“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt”
The Institute
SSU - http://www.ssu.ca
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue
Over the last week of the essentials course, I have been thinking about the role of creativity in human beings - what it means, what it reveals, and how good it is.
For the last few years of my life, I have been very involved in various, more "direct" forms of ministry. I have led worship, I have prayed for people, I have gone on outreach et al. These things have overshadowed my more recreational involvement in music and the arts, specifically in terms of importance. When I have considered whether it was more valuable or meaningful to preach the gospel to a street person, or to play my guitar at home, the latter always felt like an embarrassing shortcoming.
This kind of thinking did a great deal of harm to my own personality as well as to some very dear friendships. I suppose I couldn't find a place where creativity was as celebrated, as important even, as doing the more deliberate of spiritual activities. I didn't see creativity as a spiritual activity per se.
In the last week, I have realized (once again) that creativity is a deep, profound part of who God is. As an individual in His image, creativity is a deep, profound part of who I am as well. And when I have stifled or belittled creativity in myself (in whatever form it emerges) or in others, I am actually stepping away from who God has made us to be.
I would also like to add (since this is my blog after all!) that I think modern Christianity has often done a dis-service to creativity in individuals. We often don't have room for creativity qua creativity. Creativity is celebrated when it has an explicit, direct "spiritual" purpose - if someone writes a passion play or if someone paints a picture of Jesus on the cross. What we have failed to recognize is that the very enterprise of creativity is itself something to be celebrated, something important, something godly. In creating, we reflect something of the nature (and perhaps even vocation) of God. We can also reflect creation back to God.
Now, I believe that creativity is not meant to be in opposition to more "direct" ministry. These two things are two pillars of the same temple, so to speak. God would not, for example, rather have me preach the gospel than create. He would probably rather have me to do both.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Who is God? (Essentials Blue)
"For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt"
The Institute
SSU
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue
The question of "Who is God?" is extremely relevant to my thinking about worship and worship leading, since without having an accurate knowledge of the former, an appropriate response through the latter becomes rather difficult. I liked Dan Wilt's video lecture, highlighting God as Creator, King, Savior, and Trinity. I also liked the conception that when God reveals himself to Moses, he reveals himself in way that negates comparison in saying "I Am Who I Am." He is distinct, unique, incomparable.
Lately, I have been thinking about the trinity in particular, as one particular aspect of the nature of God that is indispensable to our understanding of Him. Specifically, I am fascinated by the oneness of God (as is expressed in the famous "Shma Israel"), coupled with his trinitarian nature. And I love the idea that such a doctrine seems to be an intentional affront to our thinking - in other words, that it can't be grasped intellectually. In my thinking, the idea of God being an "I" and a "We" seems completely ridiculous. It seems illogical in the same sense that the Incarnation and the Resurrection do. And although I can't recall exactly who mentioned the following idea last week, I greatly appreciate the idea that in Eastern Orthodoxy, the trinity is an invitation to mystery, not to quantitative description. And in this wonderful doctrine, I see something of the community of God, as well as the mystery of it all.
First, if God Himself exists in community, then that must have bearing on our own living. Some part of me feels that if God Himself exists in a "perichoresis," that there is a dance of communal relationship that we may also partake in - with one another and with God himself. Over the last two months, I have been living in a community in Winnipeg, and I feel that it has helped me understand something of the nature of God. Community (not individuality) is the closest resemblance of God, as is expressed in his trinitarian nature. Of course our earthly communities are but a shadow in comparison to the trinity.
Second, the idea of mystery has grown increasingly important to me over the last years in my faith. It all began with communion - when I realized that communion had to be something more than just a mental assertion. Something more than just a memorial. The trinity is a mystery of perhaps an even greater scope. It's something so profoundly "foreign" to me. I feel that I have had experiences with the distinct persons in the Trinity, but I am not sure what it means to worship God as trinity, to experience him as trinity.
Finally, I wonder how the trinity has direct, personal bearing on my interactions in worship. One song in particular that I have loved - both in helping me think about the trinity and in my worship in this regard - is Brian Doerksen's song "Triune God." I think we need more songs that emphasize this aspect of God and to deepen our appreciation of mystery.
The Institute
SSU
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue
The question of "Who is God?" is extremely relevant to my thinking about worship and worship leading, since without having an accurate knowledge of the former, an appropriate response through the latter becomes rather difficult. I liked Dan Wilt's video lecture, highlighting God as Creator, King, Savior, and Trinity. I also liked the conception that when God reveals himself to Moses, he reveals himself in way that negates comparison in saying "I Am Who I Am." He is distinct, unique, incomparable.
Lately, I have been thinking about the trinity in particular, as one particular aspect of the nature of God that is indispensable to our understanding of Him. Specifically, I am fascinated by the oneness of God (as is expressed in the famous "Shma Israel"), coupled with his trinitarian nature. And I love the idea that such a doctrine seems to be an intentional affront to our thinking - in other words, that it can't be grasped intellectually. In my thinking, the idea of God being an "I" and a "We" seems completely ridiculous. It seems illogical in the same sense that the Incarnation and the Resurrection do. And although I can't recall exactly who mentioned the following idea last week, I greatly appreciate the idea that in Eastern Orthodoxy, the trinity is an invitation to mystery, not to quantitative description. And in this wonderful doctrine, I see something of the community of God, as well as the mystery of it all.
First, if God Himself exists in community, then that must have bearing on our own living. Some part of me feels that if God Himself exists in a "perichoresis," that there is a dance of communal relationship that we may also partake in - with one another and with God himself. Over the last two months, I have been living in a community in Winnipeg, and I feel that it has helped me understand something of the nature of God. Community (not individuality) is the closest resemblance of God, as is expressed in his trinitarian nature. Of course our earthly communities are but a shadow in comparison to the trinity.
Second, the idea of mystery has grown increasingly important to me over the last years in my faith. It all began with communion - when I realized that communion had to be something more than just a mental assertion. Something more than just a memorial. The trinity is a mystery of perhaps an even greater scope. It's something so profoundly "foreign" to me. I feel that I have had experiences with the distinct persons in the Trinity, but I am not sure what it means to worship God as trinity, to experience him as trinity.
Finally, I wonder how the trinity has direct, personal bearing on my interactions in worship. One song in particular that I have loved - both in helping me think about the trinity and in my worship in this regard - is Brian Doerksen's song "Triune God." I think we need more songs that emphasize this aspect of God and to deepen our appreciation of mystery.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Worship with Raymond (Essentials Blue)
"For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt"
The Institute
SSU
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue
About a week ago, I had a very memorable experience with a man named Raymond. A few years ago, Raymond was walking in the North End of Winnipeg, when he was clubbed on the head by what I believe was similar to a lead pipe. Someone mistook him for someone else. Raymond was in a coma for several months. I only met him a few months ago when I moved to Winnipeg and in the first conversation I had with him, he got angry at me and started saying things in a very hurried and strange fashion (which has since become normal). At the time, I felt a bit afraid and didn't know how to respond.
Last week, I saw Raymond at our drop-in lunch and he seemed rather agitated and was beginning an excursion into his rants of anger. I have since been able to handle these things a bit better and so on this occasion, I asked him if I could pray for him. I laid hands on him and prayed that God's love would take away his fear. And a minute later, he told me that his "scaredness was completely gone, God took it away!" I was very excited and felt a great love for him in that moment. We went out to eat some lunch and then I got my guitar and went to his little apartment to sing for him.
Raymond loves worship and tells me how much God loves it when I sing. So I thought I would worship in his apartment and prayed that God would be present. I sang a few songs and then began to sing the chorus of Brenton Brown's song "All Who are Thirsty," repeating the line "Come Lord Jesus Come" over and over again. And in between this phrase, I started to sing things that I thought would bless Raymond. Things like "Jesus, I need you" or "I want you." Much to my surprise, Raymond began to sing along with me, repeating everything I was singing.
In that moment, I began to think about what I could initiate for Raymond to sing. What could I sing, that he would repeat, that would be meaningful for him? And as I have gone through this first week of essentials blue, I realized, in retrospect, that my moment of worship with Raymond was a very theological one. I had to think about what I was singing spontaneously, with the knowledge that Raymond was going to echo it. I had to decide what would be best for Raymond to sing to God. And that decision was an extremely theological one because it shaped his own view of God and perhaps even his expectations of what God would do.
We sang together for about ten to fifteen minutes, and God's presence was surely there. I very much liked what Brenton Brown had to say about people remembering the songs they sing in Church more than the sermons they hear. Not only do I believe this is true, I think he rightly points out what a sobering realization this is for anyone who wishes to be a "worship artisan." Having said that, I LOVED what Dan Wilt said in response to my question about whether deliberative theology is the product of intellectual and educational resources. He said that theology is expressed in ALL things - in the way we treat one another, in the things we create. It made me feel a little more important, to be honest! What I mean is that I realized that, in all things, I am communicating something about God, either for better or worse.
Although Raymond and I had a lovely time singing, I believe that my willingness to go to his apartment in the first place communicated something to him. Even something theological. I suppose one "struggle" that I have is often times it doesn't feel like I am doing something theological. If I write an instrumental song, for example, how does this communicate something about God, and how do people recognize this something?
I shall end this post by referencing Dan Wilt's excellent article on Sacred Creativity. As human beings created in the image of God, creativity in and of itself attests to the Creator. I have sometimes narrowed and limited the spirituality of my creativity to the small parameters of "worship songs," forgetting that creativity itself expresses something godly. In the beginning, God created. Week 1 has elevated my view of creativity, as well as how theology is expressed and communicated. And I hope that if I am to sing once again with Raymond, that we shall both leave having an even bigger and more accurate picture of the God to whom all praise is due.
The Institute
SSU
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue
About a week ago, I had a very memorable experience with a man named Raymond. A few years ago, Raymond was walking in the North End of Winnipeg, when he was clubbed on the head by what I believe was similar to a lead pipe. Someone mistook him for someone else. Raymond was in a coma for several months. I only met him a few months ago when I moved to Winnipeg and in the first conversation I had with him, he got angry at me and started saying things in a very hurried and strange fashion (which has since become normal). At the time, I felt a bit afraid and didn't know how to respond.
Last week, I saw Raymond at our drop-in lunch and he seemed rather agitated and was beginning an excursion into his rants of anger. I have since been able to handle these things a bit better and so on this occasion, I asked him if I could pray for him. I laid hands on him and prayed that God's love would take away his fear. And a minute later, he told me that his "scaredness was completely gone, God took it away!" I was very excited and felt a great love for him in that moment. We went out to eat some lunch and then I got my guitar and went to his little apartment to sing for him.
Raymond loves worship and tells me how much God loves it when I sing. So I thought I would worship in his apartment and prayed that God would be present. I sang a few songs and then began to sing the chorus of Brenton Brown's song "All Who are Thirsty," repeating the line "Come Lord Jesus Come" over and over again. And in between this phrase, I started to sing things that I thought would bless Raymond. Things like "Jesus, I need you" or "I want you." Much to my surprise, Raymond began to sing along with me, repeating everything I was singing.
In that moment, I began to think about what I could initiate for Raymond to sing. What could I sing, that he would repeat, that would be meaningful for him? And as I have gone through this first week of essentials blue, I realized, in retrospect, that my moment of worship with Raymond was a very theological one. I had to think about what I was singing spontaneously, with the knowledge that Raymond was going to echo it. I had to decide what would be best for Raymond to sing to God. And that decision was an extremely theological one because it shaped his own view of God and perhaps even his expectations of what God would do.
We sang together for about ten to fifteen minutes, and God's presence was surely there. I very much liked what Brenton Brown had to say about people remembering the songs they sing in Church more than the sermons they hear. Not only do I believe this is true, I think he rightly points out what a sobering realization this is for anyone who wishes to be a "worship artisan." Having said that, I LOVED what Dan Wilt said in response to my question about whether deliberative theology is the product of intellectual and educational resources. He said that theology is expressed in ALL things - in the way we treat one another, in the things we create. It made me feel a little more important, to be honest! What I mean is that I realized that, in all things, I am communicating something about God, either for better or worse.
Although Raymond and I had a lovely time singing, I believe that my willingness to go to his apartment in the first place communicated something to him. Even something theological. I suppose one "struggle" that I have is often times it doesn't feel like I am doing something theological. If I write an instrumental song, for example, how does this communicate something about God, and how do people recognize this something?
I shall end this post by referencing Dan Wilt's excellent article on Sacred Creativity. As human beings created in the image of God, creativity in and of itself attests to the Creator. I have sometimes narrowed and limited the spirituality of my creativity to the small parameters of "worship songs," forgetting that creativity itself expresses something godly. In the beginning, God created. Week 1 has elevated my view of creativity, as well as how theology is expressed and communicated. And I hope that if I am to sing once again with Raymond, that we shall both leave having an even bigger and more accurate picture of the God to whom all praise is due.
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