Terry Mattingly's column from a couple of week's ago highlighted a "moderate," "progressive" Southern Baptist church that was experimenting with traditional Celtic Christian worship and symbols:
The first thing people do after entering the quiet sanctuary is pause at a table to light prayer candles for friends and loved ones, the tiny flames adding to the glow of nearby candle trees.
The ministers wear oat-colored, hooded robes tied at the waist with ropes and guide their flock through ancient prayers, a litany of confession and silent meditations marked by a series of bells. Hymns are accompanied by an ensemble that includes fiddle, acoustic guitar, wind chimes, pennywhistles, a Bodhran and even bagpipes.
Is this a return to Tradition? Not according to one of the ministers:
"We don't think that what we're doing is getting back to the ancient ways. We think that we're using elements of the past in ways that make sense to people who are alive today. The goal is to create something new."
In the lingo of Southern Baptist life, Rivermont is known as a "moderate," or even progressive, congregation. In addition to the Celtic service, it also offers the plugged-in, energetic contemporary worship common in "seeker-friendly" congregations across America. The bottom line: Different kinds of people worship in different ways.
The contemporary service is larger and the pews are filled with Baby Boomers who have become the established, middle-aged core of the congregation. For them, pop praise choruses and a chatty atmosphere have become normal. What was once "modern" is now strangely "traditional."
Meanwhile, said Prior, the Celtic service is attracting a unique blend of young adults, who are drawn by its beauty and mysticism, and the elderly, who appreciate peace and quiet. Church leaders refer to this as a gathering of the "pre-moderns and the postmoderns." What was once "traditional" is now strangely "innovative."
That's the part of it that I find welcome. Americans are almost genetically predisposed to the new and "cutting edge." If the Tradition can be seen to be "innovative," then the persons attracted to it will surely grow. And that boomers are now seen to be "old fashioned"? All I can say is, "Praise God. It's about time. Enough praise choruses already."
Still, let's be clear about what's going on:
But this doesn't mean they want to change their beliefs. The faithful at Rivermont Avenue remain steadfastly Baptist, said music minister Wayne Bulson. While they use elements of ancient liturgy, they believe that the Irish Bannock bread is still bread and the grape juice is still grape juice. They are embracing symbols, not sacraments.
"People want a sense of the ancient, but they still want something that they feel is appropriate to their lives, today," said Bulson. "I mean, we're still Baptists. We're not Catholic or Orthodox or anything else. ... We're not pushing for Baptist monasteries. What we're trying to do is find out what will be meaningful to our people, what will help them experience God in their lives.
"We're not proud. We're willing to borrow things from all kinds of traditions, as long as they work for us."
Here's the pin that bursts this guy's bubble. The criterion of the use of the Tradtion: not doctrine, not historic continuity, rather "what works." This is a problem. They say "We're not proud." I take them at their word. But perhaps they don't realize that by judging the Tradition they're using, they lack a certain aspect of humility that is requisite for "using" Tradition.
Part of the problem of the criterion of "what works" is that the definition is not Truth-founded, but self-serving. It meets "needs." I can remain "comfortable." And so forth. You get the general picture.
It seems that when it comes to Tradition it really must be all or nothing. Or that's the way I see it.
On the other hand, though. Perhaps this "use" of Tradition will awaken that which makes Tradition live and breathe. That is, maybe this taste will lead to "gorging." One can hope.
Posted by Clifton at March 28, 2003 08:58 PM | TrackBack