power of story
Last night I was chatting with Heath on Skype and I think I came up with something that fits this whole power of story idea that’s swirling in my head right now (I almost said twirling right there but felt that was much too feminine, it actually startled me and I changed it to swirling rather immediately).
So, Heath and I began to discuss why we don’t have a cross in our worship space anymore. This only just happened recently. The real reason why we don’t is because the cross we have is massive and we did some stage redesign which required moving the screen, which in turn required moving curtains in order to have a good sight line for the screen, which in turn required us moving the cross as it was very much in the sight line until we can come up with a different option.
But Heath said, “You have to have a cross.”
To which I responded, being in a very questioning phase at the moment, “Why?”
He said, “To remember.” I think mainly because that’s the series we are in right now.
To which I responded, “I think that’s the best answer I’ve heard so far.” Because I have had this conversation with other people and their answers were much longer and more complex. They were not bad answers, just didn’t nail the simplicity chord that Heath hit.
So I began to challenge Heath further on this, leaning into questions about symbols and such and why we need them to remember.
Heath’s response was, “But the cross is the most important part.”
To which I responded, “I disagree.”
I will finish this tomorrow….
Heath Spurlock
Monday, 27th October 2008 at 7:32 am
Humm, wasn’t aware we were doing a blog interview…. This will be nice to see what some others think.
Heath Spurlocks last blog post..A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Shannon
Monday, 27th October 2008 at 12:37 pm
Was curious as to why there was no cross also… Now I guess I know. But do agree with Heath, it is sort of a visual remembrance.
Maybe for the same reason that during most of the church service the bible is on my lap, and my hand clutching it… Remembrance.
Kyle
Monday, 27th October 2008 at 12:59 pm
I do like the picture of the cross that you chose. I think an empty tomb would definitely be harder to recreate in the sanctuary and I am interested to read what others are thinking.
Kyles last blog post..The Acceptance of God
Ed
Monday, 27th October 2008 at 1:31 pm
I thought the cross was there as a focus of worship (and btw, it appeared a while back during a previous series). If “THE BIG CROSS” had to go..maybe a small cross could appear in the lower right corner of every slide we project… and while we’re on the subject of symbols…why don’t we have an American flag somewhere?
Kyle
Tuesday, 28th October 2008 at 10:11 am
I would have to humbly disagree with Ed. If the focus of our worship is the cross then it must come down. Our focus must be the God that was nailed to that cross. We shouldn’t need symbols to inspire our worship. I would hope that if we were without any symbols, our worship would not change. Just my thoughts. Have a blessed day!
Kyles last blog post..The Acceptance of God
Heath
Tuesday, 28th October 2008 at 5:53 pm
I think the full transcript of my conversation with Brian is needed here. I feel a little misrepresented above. Also keep in mind I had no idea this adhoc chat conversation was going to be a blog post for the world to read.
[10/26/2008 7:54:22 PM] Brian says: so why do we have to have a cross
[10/26/2008 7:59:18 PM] Heath says: haha
[10/26/2008 7:59:35 PM] Heath says: Just seems appropriate to me for some reason
[10/26/2008 7:59:45 PM] Brian says: why
[10/26/2008 7:59:55 PM] Brian says: you said we have to, and I am wondering why
[10/26/2008 8:00:03 PM] Heath says: along the same lines we have a disco ball
[10/26/2008 8:00:08 PM] Heath says: to remember!
[10/26/2008 8:01:43 PM] Brian says: you know what, that’s probably the best answer anyone has given me yet
[10/26/2008 8:01:58 PM] Brian says: But,
[10/26/2008 8:02:07 PM] Heath says: why does apple light up their apple on the front of your mac book?
[10/26/2008 8:02:18 PM] Brian says: I don’t know
[10/26/2008 8:02:49 PM] Heath says: it’s a symbol and it stands for something
[10/26/2008 8:03:10 PM] Brian says: the early church didn’t use it as a symbol
[10/26/2008 8:03:29 PM] Heath says: early in what time frame?
[10/26/2008 8:03:42 PM] Heath says: acts time?
[10/26/2008 8:03:44 PM] Heath says: ?
[10/26/2008 8:04:08 PM] Brian says: early as in…it didn’t’ become a symbol of Christianity until long after anyone who had ever seen one used had died
[10/26/2008 8:04:53 PM] Heath says: humm I dont see it as a symbol of Christianity myself.
[10/26/2008 8:05:09 PM] Brian says: the crossing of the red sea is very important to the Christian journey, as well as the commandments and the trinity, but we don’t have symbols for those hanging up anywhere
[10/26/2008 8:05:47 PM] Heath says: none of them are as important as the day Jesus was hung on the cross.
[10/26/2008 8:06:20 PM] Brian says: I disagree
[10/26/2008 8:06:24 PM] Heath says: that was the day our debts were paid in full.
[10/26/2008 8:06:32 PM] Heath says: its ok to disagree
[10/26/2008 8:06:38 PM] Brian says: Its all part of the story
[10/26/2008 8:07:04 PM] Brian says: He didn’t just plop into history and say, Okay, here you go
[10/26/2008 8:07:28 PM] Brian says: he weaved a tapestry of salvation history that led to that moment
[10/26/2008 8:07:41 PM] Brian says: and the trinity…
[10/26/2008 8:07:43 PM] Heath says: yes true
[10/26/2008 8:07:48 PM] Heath says: all true
[10/26/2008 8:15:42 PM] Heath says: either way it won’t change who I am or what Jesus did for me on a cross. I just liked to look at it during worship time to focus on the reason I was there.
[10/26/2008 8:16:01 PM] Brian says: you should know me better than to think I wouldn’t just come out and say something
[10/26/2008 8:16:06 PM] Heath says: looking at your face didn’t help me focus
[10/26/2008 8:16:18 PM] Brian says: whhhhaaatttt
[10/26/2008 8:16:23 PM] Heath says: haha
[10/26/2008 8:17:08 PM] Brian says: why does the cross do that for you
[10/26/2008 8:17:21 PM] Brian says: Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory
[10/26/2008 8:17:34 PM] Brian says: why do you need a symbol
[10/26/2008 8:17:52 PM] Brian says: what if it was a needle, and we hung a big needle up
[10/26/2008 8:18:12 PM] Heath says: it just happened to be what the Romans used.
[10/26/2008 8:18:18 PM] Heath says: I can’t change that
[10/26/2008 8:18:25 PM] Brian says: but what if
[10/26/2008 8:18:27 PM] Heath says: if it was a needle so be it
[10/26/2008 8:18:47 PM] Heath says: it’s not the item, it’s what happened
[10/26/2008 8:19:20 PM] Brian says: so if its what happened and not the item, why do you need the cross
[10/26/2008 8:20:02 PM] Heath says: just an item to focus on is all. i’m a visual kinda person