Dyrness Chapter 3

Dyrness continues to explore the historical influence of how worship has affected our theology, and what he calls style and spirituality, especially as he moves his focus to more contemporary times and traditions. What is important to note about how Dyrness explains theology vs spirituality or style is that theology is what we believe about God, and spirituality or style is how we practice it, and consequently what we particularly lean into or focus on.

There is somewhat of a struggle when considering the Church today because of all the branches of Church history. The Church, especially the American church, has gone through growth and phases and different emphasis as culture and times have changed. But, Dyrness expresses the significance of historical streams of spirituality reserging. There has been significant reformation to the Catholic Church within the past 60 years. People are becoming drawn towards these former ways of belief. But, really, the popular church in America has been influenced mainly, by Dyrness’ argument, by the Pentecostal movement from around the same time. I think it is important for churches to realize where their roots lie. Where are they coming from? Even the younger churches have history, whether they know it or not. And their influences have influenced the global Church! Both the Pentecostal movement and the liturgical revival have been impactful for churches around the world. This is mainly through the influence, now, of social media and how small the world is now, but also through the influence of American missionaries. I think it is important to see how different cultures have adapted similar styles and practices of spirituality. To learn from them and to edify and encourage each other. We are different cultures, we cannot just become the Kenyan church in America, but we can live as the Body that sharpens each other. 

To speak briefly to the difference between theology and spirituality and how it affects our local church bodies, I think worship has become more about spirituality than theology. I think the style of worship has become to the contemporary Christian an unnecessary stumbling block. I think there is value and beauty to worship style, I have a worship style that I prefer and feel at home in, but I think it has become almost a gospel truth for people. If they go to a church that is not in their Pentecostal tradition, they deem the church illegitimate. If the church focuses too much on the Word rather than Eucharist, the church is missing the whole point. These are excuses people make that limit their theology. It begins to make a hierarchy of sacraments as their religion rather than faith in Jesus Christ as Lord as their faith. So, I think it is necessary for the worship leader to make sure they are preaching THE Gospel, not a gospel. We have to keep Jesus at the center no matter what. We have to have formational worship, not crippling worship. I think it is a challenge, and it is not up to the worship leader to fix the church or give the whole congregation the fullest picture of worship and God, but it is their responsibility to invite them into that knowledge. The Holy Spirit will move in your open invitation you give to your body!