If there was anything that characterized the reign of Generation X during its time in the crucial 18-25 year-old demographic, it was irony. We were the era of camp and self-referential parody, with our tongues lodged firmly in our cheeks. We were too cool for school.
Where does awe fit into such a mindset? How does so detached a viewpoint apprehend the Holy?
So often when I teach about the things of God, or when I worship Him, I have to almost consciously disengage an ironic reflex. Some of the struggles I have in my faith aren't so much wrong ideas or even actions, but are stylistic in nature. I spent so many years learning how to be glib, that worship entails something like deprogramming.
Posted by Discoshaman at octobre 4, 2003 09:28 PM | TrackBack
As I'm sure you can imagine, I certainly share that struggle. On the good side, it's probably helped me to see through some of the hokiness that passes for evangelical worship today, but on the bad side, having been weaned on way too much Letterman, I sometimes have to supress the urge to say something like "She was cut into pieces and sent all over the Middle East. And by gosh, I think we all know just how painful that can be..."
Posted by: John R. at octobre 7, 2003 01:35 AMJohn R-
You know, I think hokiness paradoxically has helped me. I grew up Word of Faith, and spent years 'worshipping' with people blowing whistles and waving banners, and Hagenite wannabees performing ersatz miracles on-stage.
Imagine if the man in Plato's shadow cave were to finally walk outside and see the world. That was somewhat how I felt worshipping in a Presbyterian church for the first time. The reverence, and the awe for God that shown through in the worship was amazing to me. So different from the choreographed chumminess I'd always known. My reaction to the hokiness of the WoFers drove me TOWARD true worship.
My ironical inclinations stem more from the surrounding culture than anything in the church.
Posted by: Discoshaman at octobre 8, 2003 02:23 AM