Christian Threats
These were the words of a woman, not a member of my church, but a member of a traditional UM church in the area that is trying to address the younger population that is moving in. My response: “Maybe you should go. I would hate for your personal preference to deter others from coming to worship or actually getting something out of worship.”
Of course, I didn’t say those words, but it took great restraint to keep me from it. We had a tense (I felt), yet pleasant conversation about how worship is changing in alot of churches, even if it stays traditional. I calmly pointed out that once upon a time, hymnals were a new thing that probably met some resistance and even hymns like “Amazing Grace” was new. Besides, how are non-Christians and children ever going to “know the words to songs” unless you have a way to teach them?
As some of you know, I have become a student in the New Church Leadership Academy this year and yesterday was a day for one of our monthly classes. Tommy Willingham, the founding pastor of Hope UMC and current pastor of Sugarloaf UMC, is our instructor and had something profound to say yesterday. He believes, and I tend to agree with him, that we are in the midst of a “reformation” period in the Protestant church. Perhaps not as radical as THE Reformation, but radical nonetheless. With the Emergent Church and other movements moving through our churches, my generation of pastors could perhaps see major changes in how the majority of the Christian community worships.
As we sat in the “sanctuary” of the Orchard UMC yesterday and I looked around at the stage, a/v system, instruments, attire, and other surroundings, I began to wonder what ministry will look like toward the end of my career as a pastor. What uphill battles will we need to fight to help the church move into post-modernity and into the right century?
Now, don’t think that I’m saying that there will be no place for traditional worship. I believe that there will always be a place for more structured and liturgical services, provided that they continue to have meaning. In order to have meaning, they have to be linguistically relevant and to some degree, culturally relevant. My question becomes, “If we still have traditional worship, what will it look like?”
I’m excited by the possibilities and frustrated and saddened that we may have to wait for the majority of the “greatest generation” to die off to find out. I’ve encountered more older people that have formed defensive positions in their churches for fear that worship may lose its meaning. I’ve had several threaten, without any provocation, to discontinue their financial giving if certain changes take place. Fortunately, I don’t believe that the will of God and the vision of the church can be bought.
I am left curious about one other thing though. Long ago, when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church doors and kicked off a revolution in the Church, what opposition did he face at the grassroots? We read in our history books about the challenges he faced with the Catholic church and the threats he recieved from those in authority over him, and we read about the spread and acceptance of Protestantism, but we never hear about the little, old ladies that made progress difficult. Is this a new phenomenon? Did he and other leaders have to weather a similar storm?
Some days I’d like to plant a new church just so I wouldn’t have to fight the fight of moving past some (now) meaningless traditions. Other days I remember that the majority of the churches in North America are still traditional and both need to be retrofitted for the coming age and allowed to die off. (That’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and) What’s a 27 year old pastor at the beginning of his career to do?
Is it like John Mayer says?
“Me and all my friends
We’re all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There’s no way we ever could
Now we see everything that’s going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change…” (John Mayer, “Waiting On the World to Change”, Continuum, Sony 2006)
Hope you are enjoying the academy. I agree, the liturgical style with traditional hymns will always have a place. The thing everyone needs to be prepared for, that you address, is how to keep it relevant. It is a challenge, and only if pastors are willing to accept that challenge will the church survive.
Hey pastor! I felt like I needed to stop by to encourage you and let you know that I’m praying for you and Erin and Mt. Bethel. You’ve got a lot on your plate these days! New churches, new babies and all that…Just know that your God is mighty and that you’re not carrying all this burden yourself. The yoke was built for two. Y’all are amazing! Miss you guys!
I think you should have made that comment to the lady. Its something to certainly consider - that many of our traditions now were once viewed as threats or actions advanced by young whippersnappers some time ago. The cool thing is that while times change, the gospel message does not, but new ideas and approaches can be used to pass that message on. Hope things are going well down south!
Nice going,every one enjoys your work.