From
Living Theology in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
Volume 1, Number 2
Lent 1996
Worship and Evangelism
Lorraine
S. Brugh and Andrew H. Leahy
“Our
ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people
must worship is in Jerusalem.” (The Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:20)
The
place we worship is important. It makes the intangible tangible and the local
specific. The style of our worship is also important. Jesus cuts to the quick
in noting that worship must be filled with spirit and truth.
The
story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-30) is filled with all kinds
of ideas worthy of discussion, one of which is the subject of true worship. The
context of the story informs us of the starting point of any discussion about
true worship. Jesus is brashly breaking with some serious cultural norms.
First, he speaks to a woman in public. Second, he speaks to her about theology,
assuming she is equal to the discussion. And third, she is a Samaritan, which
according to the Jewish culture of that day made her unworthy to speak to even
if she were a man!
It is
in the midst of these outrageous circumstances that we must hear Jesus’ words,
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (v.
24).” Jesus makes it clear by his actions and his words that differences of
culture are not a barrier and in fact are not even the issue.
The
articles which follow present us with some thought-provoking ideas. Each of
them deals with an issue of current concern in the church regarding worship and
evangelism. In these articles we hear some of the many cultural voices among us
in the Metro Chicago Synod. We hear some of the issues that have caused, and
continue to cause barriers to be erected among us. It is our hope that these
articles will cause each of us to reflect on our own cultural context, and on
Jesus’ admonition that we must worship in spirit and in truth.
We
may not agree with all that is said. Or we may think the articles do not go far
enough. But the heart of the issue is not whether
one culture offers something better for worship. Rather the issue is how one culture contributes to another
as we gather in the One Body of Jesus the Christ to worship the One who has
created us all and called us to offer what we have.
Lorraine S. Brugh
Director of
Music, Wilmette Lutheran Church
Andrew H. Leahy
Pastor, Prince
of Peace, Chicago Heights