Comments on: the right Way

By: Getting it Right

Getting it Right — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:17:05 +0000

[...] friend, Ellen, has written another provocative post; this time, on exchanging the Thou for an it in worship. [...]

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:53:53 +0000

You live it out beautifully, friend. You are teaching me about trust, that’s for sure! xoxoxox

By: Barb Dokter

Barb Dokter — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:52:01 +0000

Lately I have been in a “tender” place. My husband tells people that Barb is in a hard place. I think it is a beautiful place. I feel I am being “held”. Worship is a place I am in continually lately. In awe and wonder of His grace, mercy and love.

By: lindy

lindy — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:45:28 +0000

To me, worship is something very real, private and personal that happens between me and my Lord. For me true worship comes from the deepest parts of my spirit that aches for an even closer relationship with Him. It is past the gate that my flesh guards. The times in my life that I have experienced life changing prayer is from a few, simple words that I have uttered from deep inside of my spirit and I believe that is from where my true worship also springs forth. This cannot be dictated or led by a third party. It is is wild, untamed, out of the box, and barefooted.

By: Denisa

Denisa — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:49:28 +0000

Isn’t there so much more to worship than how or what we do on Sundays? Worship is the whole of who we are each and every day. It’s not about the how of worship but the who of worship. It should be all about Jesus and not about us. Again it should also be everyday and not just in singing and songs but we show our worship of our Lord in everyday ways. Maybe we have started to worship, worship and make it our idol replacing it with Jesus? I love the song, I’m going back to the heart of worship, it’s all about you, all about you Jesus. We had this little old lady in our congregation who grew up on hymns and when the style changed to contemporary with loud music and drums she simply replied, “While I don’t particularly like this new way or worship, I’m all for whatever reaches people for the Lord. Then again raises another thought. Do we do our services based on what we think people will like or not like? Maybe we should be true to the type of church God has made a particular church to be. If it is traditional, then be the best traditional church you can be and don’t apologize or change it for the sake of “bringing people in”, Jesus brings people to himself. Preach the word, focus on Jesus and don’t worry about the rest.:)

By: saradode

saradode — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:49:33 +0000

Wow–that has such resonance for me. I had a short correspondence recently with someone on a blog who felt that “love”, for Christians, meant nothing other than a moral obligation to get others to see things the way she did–to adhere to the “orthodoxy”. As for those who refused to do so, hatred and derision seemed to her to be perfectly valid, “Christian” responses. It all seemed so hard and cold and rigid–nothing at all like the way I personally conceive of the Divine, and certainly not what Jesus seemed to have in mind, unless I’m totally missing the point (of course, as I don’t call myself a Christian, I suppose that there are those out there who would assume that I couldn’t possibly understand! ).

But I love the “feet dangling” image. There is nothing rigid about God; any boundaries run along the lines of having love to give and being devoid of love, if anything. God is not something about whom we mere mortals can create rules and divisions and hierarchies, and not something any of us can ever completely grasp (that’s why they call God, “God”, and us, “people”!). But there’s a beautiful grace and freedom that can be gained from understanding that much–an elegance in living in love and compassion, searching our own souls (rather than those of others), and feeling ourselves held in loving arms as we dangle with trust and a sense of wonder over the beautiful landscape we’ve been given as a gift.

Bit of a stream of consciousness there–hope it made some sense!

Sara
http://saradode.wordpress.com

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:14:10 +0000

True Chris, I hear you on that! And the larger point is missed which is, what exactly are we worshipping? It’s not about who’s style is right, but the need for moving from object to Subject, and how does that shift from object to Subject make a difference.

By: Skip Newby

Skip Newby — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:59:18 +0000

Ellen,
again, well said. Keep stirring the pot, for the “Times They Are A Changin’.” I know, we’ve been saying that as long as we can remember, but the loaf doesn’t rise all at once. Keep dangling and looking at the One Who is doing the holding.

Peace, Skip.

By: chrisd

chrisd — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:57:58 +0000

Worship is such a divisive problem in the US Christian church. Ridiculous. I was thinking about that today in the car.

The younger kids say it has to be a certain way. The older ones feel it has to be their way. I understand, but on the other hand, it becomes selfish. Selfish worship?

They are two different things or should be.