In a recent Sunday sermon, a preacher asserted, "We can understand many conflicts within churches if we look at the sources of our preferences along generational lines." He suggested we look at Generations B, Y, and X, tagging the "solemn" churches as being in a Gen. B groove. Gen. Y, he said, are hand clappers who've long ago departed from using hymnals. Gen. Y, the disciples of Steve Cuban and others, whose feet move as much as their arms when they lead worship; the Yers are the outer edge of contemporary worship.
Most church music ministries "run their own show," meaning they choose their own music and their part of the service is theirs alone; as if they own that part of the service. Once they turned loose to "do their thing," the service belongs to them until they're finished.
The idea that ministry of the Word and ministry of Worship should be 'married' and function in a team relationship would be foriegn to such musicians. Even the pastor connected to such "on-their-own" music ministries, if present for the worship service, or "praise and worship" as generally known, is little more than an observer, or a participant no different from the rest of the congregation.
In some churches, though the pastor id physically present for worship, he does not actually participate in worship with his flock. Instead he carries a jovial conversations with his leaders in the back of the sanctuary. Sometimes it seems that this kind of "pastor-leader business" must be carried during the "warm up," thought of as the "opening exercises, " or the "prepping of the congregation" for the sermon. for pastors who view worship like that, the music is no more than just "preliminaries."
I ask you: To whom does the service of worship, including the Word, belong? Of course the whole body is welcome to participate (though there's seldom anything directed at or even relevant to the children). Pastors must answer this question: Who is the one to take ultimate Spiritual responsibility for the service? Who is held spiritually accountable for what happens during the "Sunday Worship hour?"
Regardless of which generation the service's style may cater to, someone from within the local assembly of the believers must be the overall "in charge."
