Monday, July 29, 2013
A Benedictine Response to the Generational and Worship Wars?
A recent blog article by Rachel Held Evans has been making the rounds on the internet regarding the relationship of the Millenial Generation to the Church - specifically, regarding why many Millenials are leaving the Church: http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/millennials-church-cnn
Unlike Evans, who is on the borderline between Generation X and the Millenial Generation, I am firmly planted within Generation X. I grew up with the original Star Wars trilogy, which was released when I was in elementary and middle school. I was in college when the transition between 80's rock and pop to 90's grunge and alternative music occurred. The gates of the world wide web were opened to the general public when I was in law school, and the development of advanced mobile phone technology occurred well into my adulthood.
I do not pretend to speak for Generation X or for any other generation, but as someone who will turn 43 next month, my vantage point (halfway between the Baby Boomers and the Millenials) has given me the opportunity to observe the different generations. I am old enough to remember the time when it could be assumed that the vast majority of people around me had some sort of tangible connection to a congregation, but am young enough to be a part of a generation where large numbers of people my age are completely disconnected from the Church.
Some of the online debate regarding the Evans article has included a discussion of this sentence regarding Millenials who do not leave the Church, but trade Evangelical Christianity for something different: "Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. – precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being 'cool,' and we find that refreshingly authentic."
Personally, I hope her statement is true. A few personal anecdotes come to mind which offer some support for her observation - for example, I know a 30 year old lawyer who specifically wanted a church that uses the traditional Lutheran liturgy. However, it seems that a large number of the young adults who are in the Church continue to gravitate toward non-traditional worship services.
At times, it may seem like there is no way to reconcile the two disparate forms of worship preference. People who want large evangelical-style worship services, dominated by a 30-45 minute sermons on topical subjects intermixed with lines of Scripture, surrounded by rock and pop music, probably wouldn't be comfortable attending a place like my small but loyal congregation, where the sermon is typically around 10 minutes long, surrounded by chant, hymns, intercessory prayers, and the Eucharist.
The Benedictine way perhaps offers some common ground, though, which can be incorporated into the life of any type of Christian, regardless of what generation they come from or what style of worship they prefer:
- It does not demand a particular way of preaching, but it does demand daily reading and meditation on Scripture.
- It does not demand a particular music style, but it does demand use of the songbook of the Bible, the Psalms.
- It does not demand particular words to be used in prayer, but describes how prayers should be offered to God.
- It does not tell us how to act within the political realm, but it does tell us to act with reverence toward God, with a spirit of humility, and to welcome and care for those around us who need help.
The Benedictine way does not solve all of the problems that Millenials (and those of other generations) have with the Church, nor does it resolve the "worship wars." Perhaps, though, the Rule of St. Benedict can be a common resource for Christians attempting to discern what has happened to the Church, and how the Holy Spirit might be moving us toward greater unity in the future.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thankfully I am blessed to have been born before all the named generations. I am a pre-Baby Boomer. Well, I guess they have tried to categorize me: The Great Generation. ug.
ReplyDeleteI think we would do well to stand apart from the chaos like good monks. I strongly disagree that the Benedictine way cannot solve all the problems of worship. It most certainly can. You are very right to say: "Perhaps, though, the Rule of St. Benedict can be a common resource for Christians attempting to discern what has happened to the Church, and how the Holy Spirit might be moving us toward greater unity in the future."
What would Saint Benedict say about the ideas and attitudes of Rachel Held Evans? About young and old folks in church? About the "style" of worship members of each group prefer to tickle their tastes and fancies? I think we know.
From the time of St Benedict going back to the earliest days of the Church, Doctrine developed. It developed as a child grows. Organically. St Benedict was a faithful son of the Church, as the earliest disciples were. In his time he was in union with the Holy Father, the Pope, and the Bishops. Many externals change in the Church as it grows, but the fundamental internals do not change.
In the 16th century, in an attempt to reform, Luther changed many fundamentals, and now we have an ersatz mass and the chaotic mess we see today. Pope Francis is a great sign of simplicity and unity. So was his predecessor, Benedict, but we are so blind that we cannot see that.
Worship service? Why not the Mass? How would Saint Benedict answer?
I think I need to make a correction... I had previously read several articles by Rachel Held Evans which seemed to me to be the usual superficial stuff. I just now read her article in full and I was surprised -- she's saying almost the same think I'm trying to say.
ReplyDelete"Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. – precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being “cool,” and we find that refreshingly authentic.
"You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual and expect us to stick around. We’re not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; we’re leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there."
I am so adamant about the Mass because it is certain that a person will find Jesus there. This reality is the heart and center of Catholicism -- the Real Presence in the Eucharist, consecrated by a priest in the Line of Apostolic Succession -- this is "the real thing."
Of course we can talk 'til kingdom come about the myriad ways we encounter and find Christ -- but the sure way is through the Sacraments -- especially the Eucharist. This is the 2000-year-old teaching of the Church and it is certain.
Thanks for the correction - I really liked her article, and while I don't agree with her about everything, I suspect she is representative of a sizable number of people of various ages, not just Millenials.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the importance of the mass - its too bad many Lutherans have forgotten about Article 24 of the Augsburg Confession: "Our churches are falsely accused of abolishing the Mass. In fact, the Mass is retained among us and is celebrated with the greatest reverence."
Well, this is the main point. It doesn't matter whether the Mass is celebrated "with the greatest reverence" or with drums and jazz music -- after all, the Pope celebrated Mass on a beach -- what matters is union with the Church.
ReplyDelete