I am currently reading a book for the Starbuck's group and it's called, "A Search for What is Real" by Brian McLaren. In it he discusses ways to experience God. He mentions that we can experience God through nature, ritual, obedience, worship, and community. I think we can each take these five catagories and think of some example where we have experienced God in some way.
When Brian mentioned ritual, I had to pause for a moment. I had never considered experiencing God through rituals. I always looked at rituals as something to be wary of because it can cause "auto pilot" worship. After reading his introduction, I came to a different conclusion. Ritual can be the "on ramp" to experiencing God. The act of participating in the Lord's Supper can connect me to God by thinking of his saving of the Israelites, connects me to Jesus by thinking of his obedience to his father and dying on the cross for my sins. There are so many other ways that I could be typing for hours.
I like the idea of looking at rituals as a vehicle to drive me to God. It allows me to participate in the "ritual" with joy instead of distain. The distain simply comes from my dislike of what I term "statue" worship: still, unmoving, frozen, people unable, unwilling, or uncomfortable showing emotion, happiness, sadness, joy, repentence while raising their hands to God, bowing their heads in submission, or kneeling in front of an almighty God. God wants our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength. He wants all of us. How can I sit in worship still as a statue when the creator of all the universe loves me and has forgiven me of all my wrong doings???
The answer for me is simple. . . I can't.
3 comments:
Cynthia,
Ritual is a tough one for me, because people often become so tied to ritual that they refuse to consider positive change.
I once read a fantasy series (The Belgariad by David Eddings) in which a god was killed, but the people kept offering sacrifices because that is what they had done all their lives.
I think that these types of stories show that ritual is indeed a powerful expression for many people. This is why when we change someone's rituals, they get so upset, because we are changing their experience of God.
And if we had everything just our way, with everything changed to just the way we like it, then that would become the new ritual and sacred cow and the new unchangeable element.
I think the key is to allow room for both ritual and change, both personally and publicly.
James
Great comment.... yes, I struggle with ritual and often wonder if the rituals themselves are causing me to become complacent in my worship. Also, it's easy for me to tune out and become automated. I hate that! I don't come to worship to go through the motions...I go to experience God through singing, praying, giving, communion, listening to your message and in sharing with fellow believers. I want the full experience, otherwise... I feel like I am giving God my "second" best.
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