Before getting to his thoughts on church though, I'm curious about your unique take on the Rollins/Kierkegaard view of singer-songwriters. Is he on track? (After all, his view of where he would like to see the church hinges on this idea.)
I am in pain for the church of today. We are failing at every turn. Church, the body of believers are not the only ones in pain. Jesus Christ, having paid the price for our freedom must feel like we are crucifying Him over and over again and I believe He is in anguish for His church. I have asked the Lord for a word to bring to His people. He gave me three - Heal My Church. We have to bring the message to the church that pain and sickness is not just mental and physical - it is also relational. Heal My Church.
Hello again, Mike, always good to hear from you now you're such a globetrotter!
I do think PR/Kd have an amazing view of singer-songwriters... maybe not all of them ;-) This could even propose a new view of 'priesthood' where the musician intercedes for grieving folk? Very thought provoking and, as a close friend said, this 3 minute video is going to take very much longer to unpack!
Greetings Gwen and welcome here. Very many thanks for your candid and prophetic words, I feel touched that you felt you could share them on here. It is inspiring to read of your concern for the church as a whole, even the good guys, the hard working, sacrificial ones need healing along with the folk that seek to block everything Godly. Amen to your words.
Hmmm.It's not something I can watch and just say "Yes, he's right" I have a few thoughts to throw in: Firstly, I wonder what his own experience of "church" is - both denomination and the actual in house experience. God's church is so broad that the extremes probably meet again... but I feel he has not known the experience of church as an ongoing fellowship of believers - and non believers, that is more than the Sunday service.
Yet,if God's Spirit is present, surely the church can potentially offer healing, whatever the style, or experience, and wherever it lies on the spectrum ?
If going to church is truly like a short-term drug trip in it's effectiveness, where does the responsibility lie? With the church, or the individual?
I'm not convinced about Kierkegaard's view of the poet, although it is undoubtably true in some cases, and maybe powerfully so. The word "catharsis" came to mind . But that is only one aspect of the singer-songwriter's craft. There is also celebration and affirmation of life's positive aspects, and not all analysis of personal experience needs to be gut-wrenching. After all what'll singer song writers do in heaven...? (BTW, what does he say at 45 seconds? I just don't accoustically understand.)
However, I think his parallel to the drug trip may be a valid one. I'm thinking of the hyped-up modern brands of pop-concert style worship I've glimpsed on Youtube, that our young people seem to love. But it could also apply to the high ceremony of a traditional church?
His comment that we could give up church, as a positive step is an interesting one - many of us have probably been there, but ultimately, in the context of the body of Christ (not on a universal level, but "locally") it is not very progressive. But he does have a vision for something better... and I'll not take that away from him.
4 comments:
So good Peter, thanks for posting.
Before getting to his thoughts on church though, I'm curious about your unique take on the Rollins/Kierkegaard view of singer-songwriters. Is he on track? (After all, his view of where he would like to see the church hinges on this idea.)
I am in pain for the church of today. We are failing at every turn. Church, the body of believers are not the only ones in pain. Jesus Christ, having paid the price for our freedom must feel like we are crucifying Him over and over again and I believe He is in anguish for His church. I have asked the Lord for a word to bring to His people. He gave me three - Heal My Church. We have to bring the message to the church that pain and sickness is not just mental and physical - it is also relational. Heal My Church.
Hello again, Mike, always good to hear from you now you're such a globetrotter!
I do think PR/Kd have an amazing view of singer-songwriters... maybe not all of them ;-) This could even propose a new view of 'priesthood' where the musician intercedes for grieving folk? Very thought provoking and, as a close friend said, this 3 minute video is going to take very much longer to unpack!
Greetings Gwen and welcome here. Very many thanks for your candid and prophetic words, I feel touched that you felt you could share them on here. It is inspiring to read of your concern for the church as a whole, even the good guys, the hard working, sacrificial ones need healing along with the folk that seek to block everything Godly. Amen to your words.
Hmmm.It's not something I can watch and just say "Yes, he's right" I have a few thoughts to throw in:
Firstly, I wonder what his own experience of "church" is - both denomination and the actual in house experience. God's church is so broad that the extremes probably meet again... but I feel he has not known the experience of church as an ongoing fellowship of believers - and non believers, that is more than the Sunday service.
Yet,if God's Spirit is present, surely the church can potentially offer healing, whatever the style, or experience, and wherever it lies on the spectrum ?
If going to church is truly like a short-term drug trip in it's effectiveness, where does the responsibility lie? With the church, or the individual?
I'm not convinced about Kierkegaard's view of the poet, although it is undoubtably true in some cases, and maybe powerfully so. The word "catharsis" came to mind . But that is only one aspect of the singer-songwriter's craft. There is also celebration and affirmation of life's positive aspects, and not all analysis of personal experience needs to be gut-wrenching. After all what'll singer song writers do in heaven...?
(BTW, what does he say at 45 seconds? I just don't accoustically understand.)
However, I think his parallel to the drug trip may be a valid one. I'm thinking of the hyped-up modern brands of pop-concert style worship I've glimpsed on Youtube, that our young people seem to love. But it could also apply to the high ceremony of a traditional church?
His comment that we could give up church, as a positive step is an interesting one - many of us have probably been there, but ultimately, in the context of the body of Christ (not on a universal level, but "locally") it is not very progressive. But he does have a vision for something better... and I'll not take that away from him.
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