For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.
A document is interesting because once it is created, it is then up to the reader to valuate it's importance and weither to pay attention to it or not. The document doesn't have a say in it.
The Treaty of Waitangi, the Bible, a note on the kitchen bench, an article in the paper, a book by C.S. Lewis or a blog by me...they are all documents that are powerless unless engaged with. They all have importance, but only if used. In some weird fashion, the document itself won't change the world, but the response of the reader may.
This week I had to write an overview "document"of all the things I have been learning over the last few weeks of my course, and in doing so have now produced something that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since finishing it. But, it is my response to this that will make the change. I can map out what the job is at hand, what the nature of a human being is and what lies ahead - but will I respond to it? Will I commit to the process of letting it change the way I go about doing my day-to-day tasks?
A contemporary worship song - in essence, a creative theological document to music - can pull at my heart strings, tugg at my emotions, and can lead me to sing all sorts of words. I can say the grandest promises to God during the moment, but have I engaged with what I am singing? Have I actually realised what I just said? What the consequences of my words are? (It's also interesting to note how many songs are just plagarised out of the ultimate document, the living word, the Bible.)
It is my response to this document put to an easy to sing, catchy and quite likeable tune that could change wether a poor person eats tomorrow.
It is my response in the car listening to Ryan Delmore's "Break me heart with your love" as to weither I am going to forgive that person I have had the falling out with - and do something about it.
It is my response to telling the Lord that I will go where-ever He sends me, and then actually listening to Him about where that is.
(This one is going to be left un finished as I ponder more on responses to documents.)
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2 comments:
What an exciting thought, and also a challenging one.
When you talk about the 'response of the reader' holding the power to 'change the world'...it can even evoke a response where the reader bites into it with 'strong opposition' because it has been documented and there's something firm to engage with.
Same with a song, or a worship set.
I suspect there's often both those responses.
With all the documents you mentioned, we can't predict (nor manage) the responses but we can be sure that there will be a response.
Don't you love the fact that this course has forced us to put our shaping thoughts out to the whole world of blog-o-sphere, rather than an enclosed classroom.
These documents already have an audience, Dan. And behind the scenes the documents are causing a deeper, personal response in us which continues even after the writing, as you have described.
Oh by the way, I really like the way you think...have I said that to you yet?
Dan, rich thoughts on the vital element of "response."
In an information age, we can be duped into believing that, because we have experienced information, that we have actually engaged with its content.
To engage, however, is to welcome transformation, reformation and even a violent disturbing of ideas we've held for all our lives.
Growth demands engagement - thanks for engaging.
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