Taking a Step Back!

As class ended yesterday I have spent the last day or so reflecting even more on the class. I just couldn't quite put words to where I was at last evening as I started to really tie some of the pieces together. Many of the elements started to link up as I started to think deeper about my project.

I went to Frozen last night to watch it through the lens of different theological loci. I was watching with the intent of starting to lay out my project. However, this discipline of watching or viewing a form of media through theological loci has tremendous power. We have this ability as Christians to always use a variety of theological lenses. I think to often we forget to do this and when that happens the media we are using lacks the full capacity it holds. Now, we may not always want to walk into a movie and watch it through a specific theological loci, but what might happen if you did every once in a while?

We may not always use a theological lens and that is ok. In the same way we may not have to always use social media or digital media. Tonight I witnessed how there is something special that can happen when we take that step back and let community develop naturally. At Youth group this evening I did not ask the youth to put their phones away I just helped initiate the beginning conversation. As the night went on the social/digital community they are often so attached to through their phone was placed on hold as they embraced the community around them and in their presence. There is something about us as humans that crave that relationship and true presence. The community that was present through their phone they would go back to but they also took the step back to embrace the real presence of community surrounding them. The further they engaged and embraced those around them the reminder to using caring language disappeared because they started to see Christ in each other. The transition was amazing to sit as an observer while still being a part of this community as it was forming. The media of a board game and the Bible was all that was needed for this group of youth to build on our human desire for relationship in profound ways. Which community is more important, the digital or real presence?

More on the project and Youth night to come. The one last thing as I reflect back on the class. I was nervous about starting this blog and have come to appreciate blogging. It goes back to a connection piece and to engage in conversation in a new way. I am thankful for this class as it has opened my eyes in new ways and I look forward to continuing to blog periodically.

If only the question was traditional vs. contemporary...

Today we discussed what is necessary for worship to be authentic in relation to Luther's Seven Marks of the church and adiaphora. I am one for whom worship is really important, but I also believe that there are many ways in which worship can be authentic. I have had many conversations with people about traditional vs. contemporary, church building vs. another local, but this conversation becomes even more complex as we enter into the media world, especially with digital and social media. We joked today if only the questions were about traditional and contemporary. If only! 

As we talked I had several questions I will continue to ponder. The one I would love to hear your thoughts on is what is important for you in worship? What makes worship authentic for you personally? 

Now, the Seven Marks of the church are important and I would say critical, but there are also those things that we categorize as adiaphora but are still of importance. I think those adiaphora things are some of what make us feel like worship is authentic or not even when it may meet all the Seven Marks. However, I think this gets interesting when we start to think about the community and the space that is created that is allowing for prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving to God. This is a mark of the church but I think some of the adiaphora things help it happen at times. For instance, we would say most of the time the church building and sanctuary are adiaphora, but how does that maybe influence the community in worship when we look at these two worship spaces below? Now I am not saying one is right or wrong. I think both can allow authentic worship to happen but does the set-up make a difference when we extend out to social media like Skype, FaceTime, LiveStreaming (Ustream), etc. 

http://www.byfaithhopelove.com/GTL/wedding.html

http://www.mlive.com/living/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2008/10/in_renovation_of_trinity_luthe.html

Parker Palmer in To Know As We Are Known: Education As A Spiritual Journey talks about the physical arrangement of the classroom, is our worship space different. He talks about how the set-up can invite relations to form with each other and have an element of hospitality or this can be absent. I think this is true of our worship spaces virtual or physical. I also think the physical set-up could be the same in two different places and relay two different messages based on the community. 

For instance, I think you could Skype the same person into two different churches that were physically set up the same and that person could say one was authentic and the other was not. They could report that it was because one they knew the community there even though they were on the screen. They could say both were not because it is important to be physically present in the community. I have to wonder what is "public", what is the role of the community, and does physical presence matter.

If only it was the question of traditional vs. contemporary...