Seminarian Ryan
· 4d
This is one of many issues that strains ecumenical relations. While we can all start with some common point of interest (Christ, the Bible, etc.), things break down pretty quickly when it comes to wor...
What I had in mind is an actual church I witnessed where their worship service begins like a Christian rock concert.
It begins with several songs including vocals, guitars, bass, and drums on the "stage," with a projector screen above showing the lyrics. The preacher reads a passage of Scripture, and then back to a few more songs during which people wander about greeting each other.
Then another performance before they consume their cellophane-wrapped cracker and juice that they picked up from the door on the way in (they don't attempt to consecrate it, because it's only symbolic, of course).
After another crooning song by the band, the preacher gives a long sermon about servant leadership, followed by a final rousing song ripped off from Christian pop radio.
There is no priest, no altar, no sacrifice, all of which they would vehemently reject outright anyway -- and all of which are central to the Catholic faith.
This church explicitly rejects the sacraments altogether, even though Jesus saves us through the sacraments he instituted.
One could crudely (but not inaccurately) call this church a glorified Book club that meets in the middle of a band performance.
This is all so foreign to historic Christianity, Eastern or Western.
I'm really thinking that if our goal is to promote unity among Christians, it would be much more effective to highlight and explain these differences -- to bring about conversions, changing hearts and minds -- than to just say nice things about what we have in common with others, compromising our own beliefs in the process.
