasts, to rediscover the simple, but all the more meaningful, acts like 40 days of fasting and reflection. In fact, coming from a church which has largely ignored the liturgical calendar, I find nothing more freeing and devotional than living my life in the rhythms and seasons of the Church. That’s why you’ll see soot marks on my forehead today.
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Is it disrespectful to text in church? I think if you’re effecting someone’s experience at church it is very disrespectful. The action of texting, tweeting, facebooking itself isn’t the disrespectful part, it’s the intent that determines the respect and the effect it has. Does it glorify God, does it encourage a spirit of worship or focus on God in the service, does make you more attuned to His presence? Can it interfere or distract others from worship? are all questions you should ask about any action you take in a group environment of “church.” Christ clearly stated that His father’s house was a house of worship (not saying that texting is the same as trading money) but when it comes to Public worship I think you need to think about how He is being reflected through you. I found a great place to explore liturgy of worship is the now often overlooked Hymnal. About two years ago I ran across this in the call to worship section of “The Book of Hymns” United Methodist Church 1964
Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your own voice now, no more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
It struck me as being a very passionate statement, and challenged me on how I approach worship. Being someone who was lead in worship by a collection of overhead projections and power point slides for a majority of my life, I really enjoy reviewing a hymnal now and seeing what I might have missed.