tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942601.post115834929927119964..comments2023-10-14T08:32:48.543-05:00Comments on Wild Rumpus: Contemporary Christian MusicPrincessMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09197008991622181061noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942601.post-1158590738532574142006-09-18T09:45:00.000-05:002006-09-18T09:45:00.000-05:00This morning I sent this email to my music directo...This morning I sent this email to my music director becuase he expressed discouragement after rehearsal on Thursday that I had worn Converse on Sunday, despite the fact that the only requirement that he had asked of us was to wear closed-toed shoes and despite the fact that I have often worn those shoes to church to lead worship.<BR/><BR/><I>Dear ______,<BR/> <BR/>As I understand it, many people of our "post-Christian" generation struggle to make the choice to go back to church as adults because of some negative experience that they had as children growing up the church. I have always understood the phrase "seeker-friendly" to mean that a church who assumed that label tried to make it as easy as possible for people to overcome the negative associations that folks have with church so that they will want to live a life with Christ.<BR/> <BR/>One of my brothers stays away from church because Christian people rejected him when he would not dress up on Sundays. He believed (and still believes) that the tradition of dressing up for church is perpetuated out of human vanity rather than godly piety. He will allow for exceptions in individual people, but the judgement that he felt as a kid was so widespread that no church community feels safe to him, including River City. Without a church community around him, his relationship with Christ is practically non-existent.<BR/> <BR/>Out of a desire that my brother will one day find a church that does not have an atmosphere that requires him to dress up in order to be loved, I have made the choice to dress down on Sundays, especially when I lead worship. Since everyone else up front is dressed up, I believe that there should be someone in visible leadership who helps create a safe worship environment for seekers like my brother, because I know that there are other folks like him out there.<BR/> <BR/>I know that you have valid reasons for the uniform for the vocalists. I have had no problem with the uniform and have made no objection it either publically or privately, to you or to anyone else. However, I would like you to consider the ministry that I am trying to carry out as you get specific with the requirements for what we will wear, as per our conversation after rehearsal on Thursday.<BR/> <BR/>Thanks,<BR/>Rebecca</I><BR/><BR/>I'll take bets on whether or not he even responds, but I get to take the side that he just ignores me completely, since that's what he been doing for the last couple of months.PrincessMaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09197008991622181061noreply@blogger.com