Many Christians attend Church (service) without giving much thought to the Church Service itself. In reality, very often Church services are carefully orchestrated. Preachers prepare the sermon, Musicians attend practices. And the Ushers, Greeters, Light and Sound crews faithfully serve week-in week-out.
It is easy to understand the need for preaching, worship, and even hospitality; But not all components receive equal attention. Some components receive less attention (and thought). This includes some very traditional aspects of doing Church. Such as....
Sacraments
What is a Sacrament? Seasoned Church-goers will probably identity the Sacraments as Holy Communion and Water Baptism. But what are the Sacraments about, and what makes them different from other Christian practices?
Doxology
What is the Doxology? Praise God from Whom all blessings flow? According to Wikipedia, the words 'doxology' comes from the Greek doxa, belief or opinion + logos, word or speaking. What does this reveal about the Doxology and how we should approach it?
Benediction
What is the Benediction? Is it just a closing prayer?
Your service might not have these three components. This is just an introduction to get you thinking. Your Church service might also include others (e.g. Invocation, Call to Worship, Tithes and Offering, Prophecy and Tongues, etc).
What do you do? Why do you do what you do? Are they really necessities? Does the order matter? These are all questions that can make a difference in how we commune with God as a Church body.
There are also historical Christian terms that we are unlikely to move away from. Here are three to get you started:
Hosanna... Hallelujah.... Amen!
What is the meaning of these words? Do we use them the same way the Bible does? And what do we understand when we use them in song?
Just for fun, here's how the Compact OED describes them,
Hosanna: exclamation, a biblical cry of praise or joy.
Hallelujah: exclamation, God be praised.
Amen: exclamation, said at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it’.
Cheers & Happy thinking.
*Helpful addendum* Hosanna is often interpreted as a cry for salvation, "God save me" or "Save, now!"
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2 comments:
I think a big difference in what you mention here is who we do these things for.
Musicians attend practices. And the Ushers, Greeters, Light and Sound crews faithfully serve week-in week-out.What do we gain from this? Self respect? The opportunity to serve? Use of our talents? ....Power? Then you mention the sacraments. I did not get baptized because of anything I was going to get from it. I do not take communion because it benefits me temporally. I partake in these things out of reverence and obedience to God.
Do I tithe out of joyful obedience to God, or because Benny Hinn said I would get something amazing from God if I did?
Did I go to church out of obedience to God, because it is what we are supposed to do, or because Todd Bentley said I would get healed if I did?
In all these things I think it is good to search out our motivations to see again, who we are really worshipping. After all, Baptism and Communion are so 'old-school'. I want a church that is 'hip' and doesn't throw that stuff in my face all the time.
Of course that last part was a joke.
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