15-5

Rooted and Relevant

What does it mean to be rooted? In short, it means to know where you came from. We are not the first generation of people who have worshiped God through music, and we won't be the last either. We are at a unique time in history, where change is extremely rapid, but all of our technology doesn't change the gospel or our need to be humble. Some of us didn't grow up singing the classic hymns, in fact some of us are quite new to the faith. The hymns are full of rich theology and those of us who know them should be willing to gracisouly teach them to those that do not. They cover a broad range of topics that some of the songs written in the last twenty years just don't address, and that is not surprising given the fact that the hymns have been written over hundreds of years and the best of the best are still sung today! The reason we still use traditions such as hymns is that it shows that we follow in a long line of worshipers who have desired to bring glory to God just as we do. "That doesn't mean that hymn melodies are sacred, are the best they could ever be, or should never be altered. Most hymns were written as text without music. They were joined to various tunes until one became more popular than all the others. But we're just plain arrogant when we think that all the great melodies have been written in the last twenty years."

All of that being said, "too much emphasis in traditions and roots can cause us to depend on them. Many traditions began as an earnest attempt to to protect the faith, but over tine they became separated from faith, resulting in dead orthodoxy. They now practice a form of godliness but lack true spiritual power. There will never be a perfect liturgy or tradition that ensures the continued faith of future generations."

The greatest traditions in the world don't mean anything unless they help to effectively communicate the gospel to those we are trying to reach. That means that we have to evaluate everything that we do and see if the people are actually getting it. This is a constant within every organization, including the church. "We want to proclaim the unchanging gospel in ways our culture can comprehend, ways that will make it easy for people to perceive who Jesus Christ is and how he has changed us." That doesn't mean that we should expect everyone who walks in our doors on Sunday to understand everything that is going on, but we do have to make sure they don't feel like they are hearing a totally foreign language either.

That is why the church must have a healthy tension of relevance to balance out the roots that we hold so dear. That looks different in every church! For some churches that may mean adding a jazz band and webcasting, for others it may mean a banjo and a bulletin. "Every church should make sure that the story of God's redemption can be clearly understood and experienced by those they are seeking to reach with the gospel.

Just as with roots, clinging to relevance can be a bad thing. We can easily find ourselves looking for the latest gimmick and the message of the gospel can become lost in how 'cool and creative' we become. That is where staying rooted can help us. It reminds us that above all we are to remain faithful to the message, not the the culture around us.

The most important thing to remember is that "when it cones to forms of worship, any form that facilitates and encourages worship in spirit and truth by a particular gathering of people, at a particular tine in history, in the context of a particular culture is pleasing to God. That implies that no one form can fully express the vastness of God. No given time, culture, or generation can give God the honor He deserves. This understanding keeps first things first. Cultures change, styles change, traditions change, times change. God remains the same. Through wise leadership and a faithful example, let's draw upon the rich heritage of the past, while at the same time seeking to communicate the eternal gospel in ways our culture can understand."

Enjoy the Journey