Worship Culture from a Student’s Perspective
Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Rachel Hendrick.
Worship culture on campus is a hot topic that many students have opinions about. With students being the largest group of participants, it is important to find out what they think about the worship culture found on the BU campus and how it could potentially improve.
This year’s theme is being “bold,” and it seems in the spirit of Bold Week that some students are much more conscious of worship culture. However, are students really retaining or learning during the chapel services or events on campus? Some argue that the services may be too general. BU senior Blake shared his thoughts about worship culture and chapel services.
“I understand what they are trying to do here,” Carter said, “trying to bring many people in, but I feel like what is lost upon it is a lot of Christian principles when you get down to it.”
“Bold” is a word many people have been using in the past few weeks; the university is on a bold kick, and Carter is no exception.
“In the theme of bold, I feel like many bold Christian principles and stands could be taken, but it may be seen as controversial,” he said.
Carter also spoke about the speakers and messages being offered during the weekly chapel services.
“I feel that (the speakers) prior to Markus (McFolling, who served as guest speaker for Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week or Bold Week), were very vague or unspecific to the behaviors of people our age. And Markus looked at our demographic and tried to shine a light on our common behaviors that are sinful, and according to Christian principles, there are plenty of spaces and different things that Gen-Z is hooked on that I feel Christian principles are the antidote to.”
During this year’s Bold Week, led by McFolling, founder of Reach1, chapel seemed to be at an all-time high, and the audience was very engaged with the messages. McFolling touched on topics that a normal chapel often lacks on a regular basis, like the sinful behaviors and addictions that many of the student body take part in — almost like a wake-up call for a university of people who are not fully digesting the messages of the chapel regularly.
“It feels like preaching to the choir in the sense that a lot of people are not necessarily activated by the messages,” Carter commented.
Many students seemingly only attend chapel because they are required to do so. This is not to suggest the requirement be removed; however, being bolder and more specific to the student body’s struggles would most likely bolster a more dedicated and real body of followers, as well as sharing genuine growth and worship instead of focusing on mandatory credits.
Chapel being placed while no classes are being held is a great aspect and provides an opportunity for all students to worship. Even if it is required, many students still do not take the opportunity to attend. The reason could very well be the messages and music; the atmosphere in the chapel needs to be reworked into a more dedicated and genuine place of worship.
Alternatively, perhaps the student body needs to be more mindful and open to listening and digesting the messages during chapel. No one is perfect, but if everyone can be “bold,” then chapel can become more than just a mandatory place students attend, and from the looks of it, chapel is going in a much bolder direction.
“We need to boldly take Christian principles and apply them to our current culture, and I feel that it may be more controversial, but it would find the people who want to come closer to God.”
— Blake Carter