God's Kingdom as Concert
I attended a David Crowder Band concert last night. I started reflecting on the parallels between God's Kingdom and a concert. A few emerged prominently.
First, worship was the focus. While the true attitude of worship cannot be discerned in a concert, it gives a brief glimpse into the unity worship gives. The unison of 12,000 people expressed through music is powerful in itself. If it is centered on worship, then this unison participates in the harmony of the universe. All at once there is the unity of a group of people, the diversity of the individuals, and the blended harmony unity and diversity makes which is seen in the universe.
Second, servant leadership was at a premium. I tend to be amazed by systems--just everyday society boggles my mind. How the heck did we end up with so many stinking (literally and figuratively) jobs that cover so many necessary and made up bases and train so many people to do them? Unbelievable. But anyway, the Concert-system is just such a thing. I volunteered to get in for free. In about 5 minutes, I was in charge of thousands of dollars, an expert in merchandise, and the main source of fulfilment for those who wanted a T-Shirt. I was plugged into the system and given its authority. (This is not to mention the much more amazing system of equipment, lighting, production, etc.) Here's the thing: All the authority of the system was to serve. I was only empowered to serve the other. Naturally, part of the motive for the system empowering me to serve was because of the little green pieces of paper the others were holding--so I guess the analogy isn't perfect.
I was also free of envy for the band. They were in the spotlight--literally and figuratively--but when centered on worship, envy becomes kinda pointless. Ironically, with all the lighting and visual stimuli, I kept my eyes closed a good amount.
Third: fun. Enough said.
Fourth, an ecstatic moment. In the setting of being part of something bigger than yourself, you both lose and becomes yourself. You lose your problems for a brief moment and you become yourself precisely because you find yourself in the diversity of the group minus the weights of a world in temporary crisis.
First, worship was the focus. While the true attitude of worship cannot be discerned in a concert, it gives a brief glimpse into the unity worship gives. The unison of 12,000 people expressed through music is powerful in itself. If it is centered on worship, then this unison participates in the harmony of the universe. All at once there is the unity of a group of people, the diversity of the individuals, and the blended harmony unity and diversity makes which is seen in the universe.
Second, servant leadership was at a premium. I tend to be amazed by systems--just everyday society boggles my mind. How the heck did we end up with so many stinking (literally and figuratively) jobs that cover so many necessary and made up bases and train so many people to do them? Unbelievable. But anyway, the Concert-system is just such a thing. I volunteered to get in for free. In about 5 minutes, I was in charge of thousands of dollars, an expert in merchandise, and the main source of fulfilment for those who wanted a T-Shirt. I was plugged into the system and given its authority. (This is not to mention the much more amazing system of equipment, lighting, production, etc.) Here's the thing: All the authority of the system was to serve. I was only empowered to serve the other. Naturally, part of the motive for the system empowering me to serve was because of the little green pieces of paper the others were holding--so I guess the analogy isn't perfect.
I was also free of envy for the band. They were in the spotlight--literally and figuratively--but when centered on worship, envy becomes kinda pointless. Ironically, with all the lighting and visual stimuli, I kept my eyes closed a good amount.
Third: fun. Enough said.
Fourth, an ecstatic moment. In the setting of being part of something bigger than yourself, you both lose and becomes yourself. You lose your problems for a brief moment and you become yourself precisely because you find yourself in the diversity of the group minus the weights of a world in temporary crisis.
posted by Aaron Perry at
11:50 AM
2 Comments:
likely can't know for sure. emotions are strange things. in Damasio's "The Feeling of What Happens," he gives cases of individuals whose memory has been lost and they cannot recall interactions with different people. yet they developed negative *emotions* to people have acted negatively toward them. the emotional reaction of the brain was not attached to the conscious memory. in a sense, the brain was able to protect without being conscious as to why.
the above, while showing the complex origin, also shows the *gift* of emotion. if it is a gift that can function to defend an individual, it can also function to lift an individual, as well. as a Christian, if my emotion drives me to consider more faithfully the Triune God, then the origin need not be scrutinized. after all, all things all from Him and for Him.
i often noticed that the best bass lines in worship songs had the most arms raised. adding good theological education and a healthily critical spirit therefore become essential. but as a combintation--worship in spirit and in truth.
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