Friday, June 4, 2010

In Response to Brown's Humanity in Worship

I'd like to offer some clarity in response to Brown's thought on humanity in worship.

I think what Brown is looking for is not humanity, but authentic humanity. Humans are pretty complicated creatures, and I think one could get the idea from Brown that there's a simple kind of dichotomy between being excellent and being human. To be human is not to fail. That's a curse, not an identity. Humans are meant and destined for perfection, and it's therefore very human to do things perfectly. It's just not common yet, because we're fallen.

I don't think it's the perfection that bothers Brown; I think it's the arrogant pretense of perfection when we clearly need help. It's also the fact that we give too much attention to the show and not enough to the pastoral needs of the people.  I'm certain Brown would not say that we need to do a shoddy job so that we remember we're human. To say that would be to suggest that we're meant to fail, which would be a denial of our resurrection and inheritance. Rather I think that we should have an attitude that covers over one another's shortcomings and mistakes (on and off the stage), spurring one another on toward love and good works until the Day of the Lord.

There are enough dropped lyrics and awkward pauses without our purposeful insertion of them. Our job is to make little of them and much of Jesus. I think what Brown is aiming for is authenticity, but the only way to be authentic is to know what we're made for and aim for that, being honest about when and how we fall short and gracious in correcting it.