Nick--my niece was in the same boat, and after much trial and error, she found that it worked best to make herself available for special music for worship services and for youth rallies, at least until she got her name out there and some of the music was heard. It's very hard to stand in front of a congregation and teach music that is totally unknown unless you have a good praise team to back you up, or the music is very "singable."
After she had been the special music on a Sunday morning, that congregation asked her to come back and do a few more songs a few weeks later. About two months after that, they asked her to come and teach some of the music.
She has also had good success making herself available to youth retreats, SERVE projects, youth worship services, etc.
This may rub some people the wrong way, but of course the gospel needs to be marketed and targeted to demographics. Paul knew it ("I will be all things to all people"); Moody knew it ("If ponies in the parking lot bring in the kids, I will lead the ponies around the parking lot"); and today's mega-churches know it. That's why they're so successful. And I have no problem with that. We draw tons of kids into our youth ministries because they are FUN--it gets them in the door. If they don't enter the doors, they can't hear about Christ.
The problem comes once we get them in the doors--will the Gospel be watered down? Will I serve those kids a "dumbed down" version of Jesus and the church and their place in it? Or, on the other hand, will I cram dry, memorized catechism questions down the kids' throats and expect people to step into a time warp--archaic language and songs that have words and music I don't understand--in order to join me in worship?
This is where many churches drop the ball. I have no problems with the loud praise bands, and the "hip" speaker, or the solemn pastor or the old-style choir, if they're sincere about what they're doing. The main thing is that the Gospel be presented to people, where they are, in all its glorious freedom and liberty. We truly need to emulate Paul and be all things to all people.
(RE the video: I have not yet seen a church that does "blended" worship really accepted by the members of its congregation. People want one or the other. It seems to me the churches that are successful at the moment are offering all traditional or all contemporary or separate services (one of each). Not saying that's the best way, but it's what I see in my area. "Blended worship" is a little like taking both Pepsi and Mountain Dew--each with their defenders--and putting them together to make everyone happy. No one's happy.)
Hi, Rob. I don't necessarily agree with your take on Paul. When he stood in the public square and called everyone's attention to the "Unknown God," he WAS relating to the pagans from a pagan standpoint. He knew where to start with those folks and how to guide it to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And isn't the point of sharing the gospel with others ultimately to bring them into the church? As a GEMS leader, my goal wasn't simply to have a smashing GEMS program, even though that introduced them to Jesus--it was to bring them (and their families) into the life of the church. Of course, they can hear the gospel in the workplace or in their school or through our GEMS or Cadet club, but Paul re-iterates over and over the importance of being part of the church ("Can the toe live by itself" and all that).
I agree absolutely that we can't re-form the Gospel to meet the needs of the individual. These evangelists who promise no problems, no worries, abundant wealth and prosperity, etc., drive me nuts. But the gospel always has a hook we can use to present it to those who are looking...a way to get a foot in the door.
I guess my biggest problem with the traditional church is that we have for so long expected people to come in to our fellowship--IF they clean up their act, and IF they know the unwritten rules, and IF their kids know how to behave and IF they know how to dress, etc., etc. My congregation is going through a culture clash right now. They love the concept of missions and evangelism as long as it's WAY out there. The minute these kids start coming through the door with all their baggage (through the youth programs) it's not so fun and it's not so cute anymore. We have actually lost families who don't want their kids "rubbing shoulders with the non-covenant kids." It makes me weep.
That's where the contemporary worship/dress/atmosphere does a much better job. Jesus always met people where they were and didn't expect them to "clean themselves up" before they came to him (woman at the well, Zacchaeus, pool of Bethesda, etc., etc. He healed them first and THEN told them to go and sin no more, not the other way around.
I am thankful to the author for bringing awareness of physical and mental disabilities that we need to be more mindful of.
However, I say a giant "Amen" to Ruth. I am equally concerned by what she addresses because I've lived it. I belong to a relatively conservative, small-town CRC in the Midwest. Our GEMS and Cadets and youth groups were bulging at the seams, largely with unchurched kids, which seemed impossible since everyone knew that "everyone in our town goes to church." The congregation was ecstatic--this is what we were supposed to be doing! Keep it up!
Then these kids started bringing their families into worship. Kids with two dads. Kids whose mom was pregnant for the third time with no dad in sight. Kids whose parents jumped up in worship to videotape their kids up front. Kids whose families didn't know the unwritten rules on where to park, where to stay with their juice, what toys were appropriate to play with in church. Kids whose families were dressed inappropriately.
In short, they were not welcome. The families drifted back out the door, the kids drifted out of the programs, and the church heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Until we get over this mindset that everyone worshipping next to me has to be just like me (physically, mentally, alike in spiritual beliefs, same values and work ethic), we cannot fulfill the Great Commission. It's why so many non-denominational, evangelical, charismatic churches are springing up--and doing such a fantastic job of bringing these people in.
Thank you for bringing these issues to the forefront.
I agree with you. In our case, it was that many people thought it was simply inappropriate to be video-taping or photographing in church. Period. That just isn't done in our church. But as you write in your example, the best case scenarios are when people are befriended and slowly brought to change.
For example, we had a community girl in our GEMS club who showed up at meetings dressed inappropriately--shorts too short, mid riff showing, etc. A member of the congregation who was decorating at church that night and saw her was appalled and thought we should simply ask her to leave.
However, this was her first night with us. She had been brought as a guest. After she had attended a couple of times, I pulled her aside and talked with her about WHY her clothing was distracting for others (she had never thought about it) and gave her some very tangible guidelines (stomach can't show, shorts need to be visible from beneath your t-shirt). She trusted me and the other leaders enough not to be offended and to understand why we were placing these restrictions on her. If we had "thrown her out" the first night, would she be a junior counselor today? Would she have been baptized? I don't think so.
Sometimes we have to turn away from the "immediate gratification" (just get rid of the problem) to doing the hard work of getting our hands dirty and walking alongside the person. And, admittedly, that's much harder to do.
Posted in: What's the best way to share original worship music?
Nick--my niece was in the same boat, and after much trial and error, she found that it worked best to make herself available for special music for worship services and for youth rallies, at least until she got her name out there and some of the music was heard. It's very hard to stand in front of a congregation and teach music that is totally unknown unless you have a good praise team to back you up, or the music is very "singable."
After she had been the special music on a Sunday morning, that congregation asked her to come back and do a few more songs a few weeks later. About two months after that, they asked her to come and teach some of the music.
She has also had good success making herself available to youth retreats, SERVE projects, youth worship services, etc.
Blessings on your music!
Posted in: "Contemporvant" Worship Video--Funny? Offensive? Satirical? Mean?
This may rub some people the wrong way, but of course the gospel needs to be marketed and targeted to demographics. Paul knew it ("I will be all things to all people"); Moody knew it ("If ponies in the parking lot bring in the kids, I will lead the ponies around the parking lot"); and today's mega-churches know it. That's why they're so successful. And I have no problem with that. We draw tons of kids into our youth ministries because they are FUN--it gets them in the door. If they don't enter the doors, they can't hear about Christ.
The problem comes once we get them in the doors--will the Gospel be watered down? Will I serve those kids a "dumbed down" version of Jesus and the church and their place in it? Or, on the other hand, will I cram dry, memorized catechism questions down the kids' throats and expect people to step into a time warp--archaic language and songs that have words and music I don't understand--in order to join me in worship?
This is where many churches drop the ball. I have no problems with the loud praise bands, and the "hip" speaker, or the solemn pastor or the old-style choir, if they're sincere about what they're doing. The main thing is that the Gospel be presented to people, where they are, in all its glorious freedom and liberty. We truly need to emulate Paul and be all things to all people.
(RE the video: I have not yet seen a church that does "blended" worship really accepted by the members of its congregation. People want one or the other. It seems to me the churches that are successful at the moment are offering all traditional or all contemporary or separate services (one of each). Not saying that's the best way, but it's what I see in my area. "Blended worship" is a little like taking both Pepsi and Mountain Dew--each with their defenders--and putting them together to make everyone happy. No one's happy.)
Posted in: "Contemporvant" Worship Video--Funny? Offensive? Satirical? Mean?
Hi, Rob. I don't necessarily agree with your take on Paul. When he stood in the public square and called everyone's attention to the "Unknown God," he WAS relating to the pagans from a pagan standpoint. He knew where to start with those folks and how to guide it to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And isn't the point of sharing the gospel with others ultimately to bring them into the church? As a GEMS leader, my goal wasn't simply to have a smashing GEMS program, even though that introduced them to Jesus--it was to bring them (and their families) into the life of the church. Of course, they can hear the gospel in the workplace or in their school or through our GEMS or Cadet club, but Paul re-iterates over and over the importance of being part of the church ("Can the toe live by itself" and all that).
I agree absolutely that we can't re-form the Gospel to meet the needs of the individual. These evangelists who promise no problems, no worries, abundant wealth and prosperity, etc., drive me nuts. But the gospel always has a hook we can use to present it to those who are looking...a way to get a foot in the door.
I guess my biggest problem with the traditional church is that we have for so long expected people to come in to our fellowship--IF they clean up their act, and IF they know the unwritten rules, and IF their kids know how to behave and IF they know how to dress, etc., etc. My congregation is going through a culture clash right now. They love the concept of missions and evangelism as long as it's WAY out there. The minute these kids start coming through the door with all their baggage (through the youth programs) it's not so fun and it's not so cute anymore. We have actually lost families who don't want their kids "rubbing shoulders with the non-covenant kids." It makes me weep.
That's where the contemporary worship/dress/atmosphere does a much better job. Jesus always met people where they were and didn't expect them to "clean themselves up" before they came to him (woman at the well, Zacchaeus, pool of Bethesda, etc., etc. He healed them first and THEN told them to go and sin no more, not the other way around.
Posted in: Language in Worship Can Welcome or Push Away
I am thankful to the author for bringing awareness of physical and mental disabilities that we need to be more mindful of.
However, I say a giant "Amen" to Ruth. I am equally concerned by what she addresses because I've lived it. I belong to a relatively conservative, small-town CRC in the Midwest. Our GEMS and Cadets and youth groups were bulging at the seams, largely with unchurched kids, which seemed impossible since everyone knew that "everyone in our town goes to church." The congregation was ecstatic--this is what we were supposed to be doing! Keep it up!
Then these kids started bringing their families into worship. Kids with two dads. Kids whose mom was pregnant for the third time with no dad in sight. Kids whose parents jumped up in worship to videotape their kids up front. Kids whose families didn't know the unwritten rules on where to park, where to stay with their juice, what toys were appropriate to play with in church. Kids whose families were dressed inappropriately.
In short, they were not welcome. The families drifted back out the door, the kids drifted out of the programs, and the church heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Until we get over this mindset that everyone worshipping next to me has to be just like me (physically, mentally, alike in spiritual beliefs, same values and work ethic), we cannot fulfill the Great Commission. It's why so many non-denominational, evangelical, charismatic churches are springing up--and doing such a fantastic job of bringing these people in.
Thank you for bringing these issues to the forefront.
Posted in: Language in Worship Can Welcome or Push Away
I agree with you. In our case, it was that many people thought it was simply inappropriate to be video-taping or photographing in church. Period. That just isn't done in our church. But as you write in your example, the best case scenarios are when people are befriended and slowly brought to change.
For example, we had a community girl in our GEMS club who showed up at meetings dressed inappropriately--shorts too short, mid riff showing, etc. A member of the congregation who was decorating at church that night and saw her was appalled and thought we should simply ask her to leave.
However, this was her first night with us. She had been brought as a guest. After she had attended a couple of times, I pulled her aside and talked with her about WHY her clothing was distracting for others (she had never thought about it) and gave her some very tangible guidelines (stomach can't show, shorts need to be visible from beneath your t-shirt). She trusted me and the other leaders enough not to be offended and to understand why we were placing these restrictions on her. If we had "thrown her out" the first night, would she be a junior counselor today? Would she have been baptized? I don't think so.
Sometimes we have to turn away from the "immediate gratification" (just get rid of the problem) to doing the hard work of getting our hands dirty and walking alongside the person. And, admittedly, that's much harder to do.
Thanks!