So, one of the problems that so many churches face is the struggle between older and younger members over the basic approaches to doing church. My wife and I recently left a church that had well passed, but at one time had struggled with little things like choir robes and the color of the pew cushions. THings that I believe my generation views as inconsequential. That church over the course of ten years or so was able to change the culture out of holding so much stock in the "things" of the church.
Julie and I are now serving in a new church that after being closed to dying completely three years ago, got a new dynamic pastor who has a vision to grow the church. I'll explain my quandry as quickly as possible. IN three years this church has grown from like 20 on Easter to 200 + weekly. THere is a life in this church like I haven't seen in a while. The people are eager to serve others and eager grow. It is evident the moment you step into the church and it is the main reason Julie and I decided to go there. Now that we have begun to submerge ourselves in to the church culture we have begun to see some of the behind the scenes struggles they have weekly. Yes, weekly. There are older members of the church who have been there for years, or were there for years and then came back as its grown. I say older because noon e under 60 causes an flak in the matter. The people there argue and raise complaints and cause dissention and are stubborn to the core about seeing the church go their way or die.
Now the problem I have is not with them holding onto what they believe is true, it is that the things they are holding to me seem stupid. Examples: The rails in front of the stage, the lecturns on the side that no one use...ever, the organ no one uses...ever, the "alter" that sits in the middle of the stage which no one understands why its there and is also never used...ever, the placement of a screen to run any video needs, the number of pews in the chapel, the 25 year old couch that is falling apart in the fellowship hall, when the bell rings, and then some. My opinion..the dumbest stuff ever. THey are basically a lead weight to the progress of the church. I can see being up in arms about a new program with questionable spiritual signifigance like a block party with slot machines to raise money, but the couch?
This is a problem that faces tons of churches, and I am not looking for encouragement that you just have to deal with it, nor am I beginning an argument to put all folks above a certain age on a reservation some place warm where they can have their own way at church, and music, and be able to drive, smell funny, make left hand turns at their own pace etc. . I feel that there is wealth of knowledge, wisdom, experience that is basically burned on the color of fabric on "things" inside a building where a specifc body meets. Why is it such a problem connecting older and younger? I wonder who fails? Was there a breakdown in the church a few generations ago that resulted in an age group of people more concerned with things and attaching their salvation to the place they meet and its overall appearance? ARe the two other generations present within churches wrong with their new music and now their to experiential and intimate approach to worship? Is there sin involved on either side? THese members are financial givers within the church, so do they have the right to have such a say in the thing they helped buy 40 years ago?
OUr church has put a band-aide on their problem by having a "traditional" service early in the morning, that everybody else warns new people not to come to. The two biggest questions I have are,
1. Is this a specific problem with this generation in western culture, or is it a problem that I will contribute to when I retire? (note I wonder if Billy Graham raises a fuss in his local church when the kids want to use their video ministry?)
2. If not, and if I think it is wrong because I feel they are not only missing the message of the gospel but also are hindering it, is it a sin for me to support a "traditional" service that appeases those sensabilities and not gently but firmly confront these brothers and sisters who are not to look down on me because I am young, with the truth and message of Christ?
Just some thoughts
The Secret We Can't Talk About
11 years ago
3 comments:
Wow, great questions! I'm particularly struck with the one about whether it is a sin to support the traditional service. I've sometimes wondered that one myself.
I'm going to have to think on these a while and then come back later and bless you with my wisdom. : )
Well, I've got there pews right here... Just kidding. I know the problem intimately and have had many arguments with people to the same effect. A few thoughts...
1. Thier financial giving was not, or at least shouldn't be, conditional. It is my understanding that tithing and offering, although ear marked for the church, are still given to God. The leadership, having been placed there by God, should do with it as they believe God wants. (God not being an 80 year old deacon).
2. If there are things hindering the message of God in any way, they are wrong. Christ was clear and even adimant about the subject. In Luke 7 vers nine he says, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"
Jesus was talking about washing hands. But the same thing happens today when the commands of Christ are put aside in order to serve traditions of men. If services have become empty traditions and hinder the command of Christ when he called us to make desciples, than something is wrong. Worship can be any style you want it to be, unless it hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. The band aid may work. But what about the seeker who comes in for a moment, decides that everything he had suspected about christianity being boring is true, and they never step inside a church ever again. Again there is tradition getting in the way of worship.
Spirit and truth are how we should worship, traditions and personal desires are inconsequential.
Well, I've got there pews right here... Just kidding. I know the problem intimately and have had many arguments with people to the same effect. A few thoughts...
1. Thier financial giving was not, or at least shouldn't be, conditional. It is my understanding that tithing and offering, although ear marked for the church, are still given to God. The leadership, having been placed there by God, should do with it as they believe God wants. (God not being an 80 year old deacon).
2. If there are things hindering the message of God in any way, they are wrong. Christ was clear and even adimant about the subject. In Luke 7 vers nine he says, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"
Jesus was talking about washing hands. But the same thing happens today when the commands of Christ are put aside in order to serve traditions of men. If services have become empty traditions and hinder the command of Christ when he called us to make desciples, than something is wrong. Worship can be any style you want it to be, unless it hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. The band aid may work. But what about the seeker who comes in for a moment, decides that everything he had suspected about christianity being boring is true, and they never step inside a church ever again. Again there is tradition getting in the way of worship.
Spirit and truth are how we should worship, traditions and personal desires are inconsequential.
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