It's War

I don’t know what else to call it, except an all out war a bit like the American Civil War of 1861-65 but this has already lasted longer. Is this happening in the Middle East, Africa or Asia? No it’s much closer to home, it’s in our evangelical, progressive churches and it’s all about two major differences. Age and music, but they seem to go hand in hand in this case.

For some background (in case you have been away or sleeping for the past couple of decades) we need to recognise that there has been a seismic shift in the way church music has evolved in the recent past. The shift in some people’s style of worship has meant the rise of the ‘Worship Group’ in the musically capable hands of mainly younger folks. In many cases, copying the work of major Christian artists who attract a huge following.

Prior to this was the Gaither music style followers who are now in their later years, but who look back in nostalgia when music had a tune, but not necessarily a heavy metal beat. What’s the difference You may ask? Well, ‘Gaither or Southern Gospel’ was a style of music sung as specials and not as part of mainstream worship, so hymns and traditional Gospel Songs were never in jeopardy. Not so with the newer style of progressive Gospel beat music. Now this has become the main musical diet of the progressive churches who want to reach out to the younger generation. In the process, some older folks are accepted as the collateral damage and part of the change. We are losing good people.

Instead of finding a middle path, we go to war. Older against younger. Traditional Hymns set against Newer Gospel Songs and the two factions are intertwined. There is no doubt that the church preaches and teaches love, forgiveness, patience, and longsuffering, but we are not good at acting this out at any age. That is true for both sides of this trench warfare who only seem able to bad mouth, and pop their heads up to fire a well aimed insult at the other side, who are so obviously in the wrong, and why can’t they see it after all?

We need a few words from the author of our common faith, Jesus Christ, who said "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John13:34,35