Anyone know of a DL master's in Worship Arts? I know you can have that concentration at Liberty, but I'm not really interested. I hope no one is offended by what I'm about to say. I believe worship is more than hymn singing. I believe worship includes art, architecture, music, poetry, singing, liturgy, candles, colors, and even silence, as in the Quaker tradition. I find that to be lacking in many Protestant ideas of worship.
Here's the closest matches I could find for you: MA Arts & Religion Degrees - Online Master's Degree in Arts and Religion - eLearners.com I'm not sure any of these would interest you.
fftopic: :sad6: Hosea 6:6 "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
Worship Ministry Hey man, I have been in worship ministry for about 25 years and I did the Grand Canyon undergrad in worship studies, although they discontinued it now. Regent University has a DL program that is connected with Integrity Worship Institute. They have a concentration in worship renewal. It is here: Practical Theology Tracks - Master of Arts - School of Divinity - Regent University Before you make a decision, email me at [email protected]. I could probably help you.. Kirk
Hope International University (WASC and ABHE accredited) offers a 100% online MA: Ministry with concentration in Worship: Hope International University - Southern California Christian College Michael, Not speaking for Maniac Craniac (he’s more than capable of responding), but here’s my understanding as regards the re to Hosea 6:6 (NKJV): “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” As God Himself instituted sacrifices, it cannot mean that He desired them not completely, but that even in the Old Testament, He valued moral obedience as the only end for which positive ordinances, such as sacrifices, were instituted – as of more importance than a mere external ritual obedience. Per Hosea 6:6, nothing that they (Israel /Judah) do with respect to their sacrificial worship is efficacious. As Adam broke the covenant of God in paradise, so Israel had broken its national covenant, despite all the favors they had received. During this time, Judah also was ripe for Divine judgments. This verse exposes the foolishness of those, in this instance Israel, who trust in external observances, in attempt to make up for their want of love to God and man. Unless the relationship with God is in good order, and manifests itself in the character of one's daily life, worship activities of any genus have no saving value. Also re Amos 5:21-24 (NKJV): “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not favor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offering and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.” Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 twice in Matt 9:13; 12:7 with suggestion to the intransigence of pharisaical life. Matthew 9:13 (NKJV) “But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Matthew 12:7 (NKJV) “But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.”
Thank you for the link, and for your interpretation of the Bible verses -- which I agree with, btw. I want to make it clear that I believe worship does not consist of ritual and ceremony, that you can worship God by yourself anywhere. I further believe that the Quaker meeting with complete silence can be just as much a worship service as any High Church worship. That said, I do believe, as I previously mentioned, that the typical Protestant definition of "worship" leaves something to be desired.
Thanks for your post and the link. It says those worship courses are modular courses held on campus. I couldn't go to the campus. I'll be emailing you.
I've just looked at the Hope International degree; I like it. I don't really care for most of the Professional Development courses, though, and the cost of the degree is a lot higher than I prefer. Still, I like the mixture of worship, theology, and spirituality courses that are offered.
Michael, As regards the numerous denominations and there are certainly variations at all levels (some more prominent than others) in denominational theologies, but seemingly so much as regards disagreements among denominations might be attributed to variances in the corporate church models (?). Anyway, perhaps the Hope International University link may be of some assistance to you; there appears to be very few accredited online graduate degrees offering a Worship concentration.
Very good question. Perhaps he was referring to the concept of a "worship service"? Certainly there is no consistent "theology of worship" for Protestants. There is the debate among Protestant denominations over the normative and the regulative principles of worship, difference over the sacraments/ordinances, the role of ordained clergy in worship, etc.
Well, I don't mean to offend anyone as I said before, but I believe there's more to worship than hymn singing and everyone bowing their heads while one person "leads in prayer." I grew up Protestant evangelical but later experienced Quaker worship as well as liturgical worship. I like liturgy for several reasons: the beauty and reverence of it; it gets the whole congregation involved; incorporates more of the arts into worship; has periods of silence like Quaker worship -- although the silence is not long enough; has candles to represent the Light of Christ. It shows the many facets of worship instead of limiting it to singing and preaching and one person leading in prayer. And I am not a proponent of ceremony for ceremony's sake; I think ceremony and ritual can often get in the way of true worship or be substituted for it -- as the Pharisees and legalists in Jesus's day had done. But liturgy, used rightly, can greatly enhance worship. I hope I have explained myself without causing misunderstanding or offense.
