This one is just me trying to work out a few "issues" I have with the denomination I have been in for the last 12ish years. I am not sure where to start with this but it has been a brain stumper.
I didn't notice growing up Baptist that there may have been a preference towards all things Baptist. No one promoted only Baptist schools, only Baptist music, only Baptist camps, etc. Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones who was not pushed into believing that my particular denomitation was all encompasing of God's truth. Dad studied and grew, which led us to several different Baptist and Penticostal churches. Each one taught me something new but in the end, it was my own studying and prayer that led me to the non-Denominational style. I was comfortable there and things clicked for me religiously. Then I met the hubby. Hmmm. Church of Christ. I cringed. I think that I have been living in the denominational naivety.
Let me start by saying, I love our church. Our minister is wonderful, with an understanding of God and people that still awes me after 12 years. He is the reason that I have stayed. That and a little bit of in-law fear (but that is a whole other entry). I overlook the occasional mention of the saving waters of Baptism (sorry, but with out repentance all you are is a wet sinner), the loss of salvation and my very favorite issue, no musically insturments (Oh, no! A piano? You demon!) "A" doesn't preach on them so I can live with it.
Now, this is what I am pondering....
Why, oh why, are CoC members in the blog-o-sphere, www, etc having a mad cow over losing members to other denominations? Why is there a huge push to get people to stay (and stagnate) instead of going to the church down the street that has a better youth ministry and a worship style that they enjoy? SO WHAT! They are still in church, still worshiping God, and still on the "right side" of the good vs evil game. What gives? I, also, noticed that a lot of the same people are friends and follow the same set of writings, notices, groups, etc. Seriously, does everyone know everyone? If you mention Joe Schmo to Bill Spill, he knows him. If Sally Seashore hears the name Candy Cane, she knows her. I am in awe at how small the community of CoC is when it comes to music, teaching, history and leadership. And if you are too "progressive", you are no longer considered a "Real CoC member" (note ML and PY). What? Are we Amish? I don't remember shunning in the bible.
Speaking of music, are all CoC members required to have vast love for accapella music? And if it is not accapella, do they need to be related to someone in the accapella music industry? Is other music allowed? And are RG and KL the only accapelle music writers? Is "K" really the end-all-be-all? Is every other music second class? I just want to understand. And honest to goodness, I would love to know if any of the churches have SAB sheet music in their possession if a tenor is not available? And I am of the opinion that if you have to fake "instruments" with your voice, you might as well have instruments.
What is so special about going to a CoC college? LU, HU, FHU, OVU, RC, OC etc. (Pep.pe.rdi.ne doesn't really count, it's too liberal) There are millions of people every year who go to other colleges/universities that get perfectly good educations. Why the push? I don't get it. And, right back to the knowing everyone, if you mention "John" at one college, people at another college probably know them because their aunt's friend's husband's cousin went to see him at a lectureship when they were 8.
I thought is was just the CoC for a long time. Then my family reunion happened and my cousins stayed with us; then it hit me. I am finally old enough to realize that this is probably a problem in all large denominations: Southern Baptist, Assembly of God, Catholics, Methodist, CoG, CoC, etc. I mean, shoot, how many church splits have happened just over the version of the bible used? I have family that will only use the KJV.
So I guess my conclusion is, we need to stop denominationalizing every part of our lives and start opening up our minds to others. I am sure there are many schools, teachers, preachers and music that contribute as much to the religious landscape as the denomination that we are currently in. We can learn from everyone. I, myself, have never (and will never) be a dyed-in-the-wool anything. I may one day find that the Christian church is more suited to my liking. Or, I may end up back at the Vineyard. Who knows? I just know that in my heart, God will lead me to the place that I am supposed to be in the end.
Tammy, I'm not going to comment on many specifics here (want to avoid starting unnecessary debate too), but I want say that I think a lot of your observations are correct. And you are also correct when you notice that the same thing happens in other (non-CofC) denominations. Many people think it's strange when they notice this in CofC, when a lot of times they are just comparing to what they remember from their youth. Observant people will notice many of the same issues in other denominations -- same issues that affect the CofC. (In some cases, even the instrumental music issue -- CofC is not the only denomination that worships a cappella, nor the most conservative viewpoint, but it happens to be the only one anybody hears about. Actually, Pepperdine hosts a yearly seminar to bring together different a cappella denominations. And it's more than two. :^) )
ReplyDeleteNow, the one specific I wanted to comment on... and I'm not debating, just trying to answer a question you had. Regarding a cappella worship music and RG and KL: If you are referring to whom I think you are, then actually, yes, they really are pretty much the only people writing new a cappella worship music -- or I should say, the only people writing a cappella music and getting it published and recorded. Besides RG, ZOE (who sings RG), and KL, there really isn't much published contemporary a cappella worship music out. It's not that they are the end-all-be-all (though I happen to think they are of good quality), or that others are 2nd-rate, just that they are the only ones legally and conveniently available. It helps even more that they have recordings available to help teach the music. So yes, it seems like contemporary CofC sings a lot of their compositions and arrangements, but there's a reason for that.
I used to get a lot of a cappella worship arrangements off a forum board where a lot of us worship ministers shared arrangements. Turns out that practice is not legal (to freely share arrangements online without publishing and paying royalties), so the owners had to shut down the forum and remove all the arrangements.
(For what it's worth... I'm actually planning for next year to try using some arrangements by a friend of mine in Tulsa, since he's recently released an album -- if I can get him to send me sheet music, since he didn't publish it. And I recently heard of a hymnal from a Presbyterian denomination that looks very useful -- I may try to incorporate music from that too. Teaching it without recordings may be difficult though.)
Just realized, that turned out a lot longer than I originally intended. Wow!
ReplyDeleteThat was very helpful actually. I, too, think that the music is quality but I know that I am not a stickler on 4-part so maybe that is where my questions were rooted from.
ReplyDeleteAfter complaining to Doug about it for so long, I finally had the chance to discuss some of it with family and kinda turned me in the other direction. It really is denomination-wide problem across all of them.
On a philosophical note, do you ever wonder how everyone will be able to get passed it in Heaven when we can't even be in the same room on Earth?