#Church Culture

[asanee44]

How Voodoo Influenced Black Music and Shaped Church Culture

The spiritual traditions of voodoo have deeply influenced black music and church culture. This episode uncovers the spiritual connection between the call-and-response patterns of Vodou ceremonies and the rhythms of gospel music, blues, jazz, and even hip-hop. Discover how the rituals, chants, and drumming of Vodou formed the foundation for Black musical expression. These elements even infused the…

[artist-issues]

I'm curious, what do you think of 1st Corinthians 14:34-35?

What we think of it doesn’t matter; what I think of it matters even less; what it says is what matters. It’s the Word of God.

“The women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.”

Everyone’s got a problem with that because it sounds like the Bible is saying women can’t ever talk in church at all. That’s not what it’s saying, though. You know why? Because this is two verses plucked straight out of a book that has 437 verses in it. That’s like if I read two sentences out of the middle of one of your emails to a close family member and took issue with whatever those two sentences said. Even though the context determines the meaning, so I have no right to get offended when I don’t understand the context. So what’s the context of 1 Corinthians by the time you get to 14:34-35?

The Apostle Paul is writing to a church in the Gentile city of Corinth in AD 53 or 54. That church was a blend of Jewish Christians and Greek Christians. Two completely different cultures were figuring out what the “assembly of the saints,” or “the first church services” were supposed to look like. And to make matters more complicated, they lived in one of the most morally bankrupt cities of that age. Literally, the Corinthian people had a Greek word coined to describe their immorality. So the people who lived there were generally all messed up, in terms of not knowing what was right and what was wrong. That extended to their church services.

The whole context of 1 Corinthians is “what is a church that glorifies the Lord supposed to look like?” The context of the specific chapter, 14, is “what should church assembly that glorifies the Lord look like? What should it not look like?”

How do I know? Read the verses that come before it. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul explains that spiritual gifts are for edifying other people. In fact, everything done in a church service, where the saints are gathered, is not for an individual. It’s for the edification of the whole group. So what might be okay to do in your own home or in private between you and God is not okay, because it’s not mindful, considerate, or edifying to other Christians when you’re in a church service.

Specifically, the Corinthians are all claiming to “prophesy” (get direct revelation from God) and “speak in tongues” (speak in known, but various and foreign, languages) all at once during the service. Everybody’s shouting over each other. Some people are shouting over each other “THUS SAYS THE LORD,” which is a huge deal. Because obviously if you’re going to claim that God has told you something, everyone should shut up, listen, and determine whether or not you’re telling the truth, because what could be a bigger deal than God speaking? But that’s not how the church in Corinth was treating it. Their services were helping nobody, least of all themselves, because it was loud chaotic pandemonium and nobody I was being edified. Everybody was shouting and judging. Including women. By verse 26, Paul is going:

“What is the outcome then, brothers? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has a translation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must translate; but if there is no translator, he must keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God. And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted. And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

And then he adds,

“The women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it arrived to you only?

“If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone remains ignorant about this, he is ignored by God.

“Therefore, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

Do you get it? The point is, “what does this specific situation, which is a church service, look like if we’re trying to do things in a God-honoring, orderly manner? Here’s what it does not look like: women can’t just stand up in church and take up the role of judge over men who are shouting that they are speaking from God, and call certain men impostors and certain men prophets.”

The point is not “all women should never ever speak in all church services because that’s disgraceful, they only get to talk to their husbands and get told what to do.”

If it were, then explain to me why, three chapters earlier, when he’s talking about head-coverings, Paul writes that women can prophesy in public?

“But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, shames her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.”

(if you want to talk about why the heck a woman has to have her head covered when she prophesies, blah blah blah, let’s talk about that too, but the answer’s going to be the same: context determines meaning, meaning is correct interpretation, etc.)

Additionally, why would Paul be commending the women in the church who have taught their sons and grandsons? How can they teach if they’re never allowed to talk in church, or if their only role in all contexts is “shut up and learn?”

Because that’s not their only biblical role. And that’s not what Paul was saying. Paul was saying, “in this specific context, here’s how a woman (among all the other people groups I’m also addressing) should conduct herself when the goal is to edify the believers in a church service, and not let anything get in the way of that goal.”

Now.

Guess what?

If the Bible did say, “all women shut up and listen all the time, let the men do the talking,” would you listen to it?

You, reading this. Would you have a problem with it? If that’s what God Sid to do, would you sit in judgement over God and say, “no, infinite Creator of all matter and life, You’re mistaken about how You should be worshipped and what these little creatures You made are for, let me correct and educate You with the judgement coming out of the three-pound lump of gray matter, which You designed and graciously allowed me to have in the first place, sitting inside my skull. Let me, the creature, tell You, the Creator, where you’re wrong and what ‘Being God’ should be like.”

I hope not. But I was super convicted reading this chapter for the first time and finding myself a) misunderstanding it and then b) having the appalling gall and arrogance to be outraged by it.

Who in the world am I? Who am I to be outraged, if God did say, “be quiet and spend your life listening to men?” If that were what He was saying, my response should be, “Yes, Lord.”

Why are we so concerned about being allowed to speak? What do we have to say that’s so great, that’s so necessary, that’s so devastating to have “removed” from us, anyway? Why do we care so much about being heard? Is it because we have something to say that could really help men, in the church services? Oh, really? And if we women don’t say it, God won’t edify the men? He’ll be handicapped because we were muzzled?

What’s so offensive about being told to stop talking and ask questions to learn, anyway? Why is that so infuriating, to us? We’re fools. The whole point of the Gospel is, “He (Jesus) must increase; I must decrease.” The best place in the world to be is at the feet of Jesus, learning. Humble. Not producing anything of ourselves, but absorbing everything He has to teach us. Who cares if it’s our husbands He plans to do that through? Who cares if we can’t teach men in church? What, we think God can’t handle that? We think He can’t teach them His own way, that His plan was flawed, that they’re “missing out” because God dropped the ball by telling us not to stand up in service and disrupt everything with this great ‘word’ we have, that nobody else has?

Ugh. God forgive me for ever even approaching a mindset that thinks I have something to say, and if I don’t say it, He won’t be able to accomplish His will. God forgive me for ever thinking my Western modern culture knows better than His divine plan. He designed human beings and men and women and what would best serve us before “culture” or “social frameworks” were ever even conceived of.

We all need to be a lot more humble. Me first.

I would encourage you to test what I said. If you read this, you should spend an equal amount of time studying the Bible for yourself and seeing if I was right, and if that’s really what God said and meant, based on the context, which determines meaning, because there is such a thing as “correct and incorrect interpretation” when the God of the universe meant something by what He said. And I could’ve gotten it wrong. And you don’t want to get it wrong.

[internetgiraffekid1673]

I love southern culture.

So for those of you who don't know, Miss [First Name] is generally considered a polite way to address adult women who you know in a mostly informal capacity if you are a child. This includes the mothers of your friends, daycare people, babysitters, your teacher's teenage to adult daughters, the old unmarried lady in the apartment three doors down, etc.

I love this address and it has now been extended to me at church. I have been a girls camp adult leader (working with 11 to 16 year old kids) and am now the primary pianist (5-10 year old kids). I am also only 18, which means there is less of an age gap between me and the kids than between me and the other leaders. This means it feels very weird and overly formal to me to be called Sister [Last Name], which is the standard way to address adults at church. Especially because, like, that's my mom, not me.

So after introducing myself to the kids by just my first name out of habit, the very polite kids have all collectively decided to call me Sister [First Name], and it makes me so happy. Like, it's literally the perfect in between level of formality I need as an emerging adult. Thank you, Southern terminology.

[nightsealeafrainwing]

Christian Church culture is fucked up. I’ve been to a ton because I was in a military family (lots of moving), and every time, there’s so much focus on what counts as *not* loving/good/etc that there’s constant pressure to have a perfectly clean mask on while you’re there. Every member of that society is forced to lie about our imperfections despite being reminded often *by our leaders* (the biblically accurate ones anyway) that imperfection is inevitable for us. The whole reason we needed help in the first place is we do shit that breaks relationships and hurts people, making them a little more loveless and continuing the cycle. How are we supposed to support each other (“bear one another’s burdens”) and love each other (every other syllable out of Jesus’ mouth) if we can’t even be completely real without being slightly distanced *at best*? Heart hospitality’s missing, It’s straight up toxic. Subtle when you grew up in it, but toxic. Top priority being “what is loving” and it being “not what is not loving” might sound interchangeable on paper, but this is what happens when “avoid not-love” is more emphasized than ��do love” in a community. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk 😆.

[pastordin]

Shepherding with Purpose: Chapter 4

Navigating Church Culture | Shepherding with Purpose | Pastor Aamir and Carissa Din Home | Media | Contact Part II: Understanding and Engaging with the Church Chapter 4: Navigating Church Culture “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” — Psalm 150:6 (NIV) Published on January 2, 2025 Introduction Church culture profoundly influences how a congregation operates,…

[jamestippins]

Introduction: Reclaiming Eve - A Journey Through Theology, Tradition, and Redemption

Eve, the first woman of the Bible, has been the subject of countless interpretations, debates, and discussions throughout the history of Christian thought. Her story is of profound significance, shaping our understanding of the human condition and our views on gender, sin, and redemption. From the earliest patristic writings to contemporary feminist theology, Eve’s narrative has been woven into…

[pastorjeremynorton]

Discipleship and Discovering Your Calling

Discover your calling and transform your discipleship journey! Explore how mentorship, apprenticeship, and spiritual gifts can guide your path in ministry. #Discipleship #Ministry #SpiritualGifts #Calling #ChurchLeadership

What’s Your Calling? Typically, this question is asked of those looking to enter full-time ministry. Yet, it’s my conviction that this is an unhelpful thought process rooted in Western Christianity. I’d like to propose the idea that discovering your calling and living it out is a foundational step for discipleship. What if every follower of Christ, after receiving the Gospel, then understands…

[emmaliee]

Sanctuary Lost

“Go to church,” they said. “It will be fun,” they said. Well, guess what? I went for a while, and what a circus it turned out to be: creepy men practically stalking me, others desperate to marry me after a mere hello, abusive individuals, and a complete disregard for boundaries. Instead of making genuine connections, I found myself surrounded by people with malicious intentions. The women, who were supposed to be my friends, were quick to judge and ostracize me for simply wanting to look “pretty.” The constant gossip and rumors were suffocating. I'm tired of being around hypocrites. My faith in God remains solid, but the church environment is a breeding ground for toxicity. I want no part of it. I'll worship on my own terms, away from the drama and toxicity of those four walls.

[marvel-mistress-padawan]

I was recently remembering something that happened when I was a teenager. I have been a musician for most of my life and used to share songs I had written in church. They really weren’t bad as far as lyrics and skill level went. My songs were generally well liked by the congregation at the time and were later approved of by my music professor in college. Anyway, at some point in my teens I shared a song with rather depressing lyrics about how I felt as if I were in the dark. After service was over one of the older ladies in church pulled me aside to have a discussion with me about my attitude. She claimed she only did so out of “concern.” My songs and demeanor had been too sad of late and according to her I needed to reevaluate how much I had to be thankful for.

At the time I accepted her words, took them to heart, and felt terrible for not being thankful enough. I had a home, food, two living parents, a good Christian family. There was no reason to be so ungrateful and so sad.

Looking back, being 41 years old now, I realize that woman was totally out of line. I was a teenager who was isolated and depressed. I was homeschooled and spent the majority of my time at home with books. The other homeschoolers in my community were very sports oriented. They always gathered to play basketball, flag football, go hiking, or snowboarding. I was clumsy and had no interest in athletics and at times the group intentionally left me out of their activities. My parents were poor, my father disabled, my mother unemployed by choice to be a homemaker. We had no money to go out to eat or go to movies or buy new clothes. I wore thrift shop clothing and our groceries were gotten with food stamps.

I don’t know why this woman thought that telling me to stop being unthankful was the solution. It baffles me.

[beemintty]

i find myself missing youth group.

i used to go to youth groups every friday, then i moved cities and i never quite found a group that felt home, while simultaneously relearning and rediscovering, but also struggling and questioning my faith. i miss a place i feel i no longer belong because of some church culture.

here's what i know for sure:

jesus loves me and he gave his life so that i could live.

jesus is kind and good.

god made me in his image and has a plan for me.

i love worship and i love sharing in the worship with other young people.

here's where my faith gets harder and i feel distance:

i cannot be in a church and be fully accepted as i am and therefore i don't go.

other christians criticise the way i go about my faith and that comes with its own questions and uncertainty and isolation.

i have not committed the time to grow my faith in a long time... it's been there in the background but it's wobbly.

there was a point in my life where i had such a strong foundation! but life got in my way, anger got in my way, fear and uncertainty and doubt got in my way.... and that's on me. i find myself missing youth because it was a space i was encouraged to grow in christ, but now i feel so out of place in the world of the church.

what am i going to do? well i'm going to worship and learn and connect on my own because it matters to me.

we start again here -- you and me jesus.

[bee-the-whovian]

"Read the room. The room with you and Jesus in it."

[bristolchurch]

The Economy of Christian Compassion

In exploring the dynamics of modern church practices, it’s essential to critically assess the shift towards a more transactional mindset. The concept of a “unit price” in the context of church engagement raises concerns about the commodification of spiritual experiences. As churches adopt worldly methodologies focused on profitability, there’s a risk of losing the essence of selfless service and…

[feddy-34]

HOW CAN YOU HATE HER??????????

[shawnpgreene]

Money is the root of all evil?

A recent Facebook post stirred up a lot of responses. The internet does not disappoint when it comes to opinions. However, this statement, either intentional or misquoted, it was ignorant. “If money is the root of all evil 😈👹why do they ask for it at church?🤔” – LJ De Kinq BTM (Monday June 19, 2023) The phrase “money is the root of all evil” is a common misquotation of a biblical verse. The…

[dandelionjack]

> new series release (space babies) coincided with the uk seeing the northern lights for the first time in years

> the devil’s chord coincided with paul mccartney’s long-missing hofner bass guitar being found, by a doctor who fan no less

> boom coincided with an actual meteor crash

> 73 yards is coinciding with a rise in bizarre supposedly-occult animal sacrifice rituals in britain (the folk horror part) and rishi sunak finally calling a general election (the political drama part)

> hypothesis: russell t davies has somehow managed to tune in to the universe’s divine frequency ??

> conclusion: messing with the forces of fate, cause&effect and coincidence, even if it’s for the pop culture franchise you’re showrunning, actually turns it into an egregore, but only if it’s been going for long enough (sixty fucking years to the dot) and watched by enough people (tens of millions). which it has

> ergo, postscriptum: television magick is real and is being unintentionally performed by the creators + audience of the world’s silliest science fiction show

> /jk. unless?

[alejaolch]

winter in the museum

Poland, Sądecki Ethnographic Park January 2024