It's the End of the World (and Why That Matters For Your Worship)

By Jon Nicol

It's the end of the world as we know it,
It's the end of the world as we know it,
It's the end of the world as we know it,
and I feel fine.
~R.E.M.

When I was in college, a local popular hard rock/heavy metal station changed its format. It was the mid-90s and big hair and make-up (on guys) was giving way to flannel shirts and acoustic guitars. "Grunge" was the flavor du jour, and this station knew better than to go down with the glam-rock ship. As they made their switch to "Alternative" they played that R.E.M. song non-stop for several days.

Probably for many of their avid fans, it felt like that. Their music with the over-the-top-guitar solos, screaming vocals, and distortion-dripping power chords was being sacked in favor of this moody, mid-tempo, acoustic-based stuff. They probably did feel like they really were going off the rails on a crazy train.

A couple weeks ago, I had my worship team over for a Christmas party. We converted our 4-seaon room into the "music den" for the night. I set up a dozen folding chairs and threw in several acoustic instruments. Turns out, I couldn't even get a seat in there halfway through the night. At one point I jumped on an empty chair while someone was refilling their egg nog. I still had to wait a half hour before I could get a guitar in my hands.

One of our newer team members, an early/mid-20-something, started making fun of certain worship songs. Kinda like how I make fun of "Lord I Lift Your Name on High." Only, it wasn't "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" or anything close to that era. It was my music he was making fun of. Stuff that I didn't think was that old and still seemed relevant, in moderation.

It is the end of the world. As I know it.

I turned 39 today, coincendently on the day that the world's ending - 12/21/12. Fifteen years ago, 40 seemed like a step from death. But now that I'm 365 days from it, not so much. And as I've progressed into middle age (ugh), I've gain decidely more empathy for the generations above me (the Boomers and the Builders).

I'm now starting to taste a little of what it was to have their beloved songs cast aside. Or if not cast aside, butchered up with drums and electric guitars.

Because of that, on the last Sunday in December, I'm going to do something a little different. We're going to embrace the first half of the saying, "out with the old and in with the new."

So we're "going out" with songs that are at least 20 years old. Most much older. There'll be a set of bluegrass-styled hymns a la David Crowder. But we'll also be doing a set of 80s choruses.

And yes, "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" is in there.

I'm going to use it as a teaching moment for several generations. To the students and 20-somethings, I want to say this:

"Your" music stands on the shoulders of your parents' and grandparents' music. Had not Bill Gaither came along, we may not have the kind of modern worship we see now. And if those worship leaders, writers & musicians in the 80s and 90s hadn't "fought" the "worship wars," we wouldn't have the groundwork laid for of the modern worship music we now enjoy.

And to the Boomers & Builders I want to say this: 

Thank you. We don't say that enough. Your music does matter. Unfortunately, we'll never be able to give you as much of it as you want on Sunday mornings. Why? Because we really do need to make room for the stuff that will appeal to your kids and grandkids. If we don't connect with them in the context of their culture, we'll lose them.

Your sacrifice of not having the music the way that you want it is actually drawing your kids and grandkids closer to Jesus. I hope you don't mind that it's their turn now. And, someday, their music will give way to the generation below them.

And I'll be tempted to go on about how musical style is only a tool in worship. But I probably will save that for another day. The above will probably be enough for both sides to digest.

Question for discussion: So how do you help generations understand each other and come together in your church?

Post graphic - Stock.xchng 

December 21, 2012