This friends intentions are very good. I highly respect and hold this person in high regard. Here is my response and would love to get yours as well. Any kind of response is welcome. Thanks.
My knee jerk is to ask the Holy Spirit. For me I'm good with 5 minutes or 50 minutes. Thank you (friend) for putting the question out there. I'd like to respond not out of being a "sensitive" Artist but as one who is experiencing a shift in perspective. Nor are my intentions to cause dissension or doubt. To me the "corporate" time together from beginning to end is the Sermon. Historically, some churches present creative elements prior to a talk as if it was an "on ramp" to the main highway (ie the Sermon). And, incredibly creative people prayerfully build strategic elements that seem to tie in to what the Lead Pastor/Teacher will talk about. This is all great and good. But at the same time I'm really not sure that it is. You see, there are some incredible works of art woven through out a service. But then cut off due to time restraints, announcements, or a sermon. When in fact each element in itself be a sermon. The other day - while walking our 2 labs near our house I was drawn in by this most beautifully made spider web. It was at least 5' x 5'. I couldn't walk past it. I had to “pull over” and stop to see this master piece. This web was made by a spider. A SPIDER. But what was interesting to me was there wasn't anybody coming up to give announcements or taking up an offering. So you see, things like this have caused me to start to wonder if our "scheduling" of services has edited out some of the Awe Factor that we might experience, if only we gave it the time to be just that, awesome. But instead we use it as a "segue". It seems that we're so rushed in getting to the next item on the flow sheet that we're at great risk of missing the wonderment altogether. And if this happens week after week, then when do we get to experience that together as a corporate body? What are we afraid of? Are we structuring the Church Service in order to satisfy consumers?
Maybe - I've stayed parked next to these verses to long.....
Matthew 6:4 Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.
Galatians 6:4 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Thanks for listening. Thoughts?
