Honor Meaningful Traditions

I can still hear it ringing in my ears—the lyrics of a song from one of my favorite musicals, Fiddler on the Roof. Tradition, tradition! Tradition!, sung by (who else?) the Papa—Tevye. It was a comic and, at the same time, touching cry for keeping life the same, honoring the past and not messing with it, so to speak. What became plain from the song and served as the storyline’s principle conflict, was that what was meaningful to Tevye was not necessarily a universally held view.

For Papa, his role was clear: scramble for a living, say his daily prayers. And, as master of the house, his word was final. After all, it was tradition.

What about Mama? Her assignment? Know how to make a proper home (a quiet, kosher home), raise the family and run the home. Why? So Papa could be free to read the holy books. After all, it’s tradition.

As for the sons, pretty simple stuff: start school early, learn a trade, hope those who pick your bride for you find someone who is easy on the eyes. And for the daughters, the formula couldn’t be simpler: learn to mend and tend and fix while you wait for the bloke that Papa picks.

It all made for a humorous tug of war between two generations, but in the end the tension wasn’t so much about having traditions, but what makes them meaningful?

So it is with the family of faith when we seek to pass on what experiences should be universally treasured, as opposed to what is valued by certain individuals. In some churches, traditions are maintained that were, at one time, valued by the vast majority, but now are recycled simply because “we’ve always done it that way.” Contrast that with the fellowships which never do the same thing the same way twice, simply because of the fear that “if it’s not new, it’s irrelevant.”

Coming from a very traditional, ritualistic even, church background, I understand this concern. There is a commonly held axiom in communication that to the extent that something is familiar, it loses its impact. Said another way, the more we know what’s coming, the less intently or expectantly we receive or anticipate it. I still recall singing portions of the liturgy (the repetitious and routine parts of the worship service) as a child while, at the same time, looking around the room, waving to late-comers, or wondering why I had worn one brown shoe and one black. Imagine the impact of the words, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, on my heart, while I am simultaneously winking at the cute girl across the aisle. Talk about your multi-tasker!

But let’s not throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. While Jesus warns us against vain repetition (Matthew 6:7), he does not advocate never repeating anything. Indeed, that is what traditions are: determining those events, occurrences, and corporate experiences which are repeated, whether it is weekly, monthly, annually or otherwise. This is suggested in the Old Testament in the book of Numbers: “Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God.” Numbers 10:10 This wasn’t just a Hebrew thing, it was a people of God thing, suggesting that part of trusting God for our future was remembering our past. And part of retaining the identity as a unique work of God’s hand was to replay, occasionally, our unique story.

In watching other faith communities on TV (actually I t-vo them since I am usually indisposed on Sunday mornings), I notice various traditions, not all of which are meaningful to me personally, but which have found value in their local settings. One famous TV church encourages its members to turn and greet each other with the phrase “God loves you, and so do I.” The cynical side of me quickly goes to the bumper sticker I once saw that admitted, perhaps more honestly, “God loves you, and I’m trying.” Another televised megachurch begins its program with everyone holding up their bibles and making a pledge to its authority.

Some churches enshrine everything from passion plays, Christmas musicals, last supper reenactments, foot-washing ceremonies, July 4^th blow-outs, to Boar’s Head festivals (OK, you may have to google it), Easter vigils, or church picnics. Regardless, the point is that honoring meaningful traditions helps keep us, as the transforming people of God, anchored in our spiritual and cultural roots.

If we find, in this contemporary American culture which seems addicted to the new, that nothing we do seems worthy of repeating, then maybe it wasn’t worth doing in the first place. And the day we allow the priority of our fellowship to become the mere perpetuation of empty traditions, we may as well join the cast of Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye’s backup singers.

Dream a dream with me that, in Hope’s future, there will always be those times of the year and commemorations which are part of our DNA as a unique people of God. My question to you, especially those with some history with Hope: could you name a few? If not, let’s begin to create them…together.

-tad

Blend the Generations

True confessions? I’m a big believer in inter-generational

worship. But I’m also a big believer in intergenerational life. I am highly suspicious of the trend in American culture to isolate us into age-appropriate groupings, niches, interest groups and musical styles, and I fear this trait has strongly seeped its way into the church. Truth is, I have served in churches where the worship service was ADULTS ONLY while the kids and youth were farmed off to some other place on campus to experience age-appropriate worship.

My conclusion was that in such an approach, each generation was the loser. Gone was the creative energy and boundary-pushing excitement of the youth, as well as the simple, trusting, and sometimes noisier responses to God of little children. Oh, the services were more orderly, more predictable. z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z. You get the point. Worse, the kids and youth were off somewhere learning to have a fun time with God, but only if it was done in their style and their way. They rarely got to see Mom or Dad lost in the presence of God, with eyes closed or hands upraised. I wondered if Paul might not have been speaking to this kind of trend when he warned in Romans 12, "do not let the world squeeze you into its own mold."

If the value of bringing generations together is to be embraced not only as a nice option but also an actual mandate from God, we must first start with the Owner’s manual—the Word of God. Before it mentions a word about how to pass on the theology and practice of worship, it clearly speaks to

sharing life itself between generations. God, through the prophet Moses, commands His people to "fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 11:18, 19) To paraphrase James Dobson, our life values are more caught than taught, but, in fact, we need to do both. And, surprisingly, this process is not just the older to the younger. At times it works vice versa (are you listeing, parents and grandparents?).

The apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, "[Timothy,] command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1Timothy 4: 11, 12) In other words, Tim—let them, older and younger alike, catch what you have. And don’t stop teaching the truth simply because you lack life experience. What’s the point? We need each other!

When it comes to the specific area of worship and music ministry, again the scriptures give good examples of the heart of God. Let the generations learn along side each other. Consider the reference I used just a few weeks ago in regard to developing skills for leadership. 1 Chronicles 25:6 describes a musical family which was assigned responsibilities for worship leadership, with this interesting emphasis:

"They were all under the direction of their father in the

music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps,

and lyres for the service of the house of God.

The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all were skillful, was 288.

And they cast lots of their duties, small and great,

teacher and pupil alike."

I can think of many of you in our ministry who learned your craft or love of the arts from your parents, some of which still play or sing with you today. Similarly, some of you have had the rare pleasure of watching your own kids and grandkids grow to use their gifts in ministry, perhaps primarily as a result of your example, coaching, or encouragement.

On a personal note, it has not only been a joy for Debby and me to see all three of our children involved in worship ministry on some level, but as they grew in skill and creativity, we have also sought to learn from them. We have discovered what God’s word suggests.

Those with open hearts to God and transferable life experience have much to give to the younger generation. And we as an older generation must come to appreciate the energy, creativity (think about technology alone), and new thing that God is bringing to the church through the young.

Isaiah 42:10 reminds us to Sing unto the Lord a new song, and 43:18,19 says: "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" What is implicit in these verses is the need for discernment. Learn how to major in the majors. But know that God is both faithful, consistent and constant, and at the same time dynamic, creative, and even, sometimes, unpredictable.

The Word says that each of us—young and old alike—has been made in the image of God. It also says that all who have called upon the name of the Lord are, in fact, the light of the world. Want a big dream? Then imagine Hope church being known as a place where young and old alike worship together, demonstrate a growing love for each other and an increasing respect for one another’s life view. It definitely is not the way of the world. But it is, I truly believe, the way of the Word. -tad

*THE SNOWMAGEDDON EDITION*

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I figure if you live up north and have to endure the cold weather anyway, why not at least enjoy some of the thrill of a whitened landscape on occasion? Everything looks more beautiful by contrast- even the dead trees stretching toward the heavens. There are several references to snow in both the Old and New Testament, and most of them are used to describe purity, sinlessness, and brilliance. King David is confident in Psalm 51, that if God washes him through His mercy and forgiveness, he (David)

will be "white as snow." In Isaiah 1:18, God (speaking through the prophet) encourages us to reason with Him: "Though your sings be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." In Matthew 28:3, the garments of the resurrected Christ are described as "white as snow." True confessions? As one with a blackened heart and far too familiar with sin than I care to admit, a visual reminder of the transforming power of Christ to cleanse me is very encouraging indeed. Also, I am reminded that God’s destiny for me is not to remain so familiar with sin but to be made more like Him! Paul says it like this: "We, who…reflect the Lord’s glory, are being

transformed into this likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18) So I say, "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" -tad

Chasing the Elusive - 1.28.10

This week we look at our seventh core value—striving for excellence (not perfection). Webster defines excellence as “the quality or state of being outstanding or superior” whereas the term perfection implies “the quality or state of something that is as good or suitable as it can possibly be.” I have worked with many an artist whose primary
preoccupation was with “getting it right,” never making mistakes, chasing the elusive “flawless”performance. I can identify. As a young organist in my dad’s church growing up in Dallas, I was routinely evaluated by my mom at lunch each Sunday, which included her estimate of how many mistakes I had made that morning. (Bad Mommy--she had many other fine qualities!) Thank God for therapists!

But the pursuit of excellence in our ministry is not the same as seeking perfection. I remember years ago reading the motto of a music ministry at a very large, nationally known church in south Florida. It was simple but memorable: Excellence in all things and all things to God’s glory. Be excellent. Glorify God. On the surface, it seems fairly non-controversial. But in my experience with numerous worship ministries throughout the country, I believe that some “church musicians” seem to believe these two concepts are mutually exclusive.

Some would argue that the moment you begin to pursue excellence in your art, you quickly move to self-gratification or glorification. After all, the proponents of this viewpoint are quick to point out, the Bible says to make a joyful noise, doesn’t it, so all that matters to God is what is in our heart? The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 115 that at the core of our craft should be this attitude: “Not to us, O Lord; not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” And the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that the pursuit of glorifying God should touch every phase of our life: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

On the other side of the coin, it could be argued that we were made to exhibit excellence. After all, we were created in the image of God, the Original Artist, and that since He only created that which was good or very good, should not our creative pursuits be characterized by
excellence as well?

The scriptures are pretty clear that those who are chosen to use their art to lead God’s people in worship should do so with diligence and excellence, not just a pure heart. Psalm 33:3 reminds us to “sing to the Lord a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”

1 Chronicles 25:6 describes a musical family which was assigned responsibilities for worship leadership, with this interesting emphasis: “they were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all were skillful, was 288. And they cast lots of their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.”

Again, Paul in the New Testament reminds us that the focus of our lives should not be on the adequate or the ordinary but rather the highest and best, when he writes “whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about theses things. (Philippians 4:8)

A final rationale for Christian artists and worship leaders pursuing excellence is that we in America are trying to reach a fairly sophisticated listener when it comes to the music and art available to our members and guests every day of their lives. If the arts are considered a language through which we can communicate the gospel, that language must be clear, precise, and relevant to the culture around it.

So which way to we go? Do we “worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness”, as the Psalmist encourages, or do we reinterpret that verse to say “worship the Lord in the holiness of beauty?” Do we seek the beauty and glory of God through worship, or worship God through the achievement of creative and artistic beauty?

My question is, why must it be an either/or? In every area of this ministry, we can be moving toward higher ground. Spiritually, we must agree with Paul that we “have [not] already attained [spiritual] perfection, but I press on to make it my own because Christ has made me his own.” (Phil. 3:12) Artistically, we are entrusted with certain gifts which can always be improved upon, sharpened, and honed (Parable of the talents—Matthew 25:15ff).

When we view “excellence in all things and all things to God’s glory” as two sides to the same coin, we see ministry for what it is: a high calling which is at once a free gift and that which demands my life, my soul, my all. What about it, Hope Church worship team? Can we dare to become the church arts department that gets it…and gets it right?

-tad

Short Accounts - 1.21.10

A belated Happy New Year, everybody! We return to those thrilling days of yesteryear (you know, just before Christmas) when we began unpacking our choir’s core values, one week at a time. To review:

Hope Choir Core Values
1. Know the Word.
2. Stay intimate with God.
3. Build up the Body of Christ
4. Find common ground with the seeker
5. Stay healthy.
6. Keep short accounts.
7. Strive for excellence (not perfection).

This week we are reminded that in healthy organizations and communities, relationships depend on honesty, openness, and remaining current in expressing our feelings toward one another. The familiar passage in Matthew 18:15 reminds us what to do when things do break down and we begin feeling at odds with each other: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”

The issue is not getting even or even getting something off our chest—the goal is restoration of the relationship. And in cases of the heart, timing is everything. To delay the direct approach often leads to suppression of feelings which give way to anger and resentment. Worse, we begin to “triangle” the relationship by sharing with a third party how we are feeling about the second party. This is usually less threatening to us personally, but is also almost always more destructive.

(By the way, if you are ever tempted to enter into one of those tri-angled conversations, remember a good question to ask is, “It what you are about to share with me about “so-and-so”
going to make me think less or more of that person? In other words, praise anyone to the hilt with others, but if you have a beef with someone, start with them!)

This concept particularly rings true for those involved in upfront leadership. Many passages remind us that we can’t love both God and hate our brother. What we do to the least of our brothers, we do to HIM, and (my favorite) “if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar (public worship)…and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and [worship] God.” (Matt. 5:23) If we are to have credibility as lovers of God, we must also do everything in our power to remain connected and “clean” with each other.

One final note: keeping short accounts means no sandbagging. What does that mean? Simply this—rather than collecting dirt (or hurt) on someone over a long period of time, only to erupt when the bag bursts with a laundry list of wounds and offenses, try staying current. When someone says or does something to hurt or offend you, gently approach them immeditely. Use “I feel” statements rather than “you did…” or “you always… “

Another way to approach a hurtful incident is to ask the (offending) person to “help you understand why he did such and such.” The key is to live in a posture of humility and forgiveness, realizing how much God through Christ has forgiven you. To ignore these principles may make you feel more comfortable momentarily, but you will end up breaking the heart of God and losing a brother in the process. Will you, members of Hope’s worship community, join me in seeking to keep as short accounts as possible with one another? If the God who is holy is able to remove my sins as far as the east is from the west and to toss them into the sea of forgetfulness, who am I to keep score? Can I get a witness?

-tad

Next week: Strive for excellence (not perfection)

Draw Near - 10.8.09

Continuing in our series on core values that shape our worship arts ministry, let’s focus on staying intimate with God. If we loosely define being intimate as being relationally close to another, it becomes apparent that intimacy with God has less to do with what we know to be true about Him and more about really knowing Him…relating to Him, talking and listening to Him, loving Him.

Imagine, for a moment, the difference between sitting around your table on your birthday and having your closest friends and/or family members enthusiastically (sometimes humorously) singing happy birthday to you. You are aware that beyond their singing skills and the familiar words are numerous shared experiences which over time have yielded a closeness and intimacy with them that transcend this simple tradition.

Now imagine dining out at your favorite restaurant on your birthday and having total strangers surround you—your waiters and waitresses who have been conscripted by their boss to acknowledge your special day with some local version of Happy Birthday. First, if you’re like me, you are feeling awkward or, worse, dying inside of embarrassment, and secondly, you are aware that these well wishers had little choice in the matter…it’s part of their job.

Sometimes we as followers of Christ can fall into patterns of “doing our job” as the worship leaders at Hope…going through the motions, even saying and singing the right things, but feeling empty inside or at least a bit disingenuous. I have even heard teammates confess that they feel hypocritical when they sing worship songs because their personal lives or walk with Christ have hit a rough patch or even flat-lined.

It is at times like these that we can do a quick inventory, asking a simple question: “If God seems far away from me right now, guess who moved?” It is even in the dark and desperate times that God reminds us “Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) For His part, He never stops calling, never stops wooing, never stops pursuing us. Just move toward Him.

There is also an immediacy to God’s invitation to stay close to Him when He warns: Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near. (Issaiah 55:6) Yes, He promises to never leave us or forsake us, but there is something about delaying or postponing getting close to God for a more convenient season that becomes less likely the more time passes, and we grow comfortable with the distance.

My encouragement to each of you is to have at least one other person in your life who routinely asks you how you are doing in this area. Close, personal brothers and sisters in the faith can help us fan the flames of our passion for God before we find ourselves running on spiritual fumes. Fumes are more like the remnants or even memories of former days when we really walked hand in hand with our God. Let’s make a covenant in the worship ministry to lovingly encourage and challenge each other to keep the main thing the main thing. As a worship leader, it is the sweetest gift we can give to the Body…and to the Lover of our souls.

Next week: Build up the Body of Christ

-tad

Come Away - 9.24.09

In reflecting on last weekend’s advance, I recall the words to one of my favorite communion anthems, Come Away, written by Ken Medema.

Come away for a little time apart,
for the changing of the heart; come away.
Come away to a taste so bittersweet,
where hope and heartache meet; come away.
Here is light to light the darkest maze;
here is song to fill the pathless days;
here is call among the crowded ways.
Bread of Life, wine of happiness and tears, faithfulness and fears;
this feast awaits you here; come away.

For those who were able to come away, it was a feast in so many ways, not the least of which was sharing the Lord’s meal at the conclusion. What did I take away? You are a very special group of people, dearly loved by God and learning step by step to dearly love each other. I was really moved by the genuine effort on each participant’s part to really make connection with others. Is there anything sweeter in the human experience than reaching out to others made in the image of God and being a conduit of His love? More precious to God than musical harmony is relational harmony. Keep after it!

My special thanks to Jenn for an incredible amount of invisible servant leadership, as well as her worship leadership on Friday night. Thanks also to helpers Ashlie, Scott, Benito, and to Debby, Louise, and other members of our drama team: Rebekah, Janet, Hector, Jim, Brian, and Kim for their contribution.

Over the next several months, this column will touch on one of the many core values we looked at during some of last weekend’s teachings. Next week we will look at Colossians 3:16—Know the Word. Make it a great week!

-tad