Thursday, December 29, 2005

The Sermon

Chapter 2 in "Pagan Christianity" is a very volatile subject for most. He states that without the sermon being a part of the typical church service, "it becomes a songfest". To remove the sermon would induce mass exodus from the church, from the lack of the "need" to attend. Maybe the reason people are leaving is more poignant, boredom from the sermon. Viola challenges us to ask the typical church member, "How was church last week?". The answer will probably center around how good (or bad) the sermon was presented. As I pondered the question in my own life (pre-detox), my answers always revolved around the sermon's relativity.
Frank's frankness on the subject is painful at times. He shares that the sermon itself actually prevents spiritual growth in people. The congregates come each week with the sole purpose of "getting their cups filled up" by the sermon so they can go into the week ready to take on the evil world. Wow! That was so me. I've got to get to church this week so that I will have bullets in my gun to fire at the evil world around me. What was I thinking?!
The practice of the sermon has pagan roots, not biblical ones. His reasoning? The men and women in the bible that "preached" were more prophetic (telling people what God said not what they thought) rather than the definition of modern sermons (the preacher sharing his opinion about what God is saying). There is a world of difference obviously. Frank makes a comparison in the book on the difference, very informative.
After much footnoting and references, Viola sums things up by listing how the modern day sermon is harmful spiritually to the C/church. First, the preacher is a performer and the congregates are merely spectators, taking it all in. Second, because there is no active participation between the Body during the "message". Without active participation there is no growth. Third, the unbiblical clergy hierarchy. The undo pressures that are on the modern day clergy are not only unbiblical but much too weighty. Fourthly, the sermon does not "equip the saints for the work of the ministry". Last, the sermon is just impractical. No one is helped by a "swimming lesson on dry land".
The most compelling argument that Frank offers is this: how many millions have been sermonized week after week yet are still baby Christians. Wow! That is the truth if I've ever heard it. No one has been spiritually matured through the modern day sermon, but it remains the centerpiece to the weekly worship service for millions. The only way to grow spiritually is to have regular encounters with Jesus Christ. Less pulpiteers and more spiritual facilitators is what Frank suggests, and I tend to agree.
The SIM church planter
P.S. Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Order of Worship

"Custom without truth is error grown old."
-Tertullian
My friend over at Words Less Spoken and I have been speaking about what C/church is and what its roots are, and we have had some really great conversations that most people I know would have labeled as "heretical". I believe that in order to be the C/church God would have, we must first know the original design He instituted. I believe He gave the design to those closest to Him, the apostles, while here in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. These early C/church planters(lets include Paul of Tarsus here as well) had a simple plan, lets do with others what Jesus did with us, ie build community with other believers and build relationships with non-believers(in the hope of loving them into the "God-life" intended for all). Sounds simple, doesn't it?
Well, here we go. One of the questions that WLS and I have asked is, "How do you do a community celebration, once or twice a month, without falling into the same mold of the 'three songs, offering, sermon, prayer' mentality?" The answer to that question I believe I have found in chapter 1 of Pagan Christianity (see previous post for website and ordering info). According to biblical scriptures, there are no "orders" of worship. We see the community of believers, ministering to one another in all things, and having a meal in commemoration of Jesus' life/death/resurrection. As far as we know there are no set guide lines that were followed. Today we have very predictable "services" that do not, in my opinion, stimulate growth, much less alertness(it's almost comedic to watch people doze off during a Sunday service!). So the question screams to be asked, WHY?!
The order of worship has gone through several hands through the last 2000 years, including Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, D.L. Moody, and other C/church reformers, but the "order" is still there. I am not abdicating anarchy, but do we have to have an "order" of worship (seems like an oxymoron to me).
Frank states that this is corrosive to the Body of Christ because of several reasons. They are:repression of mutual participation and growth of Christian community, strangulation of the Headship of Jesus Christ,boredom, and hindrance of spiritual growth. Frank also states, "The purpose of the first-century church meeting was not for evangelism, sermonizing, worship, or fellowship. It was rather for mutual edification through manifesting Christ corporately".
So dear reader, what will we do? Will we ride a wave that will drift us far off course or will we be daring enough to grab an oar and try to steer a truer course? In Frank's words, "Is the church of Jesus Christ the pillar and ground of truth or the defender of man's traditions (I Tim. 3:15)?"
As Frank closed his chapter, I wish to close this post, with a quote of Jesus. "Full well do you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition (Mark 7:8)".
The SIM Church...presbyter?


Wednesday, December 21, 2005

In the beginning...

In the beginning...well not quite that important are the words to be written here. I am trying to put together a comphrensive view of modern day Christianity and the practices of the contemporary church. This is a life long project that will undoubtably change course from time to time. You, the reader, will be on a journey wherein there is no "road" to follow. I, the writer, will be merely a navigator charting a course through some, at times, dark waters, where we will learn a great deal about what it really means to be a "Christ-follower". I hope that your brain is in a state of "spongy-ness" so that it can absorb the things that will be discussed here. My intention is not to confuse or conclude, but merely to inform. I don't now what this will look like but at least you know what you are getting into. Tune in tomorrow for a start as I delve into the book "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola. (You can get a head start by going to www.ptmin.org. Look for the articles selection and read some of them, very interesting reading)
The SIM Church...Elder?