My generation has led the church in worship for the last five decades. We brought the orchestra back. We introduced rhythm instruments and lyric projection. The idea that songs we would sing at youth camp could be part of Sunday morning happened with us.
We were willing to re-think choir and the organ. We embraced technology. We developed the massive Christmas productions and then killed them, and then brought them back. We longed for empowering worship and chose to abandon much of what our fathers did in hopes of finding something better.
We’ve written books that talked about real worship and songs that embraced emotion and relevance. We programmed lighting and stage décor to enhance the experience. We built rooms with the capabilities of concert halls, in some cases much better. We brought a level of production quality to the music of our churches that some professional concert tours envy.
But, I’m convinced we made a mistake that the church will have to live with for at least another generation. We thought we were doing the right thing, but I’m afraid we missed it.
We allowed those following us to think that the way we worshipped was all about them.
In our zeal to connect with emerging generations, we made worship choices all about them. We were willing to lay aside the experiences of others to pursue the desires of the young. In so doing, we gave them the impression that what they wanted in worship was all that mattered. We started services where they could worship without the rest of us – the way they wanted to. And when we did, we failed to model one of the most important aspects of corporate worship – deference. Churches became mono-generational after just a few years of this culture.
The irony of this is not lost on the person that thinks about it for just a minute. After ten years or so, the generation that has been placated will be introduced to a new set of expectations from the next layer of worshippers. And, over time, this cycle gets faster and faster.
It’s time for the Church to start finding the real purpose of corporate worship – the generations coming together to praise the One who is Lord of all of us, telling His story of redemption for each of us, and declaring to and for each other the testimonies of grace that we all need to fuel the race we are supposed to be running together. To do this, we have to prefer one another in worship over our own expectations.
Worship has to be all about Him – and us. All of us.
Maybe, the next generation can lead us back.
