I’ve been enjoying reading “ReJesus” by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. It’s helping me take a fresh look at Jesus and the need to center our faith completely upon his person, work, and message in our Christian lives. One paragraph I read recently really spoke to me, and I think it’s something all believers need to be aware of:
“And herein lies an irresolvable dilemma for all people of faith. Although genuine faith is born out of direct encounters with God, it cannot survive and prosper without some form of stability and order. Viewed positively, rituals, creeds, and organizations can help people structure their relationship with God. In fact, we believe this is what they were initially designed for. But unless the worshipper is very wary, the glory of the God encounter will slowly fade and the ritual, creeds, and rules intended to preserve the encounter will take its place. The crisis dawns when the outward forms of worship no longer match the inward experience and spiritual condition of the participants. At that point, decline becomes inevitable, authentic Christianity is subverted, and constant renewals become necessary . . . hence the need to reJesus.” (Frost & Hirsch, 69)
Over the years, I’ve noticed that most people will tend toward two extremes on this spectrum. Either we will 1) rebel against any structure, tradition, or organization, claiming that they constrain our relationship with God, or 2) seek and conform to structure, tradition, and organization, replacing true relationship with the forms of worship. Both of these extremes are faulty and lead to either a self-centered, erratic relationship with God, or empty religious exercise without true intimacy. We need to be aware of our own tendencies in order to fight with ourselves for a loving relationship with Jesus.
And I’m realizing that this can only happen not through balance, but through tension. Yes, I believe we need tension in our relationship with God, tension between the desire for free, unhindered worship experiences and disciplined, structured devotion. Our passion for God can only be maintained and grown with both, and that is the irresolvable dilemma that Frost and Hirsch are referring to. We seek balance because we want something that feels normal, predictable, and controllable, but the tension we need produces excitement, continual testing of convictions, reflection, and vibrant intimacy.
I see this struggle so often in the church today. People stumble toward one extreme or the other, not enjoying and thriving in the tension that will produce a healthy relationship. For myself, I tend to rebel against structure and organization, but I’m continually learning to appreciate them as a necessary component of healthy faith. I pray that the Church in our time will be able to follow Jesus with a tensioned passion and discipline, and that this living faith will reach the ends of the earth.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Good angel to approach the point, and don’t know why but you reminded me of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. ☺
Structures could be a helpful tool from outside for people to be better prepared to encounter God, but will not be effectual unless vitalized by the Spirit of God from inside. And they are by no means to be used to move the Spirit to work.
As for ‘the desire for free, unhindered worship experiences’ you mentioned, I know it is a popular saying, but would you pls help me find some Biblical ground?
February 13th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Thanks for the comments. To respond to your question, I think the best Biblical example of “free, unhindered worship” would be David in 2 Samuel 6. His celebration of the ark being returned to Jerusalem was certainly strange and unseemly to the people around him (even his wife!), but he was so overjoyed that he could not help but worship this way. I think we need the same tension in worship – both orderly, disciplined worship and “undignified” celebration are valuable to our relationship with God.