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Christianity Today, June (Web-only), 2007 |

SoulWork

Seeker Unfriendly

We need more than worship that makes sense.

Mark Galli | posted 6/14/2007 08:31AM

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That's as evasive an answer to a direct question as any politician could muster. The difference between the politician and God is this: The evasive politician is trying to skirt the truth; God is getting to the core of it.

For all the good that seeker-friendly services do, they will not make a lasting difference if they don't also traffic in the seeker-unfriendly, the incomprehensible.

Mark Galli is managing editor of Christianity Today and author of Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untameable God (Baker, 2006). Comment below, or on his blog.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous SoulWork columns include:

The Cost of Christian Education | Getting schooled in the faith is more unnerving than I care to admit. (May 31, 2007)

Surviving a Family-Wrecking Economy | What the church can do about working mothers. (May 17, 2007)

The Real Secret of the Universe | Why we disdain feel-good spirituality but shouldn't. (May 3, 2007)

Peace in a World of Massacre | What Jesus calls us to when we're most frightened. (April 17, 2007)

The Good Friday Life | We need something more than another moral imperative. (April 4, 2007)

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June (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51

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theologian777@xanga.com

Posted: June 14, 2007 12:02 PM

The tension between apophatic and kataphatic approaches to theology is an ancient one. Worship should evoke the mysterious and untameable God. Still, it should be inviting, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord....." I think the tension between compulsion and repulsion is a healthy and biblical tension--look at Isaiah 6; Luke 5 ("Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man" yet Peter followed Him.....), etc. See Charlie Starr's book _Honest to God_ for example after example of people wrestling with God--hardly a comfortable phenomenon. But to wrestle, you must approach, or be approached by, the living God. Theologian777

Eugene Maze

Posted: June 14, 2007 11:56 AM

I think the point will best be made by this: God. Whether it be in the building (structure), in the field (workplace), or in the building (the Body of Christ), worship can only be an expression of a present experience. That experience (if there is one) is prompted by nothing or no one else other than the Holy Spirit inhabiting our praise (lives). By the way, what a unimaginable analogy: politics and holiness! Sure was good reading, however. Thanks everyone.

Craig S. Prest

Posted: June 14, 2007 11:48 AM

Years ago as a worship leader in Northern california there were several years when explored the combonation of structured and spontaneous worship, guided, but not dominated by leadership. The result at that time (1977-1980) was an increddible engagement of an atmosphere where the majority of people believed they engaged the Living God in one way or another. Lawyers, Phd's, Doctors, several famous musicians and many others by their own words were deeply effected by the sometimes simplistic, non-professional yet very inspiring worship they encountered. it lasted for 1-2hrs usually. A few people complained for one reason or another, but over 90% sent in glowing reviews, notes or took the time to personally express positive sentiments to us. Now, my wife and I are apprehensive that this generation may never be blessed with such worship. We wonder if it was just for those years and now we must move on?

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