Christian Baxter: Can the Telos of Worship Build a Meaningful Bridge between Religious Traditions?

Christian Baxter of the new Youtube Channel, Yours Truly, joins Karen for an extended discussion of the telos of worship. For a peak at how AI described this conversation, scroll down past the links.

The very first episode on Christian's channel: https://youtu.be/aUbULLbltzo?si=ZF249oYpIyJK0NHO

Christian's first conversation with Karen: https://youtu.be/tSIFpKcE_Fk?si=u62VXLD9EgDwO0s-

"Living Water" by Christian Baxter, with Karen's "Living Water" series of paintings: https://youtu.be/BhTWO-C2pRg?si=t5RBwHTpZK_ZM61R

For the curious sort, here is how AI described this conversation:

"Christian Baxter and Karen Wong had a deep discussion about the evolution of online conversations and the shift towards long-form discussions. They also discussed finding better language for the telos of worship to bridge theological distinctions, the concept of sacredness and worship, and the essence of worship as a continuous practice beyond Sunday gatherings. They expressed a desire for more corporate prayer, scripture reading, and a sense of restoration and remembrance in evangelical church services, highlighting the absence of these elements in their current experiences. They also explored the idea that active engagement in liturgical rituals can lead to a more profound and transformative experience compared to passive consumption. The speakers also discussed the evolution of worship music in churches, focusing on the transition from traditional to contemporary styles. They explored the consequences of this shift, such as the fragmentation of church services and the lack of communal participation in worship. They also delved into a thought-provoking discussion about the symbolic meaning of communion elements, emphasizing the profound significance of bread and wine production processes. They expressed concerns about the potential loss of meaning in modern worship practices, particularly in music and preaching, and stressed the need for language to address the crisis within the worship space. Christian Baxter led a discussion on the implications of the Dunbar number in church growth, emphasizing the need to recognize the limitations of scaling a church beyond a certain size. He argued that rather than viewing the capacity as a barrier to overcome, it should be seen as a practical marker for determining what the church can effectively manage."