Segregation in Worship Is Alive And Thriving

Writes Tullian Tchividjian, from his forthcoming book Unfashionable:

Most churches would agree that racial or economic segregation runs contrary to the very nature of the Gospel. Most would also acknowledge that any sort of class bigotry is antithetical to the Gospel and should therefore not be tolerated. But there’s another, perhaps more subtle, type of segregation that many churches today have actually adopted and embraced. Following the lead of the advertising world, many churches today (and more specifically worship services) are targeting specific age groups to the exclusion of others. For years now churches have been organizing themselves around generational distinctives: busters, boomers, Generations X, Y, and Z. Many churches offer a “traditional service” for the tribe who prefers old music and a “contemporary service” for the tribe who prefers new music. I understand the good intentions behind some of these efforts but something as seemingly harmless as this evidences a fundamental failure to comprehend the heart of the Gospel. When we offer, for instance, a contemporary worship service for the younger people and a traditional worship service for the older people, we are not only feeding tribalism (which is a toxic form of racism) but we are saying that the Gospel can’t successfully bring these two different groups together. It is a declaration of doubt in the reconciling power of God’s Gospel. Generational appeal in worship is an unintentional admission that the Gospel is powerless to “join together” what man has separated. Plainly stated, building the church on age appeal (whether old or young) or stylistic preferences is as contrary to the reconciling effect of the Gospel as building it on class, race, or gender distinctions. Negatively, when the church segregates people according to generation, race, style, or socio-economic status, we exhibit our disbelief in the reconciling power of the Gospel. Positively, one of the prime evidences of God’s power to our segregated world is a congregation which transcends cultural barriers, including age.

Read more at On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Comments

[Morris Driggers]

I just realized that the order of reply was not top to bottom, but bottom to top. Danny was replying to Tullian ... Daniel was responding to Danny's reply. I stand by my statements, though. The tent needs to be broader and more inclusive.

[Morris Driggers]

Danny,
I didn't read Daniel as implying that there should be only one style of anything. He wasn't explicit one way or the other; but reading him in the context of a response to Tullian's post, I took him to mean that we need to broaden our stylistic tent to be more inclusive rather than pigeonholing our worship gatherings by rigid conformation to this "style" or that.

However, in my experience ... and in the experience of many of my colleagues ... sometimes to do so means that we who lead become targets from all "sides" in the style wars. One of my friends recently said that in a previous ministry situation he knew he was achieving the desired balance when all factions were equally angry with him. I live there, too.

[Daniel]

Unfortunately, there is segregation within the church that is called cultural differences. I wonder if in part selfishness plays a role in respect to, I like this type of teaching, preaching, and worship when maybe we should die to selves and come to church for the love of Christ that compels us.
www.oramamusic.wordpress.com

[Daniel]

Unfortunately, there is segregation within the church that is called cultural differences. I wonder if in part selfishness plays a role in respect to, I like this type of teaching, preaching, and worship when maybe we should die to selves and come to church for the love of Christ that compels us.
www.oramamusic.wordpress.com

[Danny]

I could not disagree more. The bible teaches unity in diversity. Oneness does not come by speaking the same language or worshipping in the same style. Unity comes through the spirit and by love.

Thinking that one-over-all music, worship or preaching style will bring unity into our churches is superficial and naive.