Friday, March 22, 2013

Worshipping Worship.



"It is possible to create 'event dependency' where people feel they cannot enter into worship unless they have an 'anointed' worship leader" (says Graham Kendrick)

The 1960s were a traumatic time for Christianity. After rallying a bit during the austere 1950s (at least in the UK) the mold breaking and icon shattering sixties took their toll on traditional Christianity. Many Western Christians (over)reacted by turning to fundamentalist and/or gnostic versions of the faith; both reactions were intimately bound up with an innate anti-intellectualism (Often expressing itself in Young Earthism, Godbotting, legalism, fideism, and above all epistemic arrogance) and have been the subject of this blog on many an occasion. However, in this post I would like to focus on the gnosticisation of Christianity.  Gnosticisation is a kickback against society that takes the form of a retreat into the mysteries of the inner life of soul and spirit, the place where consolation is sought in the warm light of sublime wordless revelations from God. This shift of focus, (which is especially found amongst evangelical Christians) toward unspeakable epiphanies and touches of God has been my study for many years now. In fact I recently commented on the subject in response to an article in Christianity magazine on scholar Dallas Willard. (Willard seems as aware of this gnostic drift toward the esoteric as I am) In fact in the nineties I wrote several articles on evangelical Gnosticism, one of which can be downloaded from here. My current opinion is that this fashionable foray into the deep soul is far more endemic than is extreme fundamentalism which in any case is inclined to confine itself to self-isolating and marginalized Christian sects.*

So, given this background I was gratified to see that another person, namely Christian song writer Graham Kendrick, has also become aware of the contemporary skew toward what I refer to as Christian Gnosticism. Judging from what Kendrick says in the March edition of Christianity Magazine it looks to me as if Kendrick has clearly spotted that there has been a slip and slide in worship events toward a very individualistic striving for the experientially arcane. This endemic gnosticism has clearly shaped Christian spiritual values and influenced what the contemporary Christian scene rates as high spirituality; in short,   the mystical, the inscrutable, the fideist and cabalistic are considered to be where it’s at, or at least where it looks to be going.

Below I have quoted parts of Kendrick’s article and from these quotes it is apparent that the gnostic themes of inner blessing, release of the spirit, initiation into inscrutable experiential truth, and anointed enablers have found their place in our churches; all else is inclined to be undervalued and marginalized.

…..in many churches this focus on creating a personal connection with God has come to dominate the style, mood and lyrics of our corporate worship.

…we now view worship primarily as an experience to be had…

…big worship gatherings can actually be a celebration of mass individuality..

..songs rich in content that stretch the mind can seem to get in the way of creating that intimate experience. They are overlooked because they don’t fit the expected mood, ethos or style of experiential worship. (My emphasis - TVR)

It is possible to create “event dependency” where people feel they cannot enter into worship unless they have an “anointed” worship leader. As a worship leader myself, sometimes it’s as though the expectations are being heaped up – it’s as if everyone is expecting me to take them to an amazing level that they could not otherwise access.

A dominant genre of emotional intensity…. In the end that which doesn’t fit the mood of emotional intensity tends not to be included.

If our gatherings always peak in moments of personal blessing, the subliminal message can be that this is why we exist, rather than being blessed to be a blessing to the world we step out into.

The article is certainly recommended reading for worship leaders as it not only gives Kendrick’s perspective on what I myself would identify as the gnosticisation of church, but also provides practical steps that Kendrick thinks we should take to correct the gnostic drift in our worship.

***

Footnote: A case of self-isolation that has been the focus of my recent attention is Ken Ham’s organization: The more he becomes aware of his isolation from the mainstream the more his statements become strident and extreme, thus simply reinforcing that isolation. The regenerative logic here is this: “I’m isolated because people aren't getting my message, therefore I must shout louder!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Oh, and By the Way Ken....

........I've moved amongst quite a few fundamentalists in my time. In fact when I first committed to Christ I was somewhat spiritually intimidated into becoming a fundie myself. But it didn't last very long; when I looked at the state of Whitcomb and Morris' book "The Genesis Flood", I thought "Oh no! Surely I haven't got to defend this travesty of science?". YEC was the first thing to go!  But from day one I was fascinated by the varieties of fundamentalism that at once contradicted and yet looked so much like my new found "faith". They too claimed an epistemic authority as mouth pieces of God's Word and were quick to put me in my place as a heretic with a bad conscience. Think about the logic of fundamentalism - it always comes down to imputing bad consciences to detractors - that's why fundamentalists are such sops for conspiracy theory.  All in all I've done quite a bit of work amongst fundies. That means I know a bit about their group dynamics, their psychology and the psychology of their leaders. So, given your likely personality type, Ken, you can imagine I have lots of ideas about just why you should have bothered to link to such quiet part of the blogosphere as mine; but you just couldn't let it lie, could you? Which reminds me, the word "LIE" (as in "The're all lovers of lies outside my sect") is right up the fundamentalist's epistemic street isn't it?

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Hell and Hamnation II


Look in the Mirror Ken!
In my last post I drew a parallel between protestant fundamentalist Ken Ham and “Real Catholic” fundamentalist Michael Voris ; both characters have at their disposal a deep supply of spiritual invective and know how to use it on their detractors. Throughout history the commonality amongst religious sectarians is that they are a people convinced of the divine authority of their opinions and do all they can to make sure that the rest of us are convinced too. What really defines fundamentalists is their epistemic arrogance: They show little real awareness that revelations of all kinds can only be received by humanity through the weak link of human understanding and interpretation. Instead they take for granted they have bypassed all epistemic questions and have a direct connection with the absolute. Concomitantly they are convinced that the authority of their message is manifest to “outsiders” who, they think, must be covering up bad consciences and therefore deserve the moral disapprobation they get.

Well, Ken Ham somehow found my blog post and decided to solicit some supportive back slapping from his Facebook following by commenting on my post; a move I can hardly blame him for given that he is very aware of what he calls the widespread “compromise” in the mainstream church beyond his sect. You can find a copy of Ken’s Facebook follower’s comments below! They conveniently provided me with a sample of exactly the kind of spiritual censure I’d expect. Much of it is just knee-jerk reaction as is evidenced in the automatic assumption I'm atheist.  There is, however, a pathos in these responses: they have locked themselves into a marginalised culture whose survival depends on mutual encouragement.

As for Ken I don’t think he really looked into the mirror I was holding up and made no comment about Michael Voris. What he doesn't see, of course, is that to the average observer sees little difference between himself and Voris apart from some doctrinal fine tuning.

STOP PRESS: In further indication of AiG's marginal position we see on Facebook Yesterday and Thursday Ken Ham lamenting Christian right-wingers Bill O’Reilly and Pat Robertson’s stand against Biblical literalism. YECs are increasingly fighting a rearguard action. See:

Ken Ham shared a link.
19 hours ago
Ken Ham: Every so often I link to a blog to remind you of the opposition we receive and the ridiculous misguided statements people make. I decided to link to this one as I learned a new word 'Hamnation.'
46 people like this.

XXXX: Well, at least he can't say he wasn't warned of "hamnation." No blood on your hands if he chooses to die lost.
19 hours ago • Like • 6

XXXX: pffft
19 hours ago • Like

XXXX: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." Matthew 5:11
19 hours ago • Like • 16

XXXX: Yea Ken, just ignore this guy. I don't understand why they are so hateful and ridiculous...
19 hours ago • Like

XXXX: People will chose to believe what they want to hear
19 hours ago via mobile • Like • 1

XXXX: Praise God who give ears to hear and eyes to see and his Holy Spirit to understand
19 hours ago via mobile • Like • 5

XXXX: I noticed the blog stated that Ken was becoming "marginalized from the Christian mainstream ".Well done Ken ,Jesus was in the same boat so your in good company. Keep up the good work.
19 hours ago • Like • 9

XXXX: This guy obviously doesn't want to hear how severe sin is to a Holy God and that sin condemns us. He doesn't get that we need to know we are sinners in order to realize our need for Jesus. You're just being the salt Ken, and salt can sting. Keep irritating them, they need to hear the truth.
19 hours ago • Like • 5

XXXX: While the "experts" keep making the noise of tinkling cymbals and sounding brass, you can be sure your message is being heard loud and clear Brother.
19 hours ago • Like • 3

Creation Science 4 Kids Wow, your infamous! Won't it be wonderful to stand tall with the prophets one day and glorify our Lord and Savior?
19 hours ago • Like • 8

XXXX: If we are so similar to the world, why would anyone want to be a Christian? Keep up the good fight brother!
19 hours ago • Like

XXXX: GOD BLESS YOU!
18 hours ago • Like

XXXX: The blogger is appealing to his crowd, funny how I see this point of view mildly expressed through Christians. Guess who has mainstream Christianity's ear through the compromise of Genesis 1-11. Time to recognize the source people.
18 hours ago via mobile • Like

XXXX: never herd any good response from this guy on the subject! just personal attack!
18 hours ago via mobile • Like • 2

XXXX: You notice the guy didn't put any 'solutions' in his article....
18 hours ago • Like • 1

XXXX: Sorry cant get the video to play
17 hours ago • Like • 1

XXXX: I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.
15 hours ago • Like • 1

XXXX: Persecution. More glory for God, keep doing what you do!
14 hours ago via mobile • Like • 2

XXXX: Ironically atheists spend more time talking about God and the bible than many christians do. I can't imagine spending my life talking about something I don't believe in. As for condemnation, well, Christ had no problem talking of this and no problem believing in a God who condemns as well as loves. Christ was not an atheist and I'd sooner believe his interpretation of things pertaining to God and condemnation. Well done Ken for standing on the word of God. The fool says in his heart "there is no God", but "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".
13 hours ago • Edited • Like

XXXX: I like GODnation better;)
12 hours ago • Like

XXXX: Keep on keeping on, Ken!
11 hours ago via mobile • Like

XXXX: GOD bless you Ken!
Apologists don't apologize!
10 hours ago • Like

XXXX: You're doing what's right.
9 hours ago • Like • 1

XXXX: There really is a Ham Nation http://twit.tv/hn It's an online television show about Amateur Radio "Ham Radio".
Ham Nation | TWiT.TV
twit.tv
Ham Nation | TWiT.TV
4 hours ago • Like

XXXX: I like the fact that he at least reads Ken's blog
2 hours ago via mobile • Like

XXXX:. I find that these are the only arguments that they have. Slander, ridicule, name-calling, assumptive character bashing, bullying... It's a shame that they feel they have to stoop so low but it also shines light on how threatened they feel by the truth that they see in our arguments.about an hour ago •