Thanks to my online friend John over at microclesia for recommending this video to me as an insightful model for ministry and church community. John writes:
Creatives are wired to contribute. Creatives aspire to have their voices play a constructive role in community formation and direction, including (especially) religious community. Great orchestra conductors become conduits for this individual creativity to flourish. An intentional virtual network is like a well-led orchestra with every player listening carefully to the ensemble while masterfully contributing their individual part.
This gets close to what I am trying to say. Enjoy Israeli orchestral conductor Itay Talgam share his perspective on conductors.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9g3Q-qvtss]
Once in a while someone will send me a link to a YouTube video of some church service where people are worshiping in a crazy fashion. I never find them funny or even true. I mean, sure… we’re looking at people spinning and falling and raising their hands and dancing and singing. But it’s not true! The point of the videos is usually to mock these people, to expose them and their foolishness, and to embarrass them. My first impression is always embarrassment. Not for them. Me.
I love charismatic worship. I do it. And I wouldn’t want it taped. It would be embarrassing. All it would do is give people a snap-shot of my life that to most would look really silly, superficial and sentimental. I think of David who danced naked before the Lord. I haven’t danced naked… well, not in public anyway… but I have danced. And like David, it is usually undignified, and would look even more undignified on video.
I believe in freedom of expression when it comes to worship. I don’t think it can or should be legislated. People must be free to express their joy or sorrow or respect or whatever in whatever fashion they choose. Of course, the community helps us understand what is appropriate and what isn’t, what offends and what doesn’t. I remember years ago there was a woman worshiping who looked like she was having sex with the floor. We gently helped her stop that. Children were watching.
When we are worshiping with all of our being, including our emotions and bodies, it may very well look undignified. It’s deeply intimate. So, I think it’s immature to record and distribute this stuff in order to denigrate someone. It would be like watching real people (not movie or porn stars) having sex. There’s something voyeuristic and even unsightly about it. I think it’s totally legitimate and necessary to critique ideas and the things we do. But when it comes to critiquing worship, that’s ground that I dare not tread upon. It’s too personal. It’s too sacred.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Howard Nowlan.
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I came across this video of Ken Robinson giving a short presentation at the TEDTalks. It is not only very informative, but very entertaining. His basic thesis is that our education is killing creativity, one of the most important things needed to face our uncertain future. At one point he says,
Unless you are prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.
He feels we are educating people out of creativity because mistakes are stigmatized. You can’t be wrong. Therefore there is nothing original encouraged. Picasso said that every child is an artist… the trick is staying an artist as you grow up.
I believe this to be true in religion as well. Creativity is not allowed because mistakes are not allowed. We are urged to become new creations, while the religious cultures we are a part of add on: “As long as you look like something we’ve seen before!” As one of my favorite artists, David Bazan, sings in “Selling Advertising“:
I know it’s hard to be original.
In fact, nothing scares me more.
Because Jesus only lets me do
what has been done before!
Man those lyrics get me because I’ve heard this used on people, including myself. It is true that as soon as you become unrecognizable, you are stigmatized. When you attempt to chart new territory, you are in for loneliness, alienation and rejection. History says so! Anyway, take a more light-hearted look and listen:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY]
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Thanks to Matt over at his blog for the heads up on this YouTube video. I love some of Hillsong worship and we actually do some of it here, but we must hear the indictments this satire presents:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAWPcbTw8k]
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I must thank the people over at Russell’s Teapot for the heads up on this YouTube video. Frankly, I’m astounded at O’Reilly’s strategy. This is, in my opinion, is how NOT to debate this whole atheist/theist issue. O’Reilly fails miserably I think. Why? For these reasons:
Personal testimony proves nothing;
- The argument that Christianity is a moral fiber doesn’t prove it is true. Military rule can provide law and order too;
- Deflecting the argument with silly humor helps nothing;
- Poking fun at other gods or religions doesn’t prove they don’t exist or are wrong;
- To assert that atheists have committed atrocities too is only an attempt to share blame. It proves nothing except that all humanity is susceptible to evil practices;
- Opting for Christianity just in case it is the right religion is simply spiritual gambling;
I could go on, but why don’t you just watch the video. I might add that I was impressed with Dawkins’ demeanor. Take a look:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w8OhiLU7cU]
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Thanks to Bob Carlton of The Corner for creating this video using my “Prayers from the Cell” series. Honored![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xVq8_UVGEo]
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My personal thanks go out to John over at macstansbury for leading me to a very cheesy YouTube video of a young lady singing James Blunt’s “Your Beautiful” to her mac. Only mac-users can understand her pain.
another commercial that says it in a powerfully in a vividly memorable way. thanks jeff for the heads up on it. check it out here.
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David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
