Thank you for posting this. I can definitely relate to not taking notes any longer. I have so many filled notebooks (I do need to toss them) because I am not going back to read them. Besides they are on the same few topics over and over but that is another can of worms, lol.
I'm okay sitting still in church because it provides an opportunity for contemplative worship. But your instincts in this regard are still very relatable, Nadine. I felt the same way when I was younger about sitting still in a classroom all day. School as it is structured today - informed, as I understand it, by a desire to replicate the high productivity of a mass production factory setting - can be torture for some. Thank you for making the case for at least understanding that there are a range of different ways people experience things.
I agree Nadine. I often wonder if any of the biblical teachers or leaders have ever researched adult learning pedagogy or spoken to a teacher about the theories of constructivist learning. In my bible there are lots of examples of it... if they did, the whole format of church would need rethinking.
You touched on an important topic Nadine. To me the root is about how the church (and members) should not be dogmatic about what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like or should look like.
When the church is dogmatic about what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like, it can come at the expense of people trying hard to fit a mould and in so doing not allow room for the Holy Spirit.
On a related note, worship may take different shapes or forms. I know that in some churches (more common in charismatic denominations), during their praise and worship sessions, individuals are allowed to
- Sit down and read scriptures
- Walk around and sing
- Draw or paint
- Not sing but just be in awe of God
I am not saying this to say that these ways of worship is superior to other denominations.
The key is about how the church needs to be less dogmatic of what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like and to start appreciating that the Holy Spirit moves uniquely for different believers.
Thank you for posting this. I can definitely relate to not taking notes any longer. I have so many filled notebooks (I do need to toss them) because I am not going back to read them. Besides they are on the same few topics over and over but that is another can of worms, lol.
I'm okay sitting still in church because it provides an opportunity for contemplative worship. But your instincts in this regard are still very relatable, Nadine. I felt the same way when I was younger about sitting still in a classroom all day. School as it is structured today - informed, as I understand it, by a desire to replicate the high productivity of a mass production factory setting - can be torture for some. Thank you for making the case for at least understanding that there are a range of different ways people experience things.
I agree Nadine. I often wonder if any of the biblical teachers or leaders have ever researched adult learning pedagogy or spoken to a teacher about the theories of constructivist learning. In my bible there are lots of examples of it... if they did, the whole format of church would need rethinking.
You touched on an important topic Nadine. To me the root is about how the church (and members) should not be dogmatic about what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like or should look like.
When the church is dogmatic about what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like, it can come at the expense of people trying hard to fit a mould and in so doing not allow room for the Holy Spirit.
On a related note, worship may take different shapes or forms. I know that in some churches (more common in charismatic denominations), during their praise and worship sessions, individuals are allowed to
- Sit down and read scriptures
- Walk around and sing
- Draw or paint
- Not sing but just be in awe of God
I am not saying this to say that these ways of worship is superior to other denominations.
The key is about how the church needs to be less dogmatic of what ‘a spiritual person’ looks like and to start appreciating that the Holy Spirit moves uniquely for different believers.
Totally agree. Thank you for your comment Sean.
You are welcome.
Thank you for giving the voiceless a voice in your posts and bringing healing to those who have been hurt by the system.