Strangely Warmed

I envision a worship space that I know I will never see in reality. It's the product of a number ideas rolling around in my head. Central to my vision is an understanding that worship is a physical act, not just a mental and emotional reality. 1. In the Eucharist, the baptized join the whole church on earth and the whole host of heaven to sing the song of the seraphim. I take that almost literally. At the table of the Lord, a door opens between heaven and earth so that we can see what Isaiah saw - the Lord, high and lifted up. At the table, we can see what John saw - and the Lamb who was slain at the center of the throne, with all the elders falling on their faces before him. I envision a worship space that portrays that reality artistically, and which allows Christians to live it kinetically. 2. The basic form of the historic western Eucharist is important for forming Christian identity. A mass-shaped worship service need not, however, incorporate all the the smells, bells and f...

Some American Christians want to disown the name "Christian." They think it has become politically tainted and want to replace it with "Jesus-follower" or some other phrase. I'll stick with "Christian." In the first centuries of the church's existence, Rome treated those who claimed the name "Christian" as enemies of the state. Tertullian's Apology makes it very clear: the word "Christian" itself was the basis of the accusation. Believers were torn apart by animals and put to the sword rather than surrender the name.  That alone would make me slow to give it up. The word "Christian" captures the totality of my life in Christ better than "Jesus-follower." I follow Jesus, but I also worship him, believe his word, give thanks for his victory over sin and death, live in sacramental union with him and look for his return. "Jesus-follower" highlights only one aspect of a Christian's life. ...