tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post7931658852792242420..comments2023-12-26T03:07:42.703+00:00Comments on Nah Then: Wedding RitesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-16611511049753579082008-11-11T09:06:00.000+00:002008-11-11T09:06:00.000+00:00Interesting to know.Interesting to know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-64388036092736582752007-08-03T16:30:00.000+01:002007-08-03T16:30:00.000+01:00'ello Glen, One of my reflections on the day was s...'ello Glen, <BR/>One of my reflections on the day was simply 'why can't more wedding ceremonies be like this?' This is both in terms of its accessibilty, but also with particular reference to the couple's dealings with the concept of love. <BR/><BR/>There wasn't a scouring of the Bible to find a single passage that can somehow be twisted to read as though it's about romantic love or the Holy union of marriage(classically 1 Cor 13.4-8a). That particular passage was included, though it was alongside, yes the pop songs you've mentioned, but also three other readings from the Bible about love, thus presenting a well rounded image of what love is and what God requires of us. For me, most noticibly included was Isaiah 58.6-8. I won't put it all in here, go look yourself; but this rooted the whole service in a much truer notion of being married before God and in his love than the type of service i've described above.<BR/><BR/>ps. Mary T. says hello.andy amosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100233831041064444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949629946811250058.post-78705629832379884852007-08-02T15:51:00.000+01:002007-08-02T15:51:00.000+01:00Mmm. I totally agree with needing discipleship to ...Mmm. I totally agree with needing discipleship to be distinctive. There is radical call and so radical distinctive following is demanded if you take up the challenge of Jesus and the cross. <BR/><BR/>But that was what I found in the ceremony. Most of the 'Christian' songs and practices we have don't hold this radical distinctive edge. At least if they do they haven't had much effect given that most of us church folk are middleclass conformists who show little true embodiment of the call Jesus gives (I speak for myself).<BR/><BR/>In the way there was a fusion of popular and Christian music there was a way for people to access and understand the gravitas and celebration in God. <BR/><BR/>I am tired of lists of 'the top 50 Christian films' for eg. There are some brilliant films which can contribute to Christian theological discussion without labeling themselves in the category Christian. We can use without threat to ourselves a whole wealth of art and music beyond Mat Redman and see and be blessed by God’s word in it. God is evident and thriving in all our creativity not just church stuff. In fact, sadly, I find creativity often stunted and deformed within traditional church settings, where we do things without thought, cost or understanding of the theology and hope behind them.<BR/><BR/>So liturgies which speak of God's inclusivity and grace alongside a celebration of God evident outside the artificial walls of church seem really effective to me.<BR/><BR/>People seemed to get that this was a ceremony that sought to understand the couple committing themselves to each other before God. They didn't go through the motions but took seriously where God is at work in their lives and the lives of their communities.<BR/><BR/>What I saw was not about making faith acceptable or accessible. That is what was so brilliant about it. It was about looking at the world and seeing the face of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Discipleship is not distinctive because we sing worship songs or talk the language of Christian generations. It is distinctive when we will give our all for Jesus, because we submit to each other in community in the way of deep friendship the like of which you describe in your next post, because Christ is so central we will work for and be of the least. I reckon if we manage that kind of distinctive (and the Bride and Groom are on their way to this) our language and worship will embody Christ and there will be an increasing freedom for things of the world to be celebrated not mistrusted. It will be our embodiment of the faith that marks us out not our language and church practice. It will be our love for the poor which will shock and separate, not the songs we sing.<BR/><BR/>By eck this is a long comment. My AppologiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com