I’ve noticed in certain Christian circles a rejection of church tradition. Bells, whistles, choirs, incense. Anything “high church.” Some suggest it's distracting, that it takes way from the message of the Gospel. Or that such lavish traditions are a waste of money and resources. Most often, though, I hear that such worship styles aren't accessible. And I suppose there is some truth in that. The service in Westminster felt like I’d gone back in time, to an age when the Church was as much a part of daily life as the Tube is now. That said, I think we lose something when we flat out reject the opulence of the Church. And I agree, the grandeur is not accessible. It isn't something out of the everyday. But we also forget that God is ONLY accessible through Jesus. He is a Holy God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. And we are mortal, and sinful. There is a divide between God and His creation. On Easter Vigil being in a place that felt as grand and historic as Westminster Abbey felt right. It heightened my ability to reflect on the saving work of Christ that crossed that divide between God and humanity. Another common argument about traditional church worship is that it doesn't focus enough on a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, when we focus on Jesus Christ as only a personal saviour and best friend, I think we lose sight of the fact that purest goodness in the world died that we might live. He isn’t just our best friend or just the perfect father. We use these terms because in our humanity we can’t express the power of the Gospel. I don't think we can fully comprehend what it means that the creator of the universe, the LORD of heaven and earth, came as a child to live and die for us. And to die a death filled with despair and betrayal and pain. There is no human expression for such sacrifice.
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Me: Amelia BrownAvid runner & baker, following God's call to year of mission and service work in the Episcopal Church & Anglican Communion. Archives
August 2018
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