With the cut back in Dorothy’s budgeted hours, we were faced with a rather dry worship over the summer. But with your typical patience, and a touch of curiosity, you have yet again graciously indulged your priest in experimenting with alternative music. (Okay, maybe some have not been so gracious, but to the shock of my peers, you have not tarred and feathered me either, and that’s a real plus by clergy standards.) Anywho, as our summer music experiment bumps along, I have two hopes for St. John’s Parish: firstly, that we remain open to new possibilities in the future as God supplies them; and secondly, that we never take for granted the expertise, flexibility and skill of Dorothy, our Music Director.

 

Nonetheless, I must confess that this music experiment has been rather engaging, at least for me. It has forced me to explore a new world of church music not typically found in Episcopal parishes. Most of it is completely foreign; much of it is not to my liking at all; but some of it is really impressive and sticks with me through the day. But it’s not just the music; it’s the theology behind the lyrics that I find most engaging. Oh, I’m not saying that I agree with it all, but it certainly makes me think: about God, our relationship with God, and the importance of Jesus . . . that’s THEOLOGY! And we DO theology whenever we reflect on God and our journey as disciples of Jesus.

 

Much of contemporary Christian music comes from an Evangelical perspective which places the cross, the death of Jesus, at the center. Of course, the Anglo-Catholic in me gets cagey when our salvation (our relationship with God) appears to hinge exclusively on the death of Christ. I am certainly NOT one of those Christians who believes that “Jesus died on the cross so I don’t have to.” Furthermore, I would contend that the penal substitution theory of the Atonement is too narrow, and frankly unworthy, of our Gracious God. But, but, but… the Evangelicals are still plugging into something that most Christians (including us) are missing, and that is GRATITUDE! Evangelicals truly appreciate the vicarious nature of Christ’s suffering. Jesus makes possible for us a relationship with God that we could not achieve, nor even discover on our own. And for THAT they are grateful.  Yet, most Christians take their relationship with God for granted, almost like an entitlement. It’s not a birthright or entitlement. It’s a GIFT, a gift for which God paid dearly.

 

So, as we experiment with new music this summer, listen to the lyrics. Reflect on your relationship with God, let the lyrics challenge your assumptions, and do some theology. But most importantly, give thanks for the gift of Jesus and all that he has made possible for you.

 

Your priest,

Fr. Walter

Clergy Corner