Multi-sensory worship
Today at church I spoke with our youth pastor (who is a friend of mine) about what he is advertising as multi-sensory worship. I was concerned that he would bring a labyrinth in. I was told that he had visited a Christian labyrinth outside San Francisco and found it surrounded by wickedness. So he would not initiate a labyrinth here at our church. Which was good because I told him even though I loved him I would oppose him on any labyrinth and come out of the gate with my hair on fire at mach 2.
Then we went on to talk about multi sensory worship. He said he just wanted to get the kids engaged and involved hands on because many of them just fell asleep during service and teaching. He also mentioned many kids want to go back to the churches older traditions.
I offered him this idea-about the churches older traditions.
If you really want kids to have a multi sensory worship experience perhaps throw them into a 10 foot by 12 foot cell with only hay and straw on the dirt floor for toilet facilities. No electric -open window -no blanket. Than let some rats loose on the floor and feed them only gruel (or grits) stale bread and water. Than perhaps stick some kind of maniac using coarse language in the cell next to them. (perhaps stick Anne Lamott next to them using Emergent church lingo and language she's always needing a gig)
Then tell them they need to sing songs of praise and worship to Jesus Christ (any style) without musican's among all this chaos.
Now that's a real New Testament experience. Paul and Silas as well as all the apostles and followers of Jesus went through this on a week to week sometimes day to day basis.
He just kind of sat there with his mouth open. I mentioned that many Christians all around the world go through this multi sensory worship experience everyday.
I did let him know it probably wouldn't be a good idea to beat and whip the kids before putting them in their cells.
Multi sensory worship as a thing started in a church called Ginghamsburg . Folks I've been to this church because it is close to where I lived in Ohio. It is the only church where I have ever walked out in the middle of a service the first time I was there. And this is when I was a baby Christian.
To the best of my knowledge Kim Miller started this stuff- creating God experiences.
Paul had some Experiences he bragged about.
Look at 2 Cor 11: Paul was robbed, stoned, beat with rods,faced danger from his own people, went hungry, thirsty,cold, and shivered without having enough clothes. Given 39 lashes, shipwrecked and the list goes on.
We ought to all hang our heads in shame that our God experiences are nothing more than laser, a good house band, and some candles.
While Christian in China often have a life expectancy of 3 days,
What kind of worship experience are you looking for .
Is it real?
Or is it smoke and mirrors?
4 Comments:
Excellent Tim, never let the fire go out!
I will remember your comments Tim, for the time I too have to listen to someone talk about worship experience. I agree with Douglas. Excellent article.
"When He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many saw the signs which He did, but Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men"- John 2:23-24. Most people were following Jesus for His miracles, signs, and wonders, but when He had a hard truth for them to learn, they left Him in droves. They were only there for the Entertainment Value of Christ. How things HAVEN'T changed today.
Oh, I love it!!!!! I have heard over and over again that we need to approach youth ministry in "fresh new ways". That is an EXCELLENT answer; create a Paul and Silas experience that they would never forget. What genius!!
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