Do you ever wonder why we overuse the art and music of cultures and times far removed from our own to give expression to our current encounters with the Gospel?
As I visit congregations around the country, I see lots of uniformity - a kind of "generic" order and style of worship that fewer and fewer people seem to invest in.
In my home town of Cameron, MO, nearly half of the population is comprised of medium and maximum security prisoners or staff members who serve them. Our community has a regional hospital, large school system, Missouri Veterans Home and several skilled and semi-skilled facilities as well as quite a bit of retail and agri-business. One newer, local congregation worships in a country-western style that feels more indigenous than the more common blends of traditional, classical, and contemporary styles.
Whatever indigenous worship, spiritual disciplines, and mission may be, discerning who we are will be as continuous as the changes in even "stable" Midwestern culture.
How important is is to be who we are, rather than to merely imitate the forms used by other communities?
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