HYMNALS, GUITARS, and PIZZA PARTIES

Hymnals, Guitars, and Pizza Parties

"Generational appeal in worship is an unintentional admission that the Gospel is powerless to join together what man has separated.”
“That may be good business (age targeting) but it's bad worship; it's bad church,"
"[B]uilding the church on stylistic preferences or age appeal is just as contrary to the reconciling effect of the Gospel as building it on class, race, or gender distinctions."

- Tullian Tchividjian (grandson of evangelist Billy Graham)

http://www.christianpost.com/news/fla-megachurch-ends-age-segregated-worship-46471/

This is an important article and a very needed communication that underscores the message of generational synergy we are releasing. To see leaders that carry a lot of weight recognizing the shifts needed in this regards is refreshing and encouraging that breakthrough is happening.

As this article shares, how we go about things communicates our heart in it. From “black churches” and “white churches”, traditional vs contemporary services, to youth ministry/church and adult church, we are saying something about what we believe. The failed work of youth ministry over the last 30 years is now bleeding over into overall church ministry. We have to continue to create the “youth group” feel to keep younger adults connected or drawn in.  I once heard it said that what we use to get people, we have to continue to use to keep them. So if a hyped up, youth flared meeting with all the bells and whistles is what we use to attrack people, it has to be used to keep them. We are then lead into the crazy ideas of creating different service times for different ages. Because the same is true when we see an older generations attached to the way things functioned when they connected to a congregation years ago. Many places then set up the traditional feel so the older generation stays in place. All of this speaks to the broader problem of generational segregation. To continue doing things in this manner does not end this mess, it promotes it. To call the big room where the adults meet the “main” sanctuary just says the other room where other ages meet is something less than “main”, its secondary. Then, youth rooms/buildings are made to give them “their own place” that puts the ages totally separated like 2 congregations meeting under the same roof. Adults have their pastor, youth have their pastor so everyone get just what they want. All the while is God getting what He wants – generations connected in covenant and synergistically working to leaven the earth with His Kingdom?

This is a moment of time God is identifying the off course efforts that separates us instead of moving us together. The honest and tough thing now is that there is such large structures in place with all kinds of money and salaries attached to it that we have to wonder who will do anything about it. What sacrifices will be made to adjust things to be more Biblical in our efforts and communicate the heart of God for generations to be as one?  If His Spirit turns hearts of generations toward each other, how will that be expressed or worked out in our structures, ministries, verbage, formats,etc.

The book, GENERATIONAL SYNERGY, shares important insight to help us and reveals “fears” that create the walls that separate generations. May more and more younger and older leaders rise to reject that which divides and demand the changes that will bring us together. Now is when generations are to rise together as a Kingdom generation synergistically bringing forth dreams of the Kingdom.

See more: http://www.generationsrise.com/