WORSHIP & CULTUREWORSHIP & CULTURE

Worship CentralWorship Central

Worship Leaders + Song Worship Leaders + Song WritersWriters

The Church’s most influential The Church’s most influential theologians.theologians.

Songs give a generation its Songs give a generation its understanding of the faith.understanding of the faith.

Need of theological balance as well Need of theological balance as well as the current emphasis of the Spirit.as the current emphasis of the Spirit.

Credal songs in a biblically illiterate Credal songs in a biblically illiterate culture.culture.

CULTURECULTURE

Culture Is UnavoidableCulture Is Unavoidable

‘‘Culture is the context in which Culture is the context in which people find their identity....the people find their identity....the gospel judges every culture .…gospel judges every culture .…challenging some aspects of the challenging some aspects of the culture while endorsing others for culture while endorsing others for the benefit of the Church and the the benefit of the Church and the society.’ Lambeth Conference 1988society.’ Lambeth Conference 1988

Culture Is In YouCulture Is In You

'Our culture is 'Our culture is withinwithin us as well as us as well as around us. We cannot escape it, around us. We cannot escape it, though it is possible to innovate, though it is possible to innovate, replace, add to, transform, and in replace, add to, transform, and in other ways alter our use of the culture other ways alter our use of the culture that we have received.' Charles Kraftthat we have received.' Charles Kraft

Culture Is God GivenCulture Is God Given

'Culture is what we make of 'Culture is what we make of creation' William Dyrness creation' William Dyrness

'God is not just 'God is not just beforbefore creation as its e creation as its initiator but also initiator but also witwith creation in its h creation in its development as its director.’ development as its director.’

Clark PinnockClark Pinnock

‘‘One gospel, many clothes’One gospel, many clothes’

‘‘The Gospel must be constantly The Gospel must be constantly forwarded to a new address because forwarded to a new address because the recipient is repeatedly changing the recipient is repeatedly changing his place of residence.’ Helmut his place of residence.’ Helmut TheilickeTheilicke

Christ & CultureChrist & Culture

‘‘The eternal word only speaks The eternal word only speaks dialect.’ Pedro Casaldáldigadialect.’ Pedro Casaldáldiga

'Christianity is culturally infinitely 'Christianity is culturally infinitely translatable.' Andrew Wallstranslatable.' Andrew Walls

Culture ChangesCulture Changes

‘‘I really am “wired differently” from my I really am “wired differently” from my children and my grandchildren. What children and my grandchildren. What speaks to me does not speak to speaks to me does not speak to them.’ Tex Samplethem.’ Tex Sample

Some Things Change Some Things Change Some Things Don’tSome Things Don’t

Cultures are relative. Cultures are relative. The gospel is not. The gospel is not. The gospel cannot be communicated The gospel cannot be communicated

apart from culture. apart from culture. 'I have become all things to all people, 'I have become all things to all people,

that I might by all means save some. I do that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel.' 1 Cor. it all for the sake of the gospel.' 1 Cor. 9:22-23.9:22-23.

World ViewsWorld Views

Each era of culture has an Each era of culture has an underlying world view. underlying world view.

At the basis of any world view is a At the basis of any world view is a story by which we interpret life.story by which we interpret life.

All people, in all cultures, believe in All people, in all cultures, believe in

order to understand!order to understand!

World Views Are Like A Pair World Views Are Like A Pair Of GlassesOf Glasses

‘‘They are that They are that throughthrough which, not which, not at at which which a society or individual normally looks; they a society or individual normally looks; they form the grid through which humans form the grid through which humans organise reality.' Tom Wrightorganise reality.' Tom Wright

Culture As A BlindfoldCulture As A Blindfold

‘‘The god of this world has blinded the The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’(2 Corinthians 4:4)the image of God.’(2 Corinthians 4:4)

Blinded MindsBlinded Minds

Blinded MindsBlinded Minds

The MatrixThe Matrix

'The Matrix is everywhere, it's all 'The Matrix is everywhere, it's all around us, here even in this around us, here even in this room.You can see it out your window, room.You can see it out your window, or on your television. You feel it when or on your television. You feel it when you go to work, or go to church or you go to work, or go to church or pay your taxes. It is the world that pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.' blind you from the truth.'

The Truman ShowThe Truman Show

We accept the reality of the world We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented. It's as with which we are presented. It's as simple as that!simple as that!

Irrelevance?Irrelevance?

'(A cross cultural missionary) has to '(A cross cultural missionary) has to find the path between two dangers. find the path between two dangers.

On the one hand, he may simply fail On the one hand, he may simply fail to communicate. He uses the words to communicate. He uses the words of the language, but in such a way of the language, but in such a way that he sounds like a foreigner: his that he sounds like a foreigner: his message is heard as the babblings of message is heard as the babblings of a man who really has nothing to say. a man who really has nothing to say.

Syncretism?Syncretism? Or, on the other hand, he may so far Or, on the other hand, he may so far

succeed in talking the language of his succeed in talking the language of his hearers that he is accepted all too hearers that he is accepted all too easily as a familiar character. ... easily as a familiar character. ...

His message is simply absorbed into His message is simply absorbed into the existing world-view In the attempt the existing world-view In the attempt to be "relevant" one may fall into to be "relevant" one may fall into syncretism, and in the effort to avoid syncretism, and in the effort to avoid syncretism one may become syncretism one may become irrelevant.' Lesslie Newbiginirrelevant.' Lesslie Newbigin

Normal Christian LifeNormal Christian Life

‘‘There is always There is always tension between a tension between a church missionally church missionally engaging its engaging its context and context and becoming becoming colonized by its colonized by its culture.’ Roxburgh culture.’ Roxburgh + Romanuk+ Romanuk

Today’s BlinkersToday’s Blinkers

‘‘Affluenza’Affluenza’ ‘‘The placing of a high value on money, The placing of a high value on money,

possessions, appearances (physical and possessions, appearances (physical and social) and fame.’social) and fame.’

‘‘Many international studies have shown Many international studies have shown that people who hold such values are at a that people who hold such values are at a greater risk of being emotionally greater risk of being emotionally distressed - depressed, anxious, distressed - depressed, anxious, substance abusing and personality-substance abusing and personality-disordered.’ Oliver Jamesdisordered.’ Oliver James

Worship - Part of the AnswerWorship - Part of the Answer

‘‘Wherever I went I found that religion Wherever I went I found that religion seemed to be a powerful vaccine. I should seemed to be a powerful vaccine. I should not have been surprised, because the not have been surprised, because the scientific evidence has long been there: scientific evidence has long been there: much to the consternation of social much to the consternation of social scientists, on average regular churchgoers scientists, on average regular churchgoers suffer less depression or unhappiness suffer less depression or unhappiness than unbelievers.’ Oliver Jamesthan unbelievers.’ Oliver James

Should Worship Be Should Worship Be Contemporary?Contemporary?

Worship TransformsWorship Transforms

Romans 12:1-2 ‘I appeal to you therefore, Romans 12:1-2 ‘I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’and perfect.’

Because God does it!Because God does it!

Worship Is A ResponseWorship Is A Response

'To be loved by one who is glorious 'To be loved by one who is glorious beyond imagining, compassionate, beyond imagining, compassionate, just, wise, powerful, forgiving, more just, wise, powerful, forgiving, more intimate to us than we are to intimate to us than we are to ourselves - that callsourselves - that calls for us to stretch for us to stretch all our being in response,all our being in response, and the and the most direct expression of that is in our most direct expression of that is in our worship.' David Ford + Al McFadyenworship.' David Ford + Al McFadyen

Worship Is A Gift Not A TaskWorship Is A Gift Not A Task

The gift of giving back.The gift of giving back. Always a response to God’s initiative.Always a response to God’s initiative. ‘‘We love because he first loved us’We love because he first loved us’

Only Jesus Can Worship The Only Jesus Can Worship The Father PerfectlyFather Perfectly

Only Jesus Can Worship The Only Jesus Can Worship The Father PerfectlyFather Perfectly

‘‘Worship is joining with Jesus as he Worship is joining with Jesus as he praises his Father’praises his Father’

Hebrews 2:11-12Hebrews 2:11-12 Hebrews 8:1-2Hebrews 8:1-2 ‘‘Christ leads our songs and is the Christ leads our songs and is the

chief composer of our hymns’ John chief composer of our hymns’ John CalvinCalvin

Worship In The SpiritWorship In The Spirit

‘‘We worship in the Spirit of God and boast We worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Jesus Christ.’ Phil. 3:3in Jesus Christ.’ Phil. 3:3

‘‘We can use all the right techniques and We can use all the right techniques and methods, we can have the best possible methods, we can have the best possible liturgy, but we have not worshipped the liturgy, but we have not worshipped the Lord until Spirit touches spirit. Singing, Lord until Spirit touches spirit. Singing, praying, praising all may lead to worship, praying, praising all may lead to worship, but worship is more than any of them. but worship is more than any of them. Our Our spirit must be ignited by divine fire.’spirit must be ignited by divine fire.’

Worship the Father in Christ Worship the Father in Christ by the Spiritby the Spirit

‘‘The Father is The Father is the author of the author of worship, the Son worship, the Son the worshipper the worshipper and the Spirit the and the Spirit the agent of agent of worship.’ Alan worship.’ Alan TorranceTorrance

Trinitarian WorshipTrinitarian Worship

To To the Father the Father through through the Son the Son, by , by the the Spirit (Eph. 2:18)Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

By the Spirit we have Jesus word 'Abba' By the Spirit we have Jesus word 'Abba' on our lips (Rom.8:15+15, Gal.4:6).on our lips (Rom.8:15+15, Gal.4:6).

‘‘Worship is the gift of participating Worship is the gift of participating through the Spirit in the incarnate Son's through the Spirit in the incarnate Son's communion with the Father.’ James communion with the Father.’ James TorranceTorrance

True WorshipTrue Worship

Can never be world evadingCan never be world evading We must not separate worship and We must not separate worship and

mission.mission. 'The mission of the Church is the gift of 'The mission of the Church is the gift of

participating through the Holy Spirit in the participating through the Holy Spirit in the Son's mission from the Father to the Son's mission from the Father to the world.' James Torranceworld.' James Torrance

Worship is not an escapeWorship is not an escape

We dare not just We dare not just sing intimate love sing intimate love songs to the songs to the Father. We have to Father. We have to bear in mind why bear in mind why the Father sent the the Father sent the SonSon

Worship as church gathered

.

Worship as church gathered

Worship as church

scattered.

Worship Is Primarily Worship Is Primarily CorporateCorporate

Christianity is always personal but Christianity is always personal but essentially corporate.essentially corporate.

The conductor and the scattered The conductor and the scattered orchestra (Mt.6:6+9)orchestra (Mt.6:6+9)

‘‘Present your bodies as a (one) Present your bodies as a (one) living sacrifice, which is your living sacrifice, which is your spiritual worship.’ Romans 12:1spiritual worship.’ Romans 12:1

Worship Links Past, Present Worship Links Past, Present and Futureand Future

‘‘Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again’come again’

What Christ has done - expressed in new What Christ has done - expressed in new and old waysand old ways

Who Christ is - challenging todayWho Christ is - challenging today What Christ has secured - presented as a What Christ has secured - presented as a

hope for the futurehope for the future

Where Is The Awe?Where Is The Awe?

AT THE GREATNESS OF GOD?AT THE GREATNESS OF GOD? ‘‘When I look at your heavens, the work of When I look at your heavens, the work of

your fingers, what are human beings?’your fingers, what are human beings?’ ‘‘The material universe is a tiny thing lost in The material universe is a tiny thing lost in

a big God. God is not a tiny thing lost in a a big God. God is not a tiny thing lost in a big universe.’ Dallas Willardbig universe.’ Dallas Willard

Worship Should Disturb UsWorship Should Disturb Us

How long O Lord?How long O Lord? ‘‘Those who hope in Christ can no longer Those who hope in Christ can no longer

put up with reality as it isput up with reality as it is, but begin to , but begin to suffer under it, to contradict it, peace with suffer under it, to contradict it, peace with God means conflict with the world, for the God means conflict with the world, for the goad of the promised future stabs goad of the promised future stabs inexorably into the flesh of every unfulfilled inexorably into the flesh of every unfulfilled present.’ Jurgen Moltmannpresent.’ Jurgen Moltmann

WHERE IS THE LAMENT?WHERE IS THE LAMENT?

The Test Of The Real ThingThe Test Of The Real Thing

‘ ‘It is often said that conduct is the It is often said that conduct is the supremely important thing and supremely important thing and worship helps it. That is wrong, worship helps it. That is wrong, worship is the most important thing worship is the most important thing and conduct tests it.’ Michael Ramsay and conduct tests it.’ Michael Ramsay

WORSHIP & CULTUREWORSHIP & CULTURE

Worship CentralWorship Central