Consuming Worship
Let us worship with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire.
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Symbolic Worship
19 Nov2008
I might step on some toes here. Thankfully, this is a problem I seem to hear less about as the big "C" Church moves away from American traditionalism and focuses more on relationship with God and others.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard, heard about, or been a part of a conversation where someone is griping about the "lack of respect" given for some object or another.
Take the pulpit for example. Many churches are moving away from these giant, wooden monstrosities of the past and using simple stands or tables to hold the pastor's notes and Bible. Some churches, GASP, don't even have that much.
I remember one instance of hearing about a church who moved their Lord's Supper table out of their auditorium entirely unless they were actively using it for Communion that day. There were arguments and hurt feelings over moving such a "holy symbol" out of sight and neglecting it in some dark closet.
You've got to be kidding me.
Let me ask a few questions to those who might be struggling with this kind of idolatry. Yes, I said it, idolatry.
You see, these icons, symbols, and pieces of furniture are tools to remind us about Who God is and what He has done for us. They are mental devices to draw us towards holy living, but do not themselves produce nor possess holiness.
- The Pulpit: Rather than griping about the removal of the venerable old pulpit, and complaining that your church has "lost its way" by setting it aside, ask yourself if you have as much respect for the pastor/teacher who stands behind it. Do you listen to the teaching of God's Word and submit yourself to the leading of your church's shepherd?
- The Communion Table: Instead of being upset at some perceived lack of respect for this piece of furniture, rather ask yourself if you have as much respect for the Ordinance for which it was designed to facilitate. Do you come to the Lord's Table in humility and awe, thankful and mindful of the sacrifice of the Lord Christ? Otherwise, it's just a holder for flowers and offering plates.
- The Altar: Some churches don't do the "altar call" anymore, and even more shocking is the fact that some don't even have an altar down front. Rather than getting upset about it, ask yourself whether or not you yourself have the attitude of confession and prayer that the altar traditionally calls us to.
- Steeples: I really don't understand, or like, steeples. Part of my distaste is about taste, and some of it comes from the fact that nearly every church I've ever been a part of with a steeple, the thing would leak during rain storms. I've heard people say that a church building without a steeple is not as effective at drawing people as is a building with one. What? How about the building itself become irrelevant in terms of reaching out to people because the members who associate themselves together in that building are busy being Jesus to their community?
- The Cross: The central symbol of our faith, and a symbol I love dearly but do not worship. I've heard the same argument as with the steeple, that church buildings should have crosses on the side, and the auditorium should have a cross in prominent display. That's all fine, but what about taking up our cross daily and following the One Who gave His life upon it? Seems to me that's way more important.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
Come on Church, let's stop worshiping our icons and focus more on being the living embodiments of the ideals behind those icons.
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14 Responses to Symbolic Worship
Derek
November 19th, 2008 at 10:13 am
The modern church has their new icons and idols, too. Few churches are really changing anything but what it looks (and sounds) like.
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joymark
November 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
@Derek: I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. It's real easy to sit and paint with a broad brush, too easy. If you go to the heart of my post, I think you'll agree that I'm talking more about putting the symbols before God (idolatry) rather than using the symbols wisely.
There is a kernel of truth in your statement, some churches are just changing the name and look of their idol, but I don't think you can be intellectually honest and say "few" are changing. Admittedly, I don't have cold, hard facts to counter the statement either, but I refuse to castigate all churches who claim Christ as their center. That's not my place.
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James Nahrgang
November 19th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Good post. I've been contemplating a similar post called "sacred cows." I think the root of the symbols have significant meaning, and those who instituted them had the best of intentions. But these symbols pose some serious problems with those who are honestly searching. The world love Jesus, but not the church. Think as if you never had been to church and you had no preconceived ideas as to what church was. The only reference you have is the Bible. Then, lets say you go to an American church. What would you think?
We're finding that people are searching, reading the Bible, honestly considering Christianity, but when they go to the average church, they actually hate it… this is even true in the cool, ultra produced & polished, rock churches. They see it as organized religion and something that Christians have corrupted. Perhaps, they're not too far from their judgment either.
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Kim
November 20th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Rockin'! I'm so putting this on my blog, hope you don't mind.
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Jeff M. Miller
November 20th, 2008 at 3:19 am
Go for it. That just means another link for me, and what blogger doesn't appreciate linkage?
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Mark Harpold
November 20th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Good post Jeff! Very insightful. We have transgressed in all of these areas! We have removed the pulpit and replaced it with (gasp) NOTHING. The communion table sits quietly in the foyer until we observe the Lord's supper. We do have a cross displayed in the worship center, and our steeple leaks like crazy!
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Jeff M. Miller
November 20th, 2008 at 4:04 am
@Mark: Hey, thanks for making it over to my blog, and thanks for setting up the Yahoo group for us. We'd both better keep quiet about how we've "drifted" so far away.
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Don
November 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Jeff; while I enjoy you taking a swipe at idolatry, I think there is a danger of gnosticism in your thoughts; that anything material has no spiritual value, that Jesus' words rank over Jesus' actions, that spirit is better than flesh. I would challenge you to take this same train of thinking to your parents'/in-laws' home at Thanksgiving and just rearrange the dining room and living room, eat on styrofoam with plastic forks and see how well that goes. Go to a guy's tool shop and rearrange tools or mess with team jerseys. Stuff caries stories that cannot be treated too flippantly.
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Jeff M. Miller
November 20th, 2008 at 9:02 am
@Don: Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the comments.
Gnosticism, I think that kind of stretching what I was talking about to the extreme. In no way am I preaching the idea that only what is spiritual (the unseen) as having value. What I AM getting at is the idea of placing eternal value onto temporal things; bestowing holiness on mundane tools of the trade.
This is also completely different than your statement alluding to Jesus' words vs. His actions. Actions, though temporal, are completely different than objects. Actions can be the hands and feet of Jesus, where an object—on its own–cannot. An object must be used in a manner befitting the cause of Christ to be a part of His work.
I submit that using the Communion table to serve meals to the poor would be a greater work than using it to hold flowers on Sunday morning.
As for your analogy, I easily answer that by postulating this. If the furniture needed to be rearranged to better suit a family fellowship, it should be done. Period. If the particular arrangement of furniture is more important to the family than the family itself, then there's a REAL problem.
That's really what I'm getting at in my post. When the object that represents truth becomes more important than recognizing and living out that truth, the object then has no real meaning and becomes, at the least a stumbling block, at worst an idol.
My goal was never to come across as treating these objects "flippantly." If a church fellowship uses them in a healthy manner, then I have no problem with them being used. If the object itself gets in the way of truth rather than pointing toward it, it needs to be done away with. If the object is no longer a tool being used by the people, but the people are rather being used by it, it's time to discard the object.
Sometimes you need to move from fine china and silver spoons to styrofoam and plastic. Become less to know Him more.
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Ben
November 20th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I don't have much to say that already hasn't on this topic. But what I simply find in this issue is an observation I've had over the past couple of years.
I've noticed in American culture in particular that we've been interested more in the "how" rather than the "who" of what we worship. There's been a lot of focus put on the "tradition" or "symbolism" which in and of itself isn't necessarily wrong…but to raise the symbol above the substance is where idolatry takes hold. When you find yourself criticizing others for the use or non-use of certain symbols or physical elements of worship, you might be getting close to crossing that line.
This desire within our American culture to identify with symbolism is steeped in our society lately. It's in our elections, it's in our decision making, and it's in our churches. Just something I've noticed a lot…and within the church it's gotten progressively larger.
Physical expressions of worship are simply that…physical expressions. Culture changes and with it…so too should the way the church expresses it's worship to God.
Great post Jeff!
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Jeff M. Miller
November 20th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
@James: I agree with you on what you say to a degree. I don't want to come across as saying these objects and symbols should be done away with entirely. I think there is value in symbolism as long as the symbol becomes a reminder and not bestower of piety; an aide to and not the object of worship.
Those symbols do exists for a reason, and many times for great reasons. The problem for long-time church goers is when they focus on the object rather than the meaning behind it. If they focus on the object it has lost its very meaning.
When it come to unchurched people coming through our doors, there is going to be symbolism left and right no matter what type of church they attend. Our goal as Christ-followers should be to love them as Christ does first, and be living symbols of His grace. If and when they move into a personal relationship stage, it would be smart of us to explain what our symbols mean, and lead them towards a healthy assimilation of those symbols that best lead them toward truth.
Like my comment to Derek, lets make sure we're not throwing the whole organization away because of some things we identify as wrong. Lets also focus on what is right with the church, and use those as the vehicle to steer Church culture into all truth.
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James Nahrgang
November 21st, 2008 at 3:04 am
@Jeff I agree with you. Don't get what I'm not saying… I'm not going for a complete abolition of symbols, but there need to be much thought behind why we continue to use old symbols or even why we create new symbols. There also needs to be the perspective of considering when unbelievers walk in. What kind of negative stereotypes are we going to reinforce?
Example. This was a cultural symbol because these Christians were in the reformation coming out of the Catholic church. At the time, the Catholic church had writings and mandates from other authorities (like the Pope) that were displayed as having the same weight as the Bible. Thus, these reformers created large pulpits to symbolically elevating Scripture and to show how much authority they thought the Scriptures had. Now days, churches add this symbol as just a natural setup of a church. It's become a "sacred cow" and in some churches, there would be a split if you tried to remove it…. and the majority of these Christians probably couldn't even tell you why it's important. Evaluating this Sacred Cow in light of today's culture, it's probably best to do without… that is if you're trying to reach the millennial generation. Their stereotype of the church is that it's an "organized religion" with it's CEO (the pastor), and other business positions, (like Associate Pastor, the Elder Board), and a hierarchy that trickles all the way down to the congregation. People (that are true seekers) have read the teachings of Jesus (and loved it), then reads about the early Christian Church (and it sounds great), then they go to a church and find the pastor seemingly talking above them (up on a stage) and down to them from their high pulpit that is staged like a judge in a court room.
What kind of message are we conveying with our symbols? Then the question must be asked as to how effective the symbol is in conveying the message we're trying to convey. If it doesn't convey that message, then it's obviously not a good symbol. If it conveys a message that is contrary to the message we wish to communicate, then it's a bad symbol.
Side note (and then I'm done). From what I gathered from what you said, we're on the same page with this one. It seemed like my comment needed further explaining.
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Jeff M. Miller
November 21st, 2008 at 3:35 am
"but to raise the symbol above the substance is where idolatry takes hold."
Those are words I wish I had written in my post. That's exactly what I'm trying to say.
I think what we can't negate, and therefore must embrace, is the power of symbolism. It's just that in our embracing, we must also be discerning of our use of the symbols.
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Jeff M. Miller
November 21st, 2008 at 3:38 am
@James: Thanks for the clarification. Indeed I think we are on the same page.
"I'm not going for a complete abolition of symbols, but there need to be much thought behind why we continue to use old symbols or even why we create new symbols."
Completely agree.
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