What does informality encourage in our church assemblies? Spontaneity? Authenticity? Participation? A current article in Christianity Today on this subject caught my attention. There is no doubt that church today is much more informal than when I was growing up in my 50’s and 60’s. It is no passing tendency. “Instead, it’s part of a “decades-long trend in American religion away from an emphasis on belief and doctrine and toward an emphasis on experience, emotion, and the search for a least-common-denominator kind of worship in a time of ever less salient denominationally specific liturgical and theological content,” wrote the authors of the latest wave of the three-part NCS (National Congregational Study), one of the most rigorous surveys of local religious congregations in the US.”[i] Is this a good thing? Or not?
I see both good and bad. Formality In assemblies does have its benefits. I am reminded of the result of General George Patton’s (“spit and polish Patton” ) amazing turnaround of the just defeated Third Army in Africa in WWII. His insistence on discipline and formality led to a culture of adaptation, rapid learning, operational effectiveness, reliability, morale, and collective effectiveness. “If you can’t get them to salute and wear the proper uniform, how are you going to get them to die for their country?… You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things.”[ii] Formality does lead one to take seriously what is being done. It tends to reinforce the authority of anything that is being presented. How many news anchors do you see in Levis or overalls? It leads to cohesion. In the sermons and bible sessions of my youth and throughout the 60’s and 70’s the focus was on the Word of God. They were exegesis of scriptures. Songs were focused on the biblical truths. In this context doctrine was at the forefront. Do you see this today?
The trend towards emotional, heart-rending stories and experience focuses on “the self.” Of course, most of you realize that is the primary focus in today’s culture. It is no surprise that congregations would follow this trend. What the self wants is not the biblical way. It is not the lack of formal attire, formal repeated rituals, storytelling or even the more casual atmosphere that becomes the problem of informality. It is the tendency to forget God and godly principals in this focus on “what I want and am comfortable with.” Indeed, our large group settings have many times stifled true participation and true learning.
What do you see as the real problems with formality and rituals? Is there a focus on propositional truths and a total neglect of practical application?. In my profession this would be like teaching theory and not having any laboratory to illustrate and apply the theory. I see the lack of practical application as one of the drivers to abandon formality for informality. Informality opens the door to personal application. At the same time, it begins the focus on the self if not anchored in applications of biblical truths.
I believe there is real place for informality. The early church had no formal liturgy. There is no record in the New Testament of a complete “worship service.” The term “formal worship service” is not a New Testament term. They met in what we would call small group house churches. In my experience facilitating small groups, that setting encourages everyone to share their needs and their beliefs. What about the larger assemblies? Christ nearly always told stories but all had a deep theological point. Our stories in the assemblies or classes should emphasize or illustrate biblical truths. Should our songs only be 7/11 praise songs or should they proclaim these same truths? Should or stories proclaim these same truths? What do you think?
[i] https://www.christianitytoday.com/2016/01/waning-of-worship-wars/
[ii] https://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/142043/discipline-the-small-things-are-no-little-matter/
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Thoughtful perspectives on contemporary cultural and spiritual conversations, approached with care rather than reaction.
What Do You Think Informality Fosters In Church Assemblies?–A Commentary
What does informality encourage in our church assemblies? Spontaneity? Authenticity? Participation? A current article in Christianity Today on this subject caught my attention. There is no doubt that church today is much more informal than when I was growing up in my 50’s and 60’s. It is no passing tendency. “Instead, it’s part of a “decades-long trend in American religion away from an emphasis on belief and doctrine and toward an emphasis on experience, emotion, and the search for a least-common-denominator kind of worship in a time of ever less salient denominationally specific liturgical and theological content,” wrote the authors of the latest wave of the three-part NCS (National Congregational Study), one of the most rigorous surveys of local religious congregations in the US.”[i] Is this a good thing? Or not?
I see both good and bad. Formality In assemblies does have its benefits. I am reminded of the result of General George Patton’s (“spit and polish Patton” ) amazing turnaround of the just defeated Third Army in Africa in WWII. His insistence on discipline and formality led to a culture of adaptation, rapid learning, operational effectiveness, reliability, morale, and collective effectiveness. “If you can’t get them to salute and wear the proper uniform, how are you going to get them to die for their country?… You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things.”[ii] Formality does lead one to take seriously what is being done. It tends to reinforce the authority of anything that is being presented. How many news anchors do you see in Levis or overalls? It leads to cohesion. In the sermons and bible sessions of my youth and throughout the 60’s and 70’s the focus was on the Word of God. They were exegesis of scriptures. Songs were focused on the biblical truths. In this context doctrine was at the forefront. Do you see this today?
The trend towards emotional, heart-rending stories and experience focuses on “the self.” Of course, most of you realize that is the primary focus in today’s culture. It is no surprise that congregations would follow this trend. What the self wants is not the biblical way. It is not the lack of formal attire, formal repeated rituals, storytelling or even the more casual atmosphere that becomes the problem of informality. It is the tendency to forget God and godly principals in this focus on “what I want and am comfortable with.” Indeed, our large group settings have many times stifled true participation and true learning.
What do you see as the real problems with formality and rituals? Is there a focus on propositional truths and a total neglect of practical application?. In my profession this would be like teaching theory and not having any laboratory to illustrate and apply the theory. I see the lack of practical application as one of the drivers to abandon formality for informality. Informality opens the door to personal application. At the same time, it begins the focus on the self if not anchored in applications of biblical truths.
I believe there is real place for informality. The early church had no formal liturgy. There is no record in the New Testament of a complete “worship service.” The term “formal worship service” is not a New Testament term. They met in what we would call small group house churches. In my experience facilitating small groups, that setting encourages everyone to share their needs and their beliefs. What about the larger assemblies? Christ nearly always told stories but all had a deep theological point. Our stories in the assemblies or classes should emphasize or illustrate biblical truths. Should our songs only be 7/11 praise songs or should they proclaim these same truths? Should or stories proclaim these same truths? What do you think?
[i] https://www.christianitytoday.com/2016/01/waning-of-worship-wars/
[ii] https://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/142043/discipline-the-small-things-are-no-little-matter/
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