Blend the Generations

True confessions? I’m a big believer in inter-generational

worship. But I’m also a big believer in intergenerational life. I am highly suspicious of the trend in American culture to isolate us into age-appropriate groupings, niches, interest groups and musical styles, and I fear this trait has strongly seeped its way into the church. Truth is, I have served in churches where the worship service was ADULTS ONLY while the kids and youth were farmed off to some other place on campus to experience age-appropriate worship.

My conclusion was that in such an approach, each generation was the loser. Gone was the creative energy and boundary-pushing excitement of the youth, as well as the simple, trusting, and sometimes noisier responses to God of little children. Oh, the services were more orderly, more predictable. z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z. You get the point. Worse, the kids and youth were off somewhere learning to have a fun time with God, but only if it was done in their style and their way. They rarely got to see Mom or Dad lost in the presence of God, with eyes closed or hands upraised. I wondered if Paul might not have been speaking to this kind of trend when he warned in Romans 12, "do not let the world squeeze you into its own mold."

If the value of bringing generations together is to be embraced not only as a nice option but also an actual mandate from God, we must first start with the Owner’s manual—the Word of God. Before it mentions a word about how to pass on the theology and practice of worship, it clearly speaks to

sharing life itself between generations. God, through the prophet Moses, commands His people to "fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 11:18, 19) To paraphrase James Dobson, our life values are more caught than taught, but, in fact, we need to do both. And, surprisingly, this process is not just the older to the younger. At times it works vice versa (are you listeing, parents and grandparents?).

The apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, "[Timothy,] command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1Timothy 4: 11, 12) In other words, Tim—let them, older and younger alike, catch what you have. And don’t stop teaching the truth simply because you lack life experience. What’s the point? We need each other!

When it comes to the specific area of worship and music ministry, again the scriptures give good examples of the heart of God. Let the generations learn along side each other. Consider the reference I used just a few weeks ago in regard to developing skills for leadership. 1 Chronicles 25:6 describes a musical family which was assigned responsibilities for worship leadership, with this interesting emphasis:

"They were all under the direction of their father in the

music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps,

and lyres for the service of the house of God.

The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all were skillful, was 288.

And they cast lots of their duties, small and great,

teacher and pupil alike."

I can think of many of you in our ministry who learned your craft or love of the arts from your parents, some of which still play or sing with you today. Similarly, some of you have had the rare pleasure of watching your own kids and grandkids grow to use their gifts in ministry, perhaps primarily as a result of your example, coaching, or encouragement.

On a personal note, it has not only been a joy for Debby and me to see all three of our children involved in worship ministry on some level, but as they grew in skill and creativity, we have also sought to learn from them. We have discovered what God’s word suggests.

Those with open hearts to God and transferable life experience have much to give to the younger generation. And we as an older generation must come to appreciate the energy, creativity (think about technology alone), and new thing that God is bringing to the church through the young.

Isaiah 42:10 reminds us to Sing unto the Lord a new song, and 43:18,19 says: "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" What is implicit in these verses is the need for discernment. Learn how to major in the majors. But know that God is both faithful, consistent and constant, and at the same time dynamic, creative, and even, sometimes, unpredictable.

The Word says that each of us—young and old alike—has been made in the image of God. It also says that all who have called upon the name of the Lord are, in fact, the light of the world. Want a big dream? Then imagine Hope church being known as a place where young and old alike worship together, demonstrate a growing love for each other and an increasing respect for one another’s life view. It definitely is not the way of the world. But it is, I truly believe, the way of the Word. -tad