What exactly is a "normal" Christian anyway? (And yes, my answer sounds elitist)

Alternate Title: 
Why It's Important That People Aren't Coming to My "Liturgical" Church Plant

How the Church Calendar can speak to modern people (if we allow it to)

This is my sixth article (out of 6 but with a couple of followup article) exploring "liturgical" worship and whether or not it works in my culture, that is "middle American Christianity". Here is our ongoing foundational question: Is the liturgy too elitist and academic for "regular" or mainstream Christians who fall into the general Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Protestant camps?

After several negative articles attempting to dissect the problem, this article (as well as the previous one) make an attempt at rebuilding what the liturgy is and can do amongst God's people, most especially in the role it can take in transforming the Church in the midst of our present culture. Specifically, this article deals with the scope and rhythm of the Church calendar. For more on the Church calendar, check out my interview with Michelle Van Loon about her book Moments and Days.

TRANSFORMING OUR HOLIDAYS INTO HOLY DAYS
There are certain seasonal rhythms that just feel right. They are embedded into our very life cycles. Some rhythms naturally arise with the changing of the seasons and some have been shaped and established through years of cultural practice.

How the Liturgy can speak to modern people (if we allow it to)

This is my fifth article of six exploring "liturgical" worship and whether or not it works in my culture, that is "middle American Christianity". Here is our foundational question: Is the liturgy too elitist and academic for "regular" or mainstream Christians who fall into the general Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Protestant camps?

After several negative articles attempting to dissect the problem, this article and the next make an attempt at rebuilding what the liturgy is and can do amongst God's people, most especially in the role it can take in transforming the Church in the midst of our present culture.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a comprehensive article. Such a term is an oxymoron, as no single blog article could encapsulate something as complex as "the liturgy" or liturgical studies. So I ask you to please not judge it for what I have left out or failed to mention. I will later post an article with numerous books and resources and practical ideas for the liturgy. Therefore, it is best to approach this article as one entry point into thinking about what the liturgy is supposed to do, especially if you attend a congregation that might be considered "non-liturgical". 

Though it might be a fool's errand, this article is for two disparate audiences: 1.) I am writing for those already fully enmeshed and committed to "liturgical" worship in hopes that they might see how they can teach and practice liturgy amid a culture that is liturgically illiterate, and 2.) I hope to "offer a way in" for those self-described "low church" people who are interested in incorporating liturgical practices in their church but may be intimidated by the prospect and is in need of a primer in order to know what this liturgy thing is all about.

Let's start with one of the simplest set of churchy questions possible: How are Christians called to live? That is, what actions are disciples of Jesus supposed to set about doing? And what actions are universal to all branches of our Faith?

Why People Don't Go To "Liturgical" Churches Part 2: It's Un-American!

This is my fourth article of six exploring "liturgical" worship and whether or not it works in my culture, that is "middle American Christianity". Here is our foundational question: Is the liturgy too elitist and academic for "regular" or mainstream Christians who fall into the general Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Protestant camps?

This article, the second of two parts, addresses some of the many possible reasons why worshipping God through "the liturgy" does not seem to work for my context. The particular focus here is why "the liturgy" as a worship practice challenges some of our most cherished "American values." 

The previous articles can be viewed here:
Is the Liturgy Too Elitist and Academic For "Normal" Christians?
Liturgical Worship is Like Being a Radiohead Fan
Why People Don't Go To "Liturgical" Churches Part 1: Liturgy's Superiority Complex

Reason #5). The liturgy "quenches the Spirit". It tells people how to worship and puts words in their mouths instead of allowing them to seek God freely in their own way.

Why People Don't Go To "Liturgical" Churches Part 1: Liturgy's Superiority Complex

This is my third article of six exploring "liturgical" worship and whether or not it works in my culture, that is "middle American Christianity". Here is our foundational question: Is the liturgy too elitist and academic for "regular" or mainstream Christians who fall into the general Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Protestant camps?

This article, the first of two parts, addresses some of the many possible reasons why worshipping God through "the liturgy" does not seem to work for my context. It is split into two parts for the sake of length.

Here are articles 1 & 2:
Is the Liturgy Too Elitist and Academic For "Normal" Christians?
Liturgical Worship is Like Being a Radiohead Fan

THE DIRE DIAGNOSES 
I am now in the midst of attempting to diagnosis why it is that "liturgical worship" does not work (or does not seem to be working) in my middle class, middle American city. Here are my best guesses. And please note that "the liturgy" is something I am deeply committed to. It is something I will do the rest of my life. It is something I believe to be deeply Biblical, historically Christian, and transformative for today's Church. But perhaps it does not (yet) appeal to a majority of the people in my cultural context. 

A Parable: Liturgical Worship is Like Being a Radiohead Fan

Please take your seats and be silent. The Church of Radiohead is now in session.

This is my second article of six exploring "liturgical" worship and whether or not it works in my culture, that is "middle American Christianity". Our foundational question is: Is the liturgy too elitist and academic for "regular" or mainstream Christians who fall into the general Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Protestant camps? Here is a link to the first article.

Before I move on to more specific reasons why I believe the liturgy "doesn't work" in my cultural context I will now attempt to further understand my situation through something of a parable.

THE LITURGY AND RADIOHEAD
Imagine that for some reason I decided to move back to my home town of Peoria, Illinois in order to introduce everyone there to the band Radiohead. Lets say that for some reason NO ONE there listens to them, at least among the people I grew up with. Sure, there were some people listening to Radiohead when I was younger, but these were some strange folks with "out there" tastes in music, nothing like me and the pop radio-loving kids in my circle of friends. Also imagine that I too am a musician and songwriter and have the hopes of getting my music heard and becoming an established artist in Peoria. I have high hopes in moving back. I want to introduce my city to a band that I love as well as to my own music that I've been hard at work on for a number of years.

Is The Liturgy Too Elitist and Academic For Regular Christians? (An Introduction)

Alternate title: The Liturgy is Dead! Long Live the Liturgy!

PREFACE
I realize to some people the title of this article is going to look like click bait. But it's not. Instead it is a question I have continued to ask myself numerous times over the past several years. In a way, I ask it every single Sunday...