Balans en perspektief: kernmomente van korporatiewe aanbidding?

[摘要] English: It is becoming increasingly evident that church members have totally different expectations of the 21st century church. The main complaint is that people experience the church as being irrelevant in their daily lives. There are three strong basic needs which are influenced by religious activities, namely a search for fellowship, meaning and endowment for life This research is about finding a balance between the rational and the emotional perceptions during corporate worship, so as to involve the total being. Worship should be a formative experience. The development should result from an encounter with God which would compel man to humility before and obedience to God. Spiritual development and edifying should take place primarily through preaching of the Gospel. The emphasis should be on God-centred, Biblical corporate worship. Worshipping God is the most important activity of the faithful. This study is directed by the hypothesis that the cognitive, emotive and the conative are all three aspects of one and the same person and which should be given expression to during corporate worship. One should never dominate the other. A specific anthropological approach has been chosen. To modern man, the covenant holds the rational belief that the Creator God is the same Person who, in an emotional manner, speaks to his heart. God can be experienced as present and real. God promises and also enables. Humanness is twofold: person of the Covenant and image of God. A person of the Covenant should not only worship but also offer. Chapter 3 refers to thought patterns and systems. In the Bible the thoughts of man emerge as the central source of renewal. When man starts to think differently, he also starts to do differently. Whole brain thinking must be applied to optimally experience God. This means the integration of analytical, imaginative structured and sensitive approaches resulting in the combination of the rational and emotive; the objective and the subjective. From this follows emotional intelligence. Chapter 4 presents an evaluation of the effect of post–modernism on corporate worship. Inclusive and holistic thinking takes place from different angles within the spiritual realm of thought. Exclusivity has become unacceptable. The perceptions of the post-modernism could contribute towards reaching man as an entity. The dangers involved can however not be ignored. In Chapter 5 the issue of emotion comes up for discussion. This cannot be separated from religion. The faithful shall love God with heart, mind, body and even all strength. Emotion is something with definite power and depth in every person. God as well as man has feelings and needs. Cardinal emotions, namely regret, joy and peace, are exposed. These emotions form the basis for meeting with and experiencing God during corporate worship. Extra-cultic emotion is not relevant here. Reflection is cast on the Biblical emotion which brings about life changes in the faithful during corporate worship. The concept 'spirituality is used to describe the depth-dimension of humanness. Jonker (1989:288) says: ' We could translate it as religious perception, religious experience, religious study and religious practice. In the reformed tradition, devoutness is perhaps the word which, in the past, was more generally used. It is about God and His honour; worship and laudation of God. The church service should nourish spirituality and spirituality should be the hallmark of the church service. Spirituality is how man experiences God and thereafter lives for Him. Worshipping is the primary task of the church and the faithful. Personal religion and worship go hand in hand. Corporate worship is a meeting between God and His congregation and should be reflected in the quality of the relationship among the worshippers. If worshipping does not affect man, it is not yet worship. True worship is when man's entire being, rational and emotional, is captured by the reality of God's love and grace. The church service is the heart of the congregation. Over-emphasis of either the rational or the emotional leads to unilateralism and attenuation. Renewal of the divine service lies therein that, throughout, God is constantly sought (mentally) and experienced (emotionally). Renewal of the church service is however secondary to the personal renewal of the believer. The nature of the church service lies embedded in the covenant. The challenge is to constantly find creative ways of reminding the worshipper of the reality and presence of God. Conscious meetings with God should be sought and experienced. A healthy balance between the rational and the emotional is important. From this follows a balanced spirituality. The theocentric character of the church service and its liturgical dynamics may however never be exchanged for an anthropological 'happening; just as the service may not unfold in the form of a lecture or teaching. It is a great event; a soulstirring meeting between the God of the Covenant and the people of the Covenant. Balance and perspective are attainable when and if God is heard, seen and sensed during the service (most probably in this order). This is vital for religious growth and spiritual maturity. It will counteract subjectivism.

[发布机构] University of the Free State