Came away dry and frustrated by this morning's Radio Four worship.
All the right words and a sound sermon and yet dry and turgid to the extent that I lost the will to live as I listened to it. Don Carson was as you'd expect him to be, the music was solid and professional and yet there was something missing. Hard as I tried it was an uphill struggle and since I am someone who has the opinion that worship is about giving, why on earth couldn't I? What was my problem and why did I struggle?
Everything was there and yet, like an unconvincing painting which although photograph like leaves one cold, the Grace Baptist Mission offering from Solihull aired this morning left me unmoved and whilst intellectually able to say 'hallelujah' left me behind a glass window - untouched and unable to connect. emotionally or spiritually.
Oh dear!
6 comments:
You must conduct lovely services! I listened and sang my heart out in the shower! The sermon wasn't fantastic but left me enough to chew on. But that maybe because I have to listen to my other half preach every week,not that he isn't interesting but I'm used to his voice and I drift. Mind you the Highlanders up here are not used to "letting go". Best not say too much or they'll clout me with their bagpipes!
Actually, recent experience appears to be telling me that we do! I'm rather shocked at that - it's the hope but I didn't think we were anything different to many others.
I wasn't knocking them and was perhaps more concerned at the place I found myself than them but I just wasn't excited or led to shout 'Hallelujah!' during any part of it. Intellectually I could nod but it just didn't reach the parts I'm used to having reached.
Thanks for the comments.
Was approached recently about a change of location into the world of Scottish Christendom - wrong time, place and all that - but We told God we'd go wherever, whenever when we started off and that still holds true.
Just need lots os 'skin so soft' for the midges :-)
Pax
Hope I didn't sound sarcastic, I do sometimes miss an enthusiastic bit of worship.But we are working on it.If we don't, in 10 years some of these c.of s churches will not survive,as the elderly congregations die off. Next month sees us launch a new incentive for families.May God bless our endeavours.
No you didn't sound sarcastic at all!
Your new venture with families sounds interesting - perhaps you could tell me more and I'll bung it on the prayer board (a 6'x4' whiteboard on which prayers for, praise for and pray about are put).
Pax
It did sound as if you were knocking! I was there and it was a great and uplifting occasion. The message had to be scripted word for word to get past BBC censors - and even altered to accommodate them, so perhaps that didn't help. If the truth is not uplifting then we need the Spirit to come and stir us afresh.
Well on two counts I can only offer:
1. The words, "Hard as I tried it was an uphill struggle and since I am someone who has the opinion that worship is about giving, why on earth couldn't I? What was my problem and why did I struggle?"
Indicate that I was engaging with something in me whilst:
2. I was there and it was a great and uplifting occasion.
So there's obviously no bias on your side of the engagement with me then (is there?) :-)
You were there and had a great time - I was sitting in my study and found it something less and so that means I'm 'knocking your thing?' Nah - wasn't what I was doing but on reviewing my notes I still found it less (add your own word) than many of the other services before or since. There was (as a friend I asked to review it put it) 'froth' but no spark and that always leaves me less than empty and more than frustrated wherever and whatever is under examination (football, lectures, sermons, morning services).
I know about the scripting and effect this can have but there was just a lack of something that would have been most welcome as I chilled before entering the area for my service. Life is like that - not a knock but an observation - the axe was wielded and there just weren't no gold to be found.
Glad you had a blast though - that's apparently what it's all about :-)
Pax
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