Broadway or Cathedral?
6 Comments Published by Camron Ware - Visual Worshiper January 21st, 2009 in Miscellaneous, Visual WorshipShould churches be a Broadway theater or a cathedral of praise?
Should all of our focus be on one area of the room or is the focus not in the room at all?
Are we observing or participating?
But the other burning question is; Why do some most churches not have anything of beauty, as both a theater and cathedral usually do?
Hmm.
Good thoughts. I don’t have an answer, but you’re right most churches take one side or the other and tend to be extremely sterile in their worship environment.
Yeah, I really don’t have an answer either. I’ve just been observing so many buildings that are void of simple things that can enhance the beauty of a building, both inside and out. Just interesting…
I think that ultimately participation is the goal regardless of decoration; building or enhancement.
But the type of environment says a lot about who is going to come and stay for more.
Our Church started in a Chapel, then we moved the services to a school because of numbers. We tried to enhance the environment with decor and lights etc but it’s still a cold place – especially when you see the building for the first time.
But we are going to move again because our numbers are increasing to what I think it a way more inviting place.
(way more open, way more parking, the toilets are even cooler)
And I think that a lot of people are going to come because of these things, they will think the lights, music and videos are cool – and they will come back for more – and after a while we will lead them up a path that gets them to participate more and even better to accept Christ.
here is the difference – between the two venues: http://synapticlight.com/2009/01/17/dare-you-to-move/
I wonder to which one you would be keep to go to?
“as both a theater and cathedral usually do?”
excellent point.
biggest stumbling block is church history. corruption in the cathedrals of the renaissance, let to puritan reformation, which many of our evangelical churches in america take their roots.
when they re-defined religion, the basic message became:
puritans=pure & simple
theatre/cathedral= gaudy & worldly
i’m not a church historian!! just a theatrically trained director at a church. wrestled with these notions for years.
We should be participating in worship to the King of Kings. The room should help us to focus on Jesus. This may be through visuals, lighting etc. Phillip made some great points in his comment.
We are currently meeting at David’s Catfish House. The stuffed animals prepare our avid hunters for worship. I’m sure it is a stumbling block for vegetarians. Thankfully in Alabama, meatatarians greatly outnumber vegetarians.
By the way, your gallery of worship settings is awesome!
I have doubts!
Sister Aloysius Beauvier