Times Have Changed, The Methods Need to Also

One of the biggest debates in the Christian church today is whether or not we should do away with our traditional format for the worship service. This debate commonly centers itself around music styles with multiple sides digging their trenches and lobbing volley after volley of un-Christ-like attacks to salvage their point of view.

To be honest, I used to play that game. I thought my point of view was right, and the other side(s) were old fashioned and whacked out of their mind. Not a very Christian attitude on my part.

What's funny is that the style that I fought for in my 20s (I'm mid-30s now) is not the style I prefer today. No, I'm not a big fan of the other side of the worship debate. My perspective has changed.

In previous days, I fought to get what I wanted. It was all about MY preference and MY likes. When we look at any debate in this manner, opposing views become the ENEMY. The end results of this line of thinking are bitterness, restlessness and hatred. Not exactly the recipe Christ wants in His church.

Probably the saddest part of all is that the opposition tended to be two or three times older than I, and they should've learned the lesson I did back in their mid-30s.

So, what is this lesson? It's a two-parter.

1. The debate isn't really about music. It's about the approach to worship services. In our country's history there have been nearly a half-dozen well defined "music wars" in our churches. The music drew all the attention, but the underlying cause was a major shift in the way the Gospel was received by the people. Not only did music styles change in these shifts, but so did the preaching and programs offered at churches. Yet, without these struggles, we never would have had some of our most loved hymns. Sunday School never would have been a reality. Bus programs would never have gotten out of the garage. Church services would never have been sent worldwide via radio, television and the Internet.
2. The reason for these shifts has more to do with the way people receive the Gospel than anything else. Over generations, perceptions change, culture changes, and the way people perceive and respond to the Gospel changes. As a result, the church MUST adjust to the changes. Without the continuous change in approach to ministry, a church will miss the shifts, and eventually nail the lid on it's own coffin.

So, what should churches be doing? For starters, ALL churchgoers, YOUNG and OLD, need to remember that the church isn't ours. It belongs to Jesus. Our thinking that the churches belong to us is both arrogant and stupid on our part.

Once we really start viewing the church through Jesus' eyes and heart, we become more open to shifting the approach to ministry as the culture around us shifts. Make note that NO WHERE has it been said to change the Gospel message, or to become sinful like the culture. Some folks like to use those two excuses to justify their selfish desires to keep things the way they've always been.

Be open to the change, no matter your age and preferences.