This funny and painful parable preaches more eloquently in a nutshell to the issue of traditional worship vs. contemporary worship, modern worship vs. classical worship, than I ever could. It's all about perspective. Of course, it's hyperbole. Only those who have truly wrestled with bridging the gap in the worship wars can truly appreciate both sides of this.
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An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
"Well" said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."
"Praise choruses?" said his wife. "What are those?"
"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.
The farmer said, "Well, it's like this--If I were to say to you 'Marthe, the cows are in the corn'--well, that would be a hymn. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Martha, Martha, Martha
Oh Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows,
the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS
are in the corn,
are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN.'
Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well, that would be a praise chorus."
The next weekend, his nephew, a yougn, new Christian from the city, came to visit and attended the local church of the small town. He went home and his wife asked him how it was. "Well," said the young man, "it was good. They did something different however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."
"Hymns?" asked his wife. "What are those?"
"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.
"Well, what's the difference?"
The young man said, "Well, it's like this--If I were to say to you 'Martha, the cows are in the corn'--well, that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.
'For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense
Hearkenest they in God's sun or His rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
'Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.
'So look to the bright shining day by and by
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn
Where no vicious animals make my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.'
"Then if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn."
(Source: Debra Rienstra and Ron Rienstra, Worship Words: Discipling Language for Faithful Ministry [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009], 78-79. They reference this being a widespread internet fable which has been circulated in various forms, and whose origin is unknown.)
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 12:33AM ;)
Philosopher and liturgical theologian, Nicholas Wolterstorff, recently reminded listeners at the “Liturgy, Music, and Space” Conference hosted by Bifrost Arts this past spring that the architecture around and in your worship space makes theological statements whether you like it or not. For instance, a tall, raised platform at the front the sanctuary with the Communion table positioned in the very back can make the theological statement that the Lord’s Table is so holy that its access must be limited and guarded. Or, think of a worship space in which the seating is arranged in a circle or semicircle around the leaders in worship in the middle. This can make a statement about the unity of the people of God in worship and the tearing down of sharp divisions between the congregation and the worship leaders. Or, think about the warehouse with a huge stage and lighting structure. It says, “we’re here to perform for you…sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.” Architecture tells the story of your theology of and priorities in worship. I want to share with you how we’ve chosen to let some recent changes to our sanctuary’s architecture inform our theology of worship. 
