A friend recently asked, “Could someone define the ‘old time way/religion’ to me?” My friend is a long term pastor with a heart to reach the next generation and is struggling with a cultural “tug-o-war.” Of course, he is not alone.
Most established churches are experiencing this conflict. Traditional Protestant churches are struggling with emergent and emerging churches. Many Roman Catholics are struggling with the changes in their new Roman missal. Many established Pentecostal churches are struggling with changes in music and worship styles. In order to meet the challenge, it has become normal for many churches to have two morning worship services – a contemporary worship service and a traditional worship service. Other churches are trying to meet the challenge with “blended worship” (my preference). In many cases, churches have just given up and made a choice. These churches embrace “contemporary worship” or “traditional worship” exclusively. The battle anthem of the traditionalist has become “Give me that old time religion!” On the other hand the emergents are always singing “a new song to the Lord.” One group exhorts, “Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15); and the other group declares, “[You are] invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down” (Mark 7:13). I do not pretend to be wise enough to bring peace to the worship wars, but I will try to bring some clarity to the discussion.
We need tradition – the “old time way.” As the people of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land they heard once again from their leader, Moses. Again and again the people were challenged with the word “Remember.”
“Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).
Their fathers died in the wilderness because of unbelief. For the new generation the greatest temptation was to forget the lessons of the Exodus. During the wilderness wandering they did not practice circumcision or observe the Passover. They were in grave danger of losing their identity as the covenant people of God. The call to remember was a call to faith. That’s why Paul encourages us to “hold to the traditions.” One of my greatest concerns with the emergent/emerging movements is their devaluing of tradition. The Tradition of which I speak is respect for the inspiration of Scriptures, the Nicene rule of faith, and sacraments. In truth, both sides of the issue have missed the point. Biblical worship is more than “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” The very fact that most of the conversation regarding worship is about music demonstrates a serious misunderstanding about “worship in Spirit and truth.” Biblical worship also requires the proclamation of the Word, prayer, and sacraments. Yes, we need “the old time way.” We need songs that inspire and inform believers. We need sermons that are passionate and which provoke conviction. We need prayer at the altar that expresses the brokenness and desperation of the soul. We need nourishment at Table of the Lord and we must confess our sins to one another as we wash feet. We must preserve sacred memory for the sake of future generations.
We need continuous, genuine renewal. The people of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness, traveling in circles, going nowhere. If they were going to inherit the Promised Land, they had to do something different. The same voice that challenged them to “Remember” also declared, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Turn and set your journey…” (Deuteronomy 1:6-7). As we remember the past we must always be looking forward. In fact, the glory of the church is not in our past, but in the future. The church of the future is “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). The heavenly church is comprised of hundreds of generations – people who have believed through the ages. The mission of the Holy Spirit is to guide the church throughout the ages until the return of our Lord. In other words, the Spirit moves the church from age to age, from place to place, from generation to generation. The point of this is that as the Spirit moves the church must move. One of my favorite quotes from Irenaeus (2nd century bishop of Lyons) states, “Our faith having been received from the church, we do preserve, and which always, by the Spirit of God, renewing its youth, as if it were some precious deposit in an excellent vessel, causes the vessel itself containing it to renew its youth also.” The ancient bishop understood something that seems to elude many of us. First, we have received the Faith through the Spirit-formed church. The ancient faith is a treasure which endures the ages. Second, the same Spirit that inspired the ancient faith also renews the Faith, so that the Faith is forever youthful. Irenaeus knew that the Spirit who is continuously moving in the church would provoke renewal movements. New moves of the Spirit will inspire new songs, new forms of liturgy, and new technologies that will be faithful to the ancient Faith. The problem is that like the blowing of a strong wind, renewal movements are messy.
So, how do we negotiate the tension between the necessity of Tradition and Renewal? I’m not wise enough to be certain, but here are some of my best guesses. First, some emergent/emerging church leaders have passion for mission but little depth in the Faith. Some traditionalists have depth in the Faith, but little passion for the mission of Christ. So, the renewal of worship must promote sincere discipleship and passionate mission. Second, Spirit-led renewal will embrace all generations and exclude none! We must resist the tendency to segregate generations in worship for any reason. Worship services should be events in which grandparents and grandchildren worship together. That means the songs of John Wesley and Chris Tomlin should be sung by all generations. Spirit-led renewal should be marked by love and promote unity, tolerance, and patience.
