Church attendance has always been a huge part of my life, minus a few misguided, murky teenage years, that is. Over the course of several decades I’ve worshiped in some beautifully ornate churches, as well as gymnasiums, one room buildings, and even outdoor open air shelters. The venue might have been distracting to me due to my interest in architecture, but the real compulsion was my desire to worship the Lord with like minded believers via fellowship, prayer, and serving one another.
Unfortunately many churches these days get too big for their britches and invoke multiple services with different musical styles for the purpose of appealing to various age groups. The two extremes include traditional services which are sterile and stoic, not at all appealing to our youth vs. contemporary services where the lights are dimmed and volume is turned up, not at all a place for elderly folk with frail bodies and sensitive ears. Guess what this causes: Separation and division. We see it happen in so many churches.
Blended services, in my opinion, are the most ideal and appealing, inter-generationally anyway. Both young and old together, worshiping, learning, discipling, and praying. Frankly we ought to get used to this anyway for one day soon we WILL all be together as one. Consider: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-11
So how do we bring all of us together into the same sanctuary at the same time? As a Boomer myself, it’s useful to know what Millennials are looking for in a church. They include things that should be important to all of us including: Authenticity, Engagement, Mission, Fellowship, and Approachability.
I believe the last four flow most effectively from authenticity. Unfortunately we must acknowledge that there are wolves in sheep’s clothing even within the walls of the church. Therefore it would be wise to be viligent of those with possible dubious intentions. The fruit of the Spirit should be evident in those seeking leadership positions in any capacity. In my view this is the test for authenticity, for anyone who claims to be Christian. Disclaimer: We ALL stumble daily in word or deed, even Billy Graham admitted to this, therefore we would do well to have a prayer life which is always in “Drive”, so to speak.
Just for fun I ventured on over to the Pew Research website and discovered not less than a few fascinating tidbits regarding Christianity in America today which may be of relevant interest to you AND topics for inter-generational conversation:
According to the Pew Research Center, attendance at “religious” services vary from state to state with Utah being the highest at 53% and Vermont being the lowest at 21%. Now we know where to send our domestic missionaries.
About four-in-ten U.S. adults believe humanity is ‘living in the end times’.
45% of Americans say U.S. should be a ‘Christian Nation’.
Self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago. Could this be due to the breakdown of the family unit?
Few Americans blame God or say faith has been shaken amid pandemic and other tragedies.
About one-in-five Americans who have been harassed online say it was because of their religion.
Half of Americans say the Bible should influence U.S. laws, including 28% who favor it over the will of the people.
Many churchgoers in the U.S. don’t know the political leanings of their clergy.
Finally, according to Barna Research (not Pew), Millennials now take first prize for weekly church attendance. The dip represents the dreadful Covid era. But look how they bounced back, Boomers not so much:
So Boomers, get yourself back to the sanctuary if you’re not already and sit yourself down next to a Millennial or Gen Z’er. You’ll both learn something..…about each other. And enjoy worshiping together!
Jim
Greetings, brother Jim! This is an interesting article. By the way, where is the St. Arnold Community Church? No, we don't want to join them in worship.
That church, apparently, has eight Sunday worship services, from 8 AM to 4 PM, with eight different styles of worship, described as “classic service,” “contemporary,” “mid-century modern,” “post-modern,” “boomer service,” “millenials” [spelled incorrectly, it should be millennials], “blended service,” and “happy hour service.” All that I can say is: “What? It must be a joke, right? What, pray tell, is a happy hour service? I think that they are confused!"
As you stated correctly, “Unfortunately[,] many churches these days get too big for their britches . . . .” My wife and I have visited or attended briefly a few churches that have a contemporary style of worship, as I assume that it is called. The sermons were expository, biblical, sufficiently deep, and relevant. The prayers were genuine and meaningful. Communion remembered the Lord's sacrifice properly. The congregational singing, however, if there was any, was overpowered by the band – with various musical instruments and microphoned singers. For some reason, various stage lights changed, apparently to match the band. Thankfully, we saw no pyrotechnics, but we kept awaiting them. It was like an entertaining rock concert, not congregational worship to God in song. (See Eph. 5:19.)
The secular world divides people into various categories, for its humanistic agenda. One category is by generation, such as the greatest generation, baby boomers, and whatever else, including generation X, millennials (spelled correctly), generation Z, and so forth. This is a humanistic and homocentric focus.
Worship is not homocentric. Worship focuses on God. The church is not divided by race, color, social status, gender, or age. The apostle Paul has told Christians that we are “all one in Christ Jesus.” (See Gal. 3:26-28.) Before His atoning sacrifice, Jesus' prayer to the Father was for all Christians to be united and one, as He and the Father are one, so that the world would believe in Him. (See Jn. 17:20-23.) Worship styles, which divide by generation, are secular and homocentric in focus. They do not focus on God.
What does God want when Christians gather to worship Him? In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus stated, “. . . the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24, NKJV).
Yes, there are various styles of worship; however, worship must be in spirit (from the heart and soul) and in truth (according to scripture) – focused on God and to uplift, not entertain, one another. Worship in spirit and truth has no generational boundaries – as my wife and I have experienced, during various decades of life, in India, Russia, and America.
Many churches, sadly, have lost that focus in worship – even while they claim to focus on God, during “worship,” when they entertain themselves. God, however, is not pleased, nor is He worshiped.
Our writing styles are different, but your post has the same theme as my latest one. This subject also came up in a recent conversation. When the Lord brings something up more than once, it's pretty certain He's trying to get our attention. Thanks for writing.