Devotional Books...and Static Spirituality

I was recently invited a Men's Devotional, but I didn't know it was a devotional.  I thought I was going to hang out with a bunch of guys and do a particular activity.  But, after everyone arrived, and before anything began, the leader of the group called out for the reading of a devotional.  Immediately, several in the group started shouting, "Our Daily Bread," "My Utmost for His Highest," and several other well known daily devotionals, and then they began loading the day's content on their phones. A minute later, one guy just started reading off his phone...and then the next guy...and then the next guy.  Big huge words and ideas were thrown around and the Apostle Paul was reference more than any other biblical character.  No matter what the starting/prompting text was in any of these devotionals, the concluding idea was the same: awe of the Cross.  When the readings finally concluded, the leader of the group said a prayer and we went about with the scheduled and expected activity.  I was left confused and wondering, "What the heck was that?"

I have a really hard time watching well meaning people, with a great deal of awe, respect and love for the Christian faith and Scriptures, settle for such rote practices and worship.  It was literally as if they were all about checking the proverbial box.  Again, I am not supposing that each person there did not consider the words and message being conveyed to them, but where was the engagement?  Where was the tie in to daily details of these men's lives?  Did anyone have a question?  Did anyone feel challenged, or want to challenge the ideas being presented?  I know I did.  And what about "the Cross (a word that appears only 13 times in the Epistles)?"  How are we understanding the salvation of God, today?

Here is what I don't understand: Reverence without Engagement.  How is this even possible; and, why is it so widely practiced...particularly among the Evangelicals who so often accuse all other expressions of being 'empty?'

I think that there are a lot of reasons for this, and for why the "cross" has turned into what it is today, but for now, I just want to focus on Static Spirituality.  Why have we become so 1-dimensional?  And, again, I'm not just talking about the 'religious' crowd.  You know, the ones who have a 'traditional' faith and do not use electric guitars and light shows for worship.  Sadly, the light show crowd may be the most 1-dimensional of us all.

Here is the deal: no matter how hard we try, we really are lazy creatures.  We do just enough to plateau, "arrive," whatever, and then we rest on our laurels.  We see people do it in sports, in their careers, and even in their spirituality.  They are so passionate, dedicated, sacrificing, etc. when they first begin, but then they arrive at a place where they 'know' they are secure and it's cruise-control from here on out.  Knowing these men that I was with on this most recent occasion, and from what I have observed in my own life and pastorate, I know this all to be true.  Well intentioned and sincere, but the 'engagement' (again, not the passion) has receded, because it is no longer necessary. They know they are 'saved,' they know the Bible narrative, and they know their faith's baseline.  Ugh!

This is why communal engagement is so vitally important!  Community challenges us because it forces interaction with others: their behaviors, thoughts, opinions, and experiences.  Community not only provides us an opportunity to be affirmed, but to simultaneously have our forms and beliefs considered against another's.  But you say, "Aren't these men engaging in community? Are not the Sunday worship services 'communal?'"  They are, but only in the sense that their is a community present.  There is no ENGAGEMENT.  Come in, sit down, show up, listen and leave.  The only interaction I ever see is personal worship and listening without questioning or response.  That is NOT community, that's a 'drive thru.'

One of the best parts of being a pastor is having people talk to you after the service.  Sure, it sucks when a person only wants to tell you that all your points were crap or that they didn't like the songs, but in almost every occasion there was an opportunity for me to learn, grow and affirm my faith and duties as a Christian.  (Let's not forget that to be a Christian means to be a contributing member of the Church.)  I love engaging with others, especially when the subject is my faith and relationship with the "Lover of my soul."  And, man, if you can't handle that...then how 'saved' are you?

Again, I am quite sure there are many reasons for a static (1-dimensional) spirituality, but from my vantage point, the #1 reason is certainly individualism.  Do not hide your life, beliefs and practices under a bushel.  Do not hide them under the guise of church, small groups, or 'dynamic' worship.  If you are not engaging with others, and if your faith is not permeating every aspect of your being then you are truly 1-dimensional, and at odds with the very Text you claim to adore:

Hebrews 10:23-25..

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Spirit Matters: Worship and The Other(s)

Our spirit needs to engage with His Spirit.  He needs to break through our theology, our limitations and emotions, and permeate the deepness of our being.  If He doesn't, then do we really belong to Him?  Is He really our Lord and Savior?  If He hasn't saved all of us, have we experienced His presence in any of us?  Deep, but true.

I love being a part of the Evangelical church, and, specifically, the Pentecostal community.  As I have already stated in a previous post, there is something about this particular expression of Christianity that innately understands and attempts to encourage spirit-worship.  We intentionally create atmospheres of intimacy with God, speak of God in very personal and individual analogies and teachings, and we praise and highlight 'heroes of the faith' who have notably connected with the Spirit in a very deep and existential way. (Just go to your local Christian bookstore and note all the Christian books.  They are about individuals with passionate, all encompassing engagements with God.)  It's all good, but only to a point....

I can't seem to worship at my local church.  The worship team is great.  The atmosphere is relevant and engaging.  The song selections are good, and where I find it lacking they always make up for it in their creative use of 'space.'  But, ultimately, I'm just stuck standing there and maybe singing to myself.  Why is this?  Is it because I have a bad attitude?  Perhaps (and this is what my wife thinks).  Is it because no matter how hard I try, I still find myself in every church service thinking..."this is what I would do..."  Again, perhaps.  But, even when I eventually get over myself and look to engage, I find myself with no one to engage with.

"Engage with God" you might say. But is that really the only point?  A vertical relationship between He and I.  If that's the case, then why even go to church?  I can just slam on a Praise and Worship CD and do that in my own time...which I already do.  But "nothing beats live worship."  Really.  Again, that's what really saying/expressing? Why do we go to church and sing in corporate worship?

The answer should be (I believe) because we are One, and we affirm our faith and experience as One.  And this is why I struggle in my local church, because I don't feel at one with the congregation. The church is a great church, but it's just like every other church in the USA.  It's a group of individuals getting together for an hour a week to listen to someone preach to them and affirm their presuppositions. It is almost entirely vertically arranged: music - He and I, sermon - He and I, church - He and I.  I get it, because this is how the church has been doing church since the Enlightenment, but that doesn't make it right or adequate...especially since most of the other elements of Christianity that existed in the past are no longer present today.

Today, we are a more individualistic and 'cut off' from community than at any other point in history.  Few families eat a meal together, and the ones that do are joined with TVs and iPhones. Schools are babysitters, not places where local families gather for the education of their children.  Kids are dropped off and that's that.  America's favorite pastime currently is Facebook and YouTube...individual efforts in a psuedo-community.  I could go on, but I bet you get my point. The present church is an individual experience, and so is its worship, which isn't good enough no matter how good our theology.

I long to worship God in both the vertical and the horizontal...during the sermon, after the weekly meeting, and, especially, in corporate worship.  I want to affirm my faith and understanding with those who are physically able, and present, to accommodate, aid, correct and enhance my understanding and experience with God. Does this mean that I want to go 'old school' and do away with choruses, intimate lighting, and 'free expression.' Not at all. I don't think that ANYTHING needs to GO AWAY from what is currently being offered.  Instead, I am merely suggesting that we ADD to our worship a horizontal dimension.  We need to engage with the Christ and Spirit who is in US (plural, collective).  And this requires a complete rewrite of how we understand and do church in America.

If we really want a living Christian church that is more than a building or social construct, then we need to embrace the presence and ministry of God in both the vertical and horizontal relationships.  Yes, the church will be more social, but not socialist.  Yes, the church will experience more of the miraculous, but more will come through the tangible. Yes, church services may become more frequent, but they will also become more meaningful and essential.  And Yes, worship will become more dynamic and Spirit-ual, as both the fullness of the person's being and community are engaged in the influence of the Spirit.