(Here is next in series of 'wee scottish baptist voices - this time by Ian Mundie longtime Scottish Baptist minister)
Now being halfway through my eighth decade, I have been able to observe many ‘shifts’ in the way we ‘do Church’, not least in the arena of worship. Like a number of my contemporaries find, it’s so easy to be critical of some of these changes and not take account of the way in which they often bring benefits and relevance to worship.
With more free expressions of worship there can often be a diminution of the sense of awe and wonder. This may be seen in the choice of hymns and songs, which don’t always reflect the grandeur of the Godhead, or enable us to ‘bow in subjection’ to Him. In much of our singing the ‘I’ and the ‘me/my/mine’ seem to dominate, though we may ‘look to Him’ to be there for us in our situations and circumstances. When we welcome the Lord into our midst we appear to have reversed the roles – is it not that we come into His presence with thanksgiving and gratitude?
Ian Birch, in his piece about ‘From pulpit to lectern to music stand’ (posted 29 June 2012), emphasises the way the subtle shifts taking place in our informal approach to worship lessen the divine-human encounter. Combine with this the use, or over-use, of the Power Point as the important aid to worship - not that I object to it as a useful tool - and you might find another way of But should it not be used in conjunction with the other important aids to our worship?
Displaying the Bible passage on screen can be helpful, but what does that do for the ‘Bible-carrying congregation? When we need to look at some other Bible passage, either during the sermon, or just simply to reflect on some verse or verses that come to mind, does the Power Point meet our need? But we can choose to bring, or not to bring, our Bibles to Church. But, of course, there may be copies under the seats!
And what about the hymnbook? These are not always provided for the congregation anymore. If these are not available, and we can’t recall the line from three songs back, which had spoken to us, and ask ….how did it convey that thought again….how does that help us? Quite often it’s good to reflect on the words that the hymn-writers have been gifted to put together to express the mighty things of God and His purposes, and His salvation in Christ. But with no books to refer to, we sing the line once (- or perhaps 22 times!) and its gone! No going back to recall its import!
But not only do we abandon the opportunity for reflection in the heart of our worship, but we abandon the great library of hymns old and new from which we learn about our God and Saviour, and through which we are enabled to offer ‘reasonable worship’ to the Lord.
Of course, let’s make use of the modern aids. Let’s lift up our eyes and our heads as we sing to the screen. But please ensure that our Bibles and hymnbooks are available as the more important aids to sincere worship when we gather together - we diminish our devotional encounter without them!
Let’s not make it an ‘either-or’, but a ‘both-and’, and that’s from a ‘seasoned saint’ !!
Ian Mundie
I think you have a good point there Ian. For me recalling the tune of some modern songs is difficult. Nice to see you in print again.
Posted by: Eileen Aitken | 07/15/2012 at 08:05 PM