Much to Ponder

The last 10 days have been pretty crazy as they have involved traveling to Charlottesville (where U2 and Muse rocked my face off), Pennsylvania (for a wedding) and Raleigh (for an Acts 29 luncheon). They were all great, but I'm glad to be standing still for a while.

The A29 luncheon was fantastic. Tim Smith, Worship Pastor at Mars Hill Seattle and author of the article we read entitled Missional Worship, led the first two sessions and unpacked in much greater detail the material he covered in his article. He also spoke on practical issues in a lecture entitled "Marks of Missional Worship". It was really encouraging and affirming to hear how God has been leading and guiding this ministry along much of the same paths that Tim spoke of.

I also had a great opportunity to grab breakfast with Tim the morning after the luncheon. During this time God really used his words to convict me of a burden that's been growing for the past few weeks. I've been focusing so much of my attention on our vision and mission (and necessarily so), but lately God has been burdening me for His gathered body at Crosscurrent, specifically in our response during worship. In the past I've been content to conclude that we just have a cerebral body of believers at Crosscurrent, that our response is simply more meditative and contemplative. However, the truth is that there are things in my life that move me to outward expressions of worship, or "worth-ship". Arena rock concerts like Springsteen and U2 move me; football moves me; the Yankees losing moves me (to great rejoicing). Should the knowledge of the truth of what Jesus Christ has done for me at least not do the same? Tim challenged us with this question: "How much of what we do (or don't do) is dictated by what we've seen abused or misused?" Am I uncomfortable raising my hands in corporate worship because I've seen outward response abused and contrived? Am I right to be immediately suspicious? Often I will say something along the lines of, "Know that you have the freedom to respond this morning...". But am I simply paying lip service?

I'm in a place of carefully and prayerfully revisiting this and asking first and foremost for Jesus to reveal Himself to me, to move me. Please don't misunderstand me, the last thing we want is contrived expressions or to make an idol of outward response! Rather, we want the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to engage our minds and therefore direct our hearts and emotions to rejoice and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit. I'm excited to see where and how God leads.