Dear Church,
These days I find myself caring a lot more about what God thinks than the opinions of man.
I recently read an article about the church that broke my heart. The article claimed the younger generations and the advancement of technology were responsible for killing church theology and doctrine by singing contemporary worship, using technology in services, the way we dress and much more. Please do not read this thinking I spoke without thinking. This is a subject that crosses my mind quite often being a youth pastor. It saddens me to think that most people think our culture and society are solely responsible for killing church attendance and membership— it’s simply not true. In fact, the church, in many ways, is killing itself.
Most of the disagreements leading to this decline is a result of bickering and pointless debate WITHIN the church. I do believe it’s true that the young have a lack of respect for the older generations, BUT I also think it’s true that the older generations have a lack of respect for the young. That is not a cry of entitlement. This is knowing and believing Scripture to be true as it says to not let anyone look down on our youth (1 Tim. 4:12).
Hymnals won’t save you. Projectors won’t save you. Pulpits won’t save you. Lights won’t save you. The ONLY ONE who saves you is Jesus Christ. Yet, we find ourselves so caught up in the small details of church. People claim it’s for theological reasons, but in my experience the majority of the time it has more to do with “tradition” than it does theology. Hymnals are great and packed full of theology, but so are some of the contemporary worship artists of today (even the artists this particular article spoke negatively of). But, I guess it’s easier for people to judge before actually listening to lyrics by Lauren Diagle because they weren’t written from Fanny Crosby.
And the comments about how you should dress at church— listen, I’m all about respect, but I serve a God who said come as you are. I have studied Scripture a lot and I’ve still yet to find the scripture about wearing slacks and tie to church. But, what I did find was a Scripture that told me to be concerned with what the Lord looks at rather than what man does (1 Samuel 16:7). Remember that the religious people in the Bible was the same crowd that crucified my Savior.
These days I find myself caring a lot more about what God thinks than man’s opinion... and that’s how it should be. I love seeing kids excited to go to church. Technology is not evil & bringing it into the church is not evil. So many people are so afraid of change and progress that they label it as “evil” instead of using it for the glory of God. Because of technology, the YouVersion Bible App has been able to get the Word of God into the hands of millions of people in their own languages and that’s just one example.
Here’s the question I ask myself quite often: If Paul was to write a letter to the church today what would it say? I don’t know about you, but I’d be prepared to buckle up because he doesn’t hold back. I imagine he’d tell us to figure out what UNITY actually means—to tear down the discrimination between denominations, generations, and anything that separates or alienates the Body of Christ. I believe he would tell us to stop bickering about the songs we sing and to start living out the Gospel. I believe he would tell us to stop being so concerned with tradition and be more concerned with winning souls and setting our own desires aside. He would tell us to let God be the judge because that’s not our job. He would tell us to worship and praise genuinely— and Paul probably wouldn’t show up in slacks and a tie. He’d preach the Word. He’d speak the truth. He would tell us to love sacrificially.
Theology is important. I’m not denying that. What I am saying is that it’s possible to value and teach theologically with modern technology and instruments. God is not limited by our resources.
I have the utmost respect for the older and younger generations.
I will always speak boldly about the truth. I will ALWAYS speak boldly of my Savior.
You are so loved! Until next time,
-LM
