I came up in the day when the move towards "contemporary" music in church was gaining traction. Back then this was quite a new frontier and "gospel rock" music wasn't readily welcomed. Actually, it had been welcomed in many places -it was just relegated to their youth/teen ministries, camps & conventions. As these teens aged they still retained a preference for the music & praise style of their younger days. I heard one preacher guy recently say "church is just youth group for grown ups." He was a youth minister several years ago. Many youth guys have moved on to adult youth groups. This brings me to my theory...
The new move in the church is toward a multi-sensory style of "worship." Where did this idea come from? Yesterday I was in a meeting where our approach to our "children's church" program was being described. I heard how we involve all five senses in the learning process. Now I wonder when we will soon hear "church is just children's church for grown ups." Maybe if we live long enough we will be able to experience the "church is just nursery for grown ups!"
4 comments:
It isn't nursery for grown-ups? I babysit adults a lot now. Man, I need to re look at my ministry approach! :)
I hear you. I think there's a little bit (or mroe) of babysitting in just about every ministry.
Dave, I have been developing a theory for a few years about the way worship style evolves. I think that each generation responds to the previous generation. I mean we all want to connect with God in a way that is relevant to us personally. I don't think that is a bad thing. If you think about it most young adults and teens have grown up on "contemporary" style. And just like our hearts longed for an different way to express ourselves to God, so does this new generation. The question is will we as church leaders stifle that longing, or will we embrace it as a means to reach a new generation. Probably at some point it will come back full circle and there will be a generation that wants 2 hymns and a prayer hymn. Just a thought.
Good thoughts. I think I get where you're coming from. I do think, however, we've been operating on an erroneous premise about "corporate worship" for centuries. ("Spilt Grape Juice" by Mike Root has been a big influence on my thinking here). Now with cultural changes and styles moving very rapidly we are reaping, for good or bad, the results. I'll blog more about it when I get a chance, but some of my current thinking "on how to do church" is reflected here: http://wtbw.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-ideal-church-gathering.html
Post a Comment