A Baby Boomer's Judgment (Essentials Red)

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

Living as an end-of-the-baby-boomer-era adult, I find I follow the ideology that most new and fresh ideas feel more relevant and contemporary than “outdated” materials. Name your source. I’ll probably feel the same way. I love the look of antiques, but I’m not desirous of decorating that way. I love the history behind the old, but give me a modern house to live in.

I believe I’ve carried this attitude into my expression of worship. Give me fresh new songs. Let me play on the keyboard what inspires me at the moment. These expressions speak the voice of us now. Or so I’ve thought. I have a few older hymns I still like, but most I prefer not to sing.

I’ve been challenged this week to see how much of the history of the church I’ve thrown out as irrelevant or too formal. I’m realizing that in my quest for experiencing the freshness of God in my walk, I’ve ignored some very rich history. Our human struggles have not changed over the centuries. People wrote prayers hundreds of years ago reflecting the cries of their hearts. Their longing for more of God echoes the same cries of my heart now. In my pride, I was missing this as I judged all that felt antiquated.

The word of God is as relevant today as it was a year ago or a century ago. People do not change that much, so the need to worship and connect with God is all the same. How we express this will change according to cultural “sounds,” but the desperateness of the human soul is the same.

Can our worship blend the new and the old? The obvious answer is, of course! Yet, how do we do this without it becoming a “formula?” If I sing two songs, read a bible passage, sing another song, recite an old prayer, etc., then have I achieved the perfect mix?

I believe the answer to this actually steps back one more tier to my daily walk with God. If I seek to be a worshiper first, then I can lead others in this journey. I was specifically challenged in Robert Webber’s book, Ancient-Future Time, when he challenged us in our daily prayer. “Our whole life is to be a life of prayer, a life of continual turning to God, and a life of reliance, faith and trust In the living God. “*

If I am practicing this, then I will be hearing from the Holy Spirit in such a way that my life would truly reflect constant worship. Then, if I hear an ancient prayer or some other form of past worship, I could enjoy it for what it is, align myself with the message, rather than judging it as irrelevant and archaic.


*Webber, Ancient-Future Time, p. 66

I'm contemplating Time and the Timeless One (Essentials Red)

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt


Reading this week’s materials has me thinking about God in a brand new way. Until now, I have never thought about how a ‘timeless’ God continues to dip into our world that is marked by time, consumed with time, built around the passage of time.

The God of the universe, the eternal One, the timeless One, actually desires to step into the realm of humans over and over, touching our world in points of time to reveal himself to us. This is so cool. This is because he wants to.

Dan Wilt’s comment challenged me, “Time is simply a measurement of change…. It is actually a “space” in which we meet with God, encounter God and renew our commitment to God.” Because we humans are so forgetful, we need regular reminders to force us to stop and reflect about who God is and what he has done. We need weekly services. We need our small groups. We need yearly events. Why?..Because we forget. Traditions draw us back to a rich history that offers hope for our future. The God of the past is also our God of the future.

My next thought is how does God want me to use these discoveries to draw me closer to him? I must first confess how much time I lose each day and how much time I have lost getting to know my Creator. I waste time delving into things that really are so temporal and have no lasting value. Many days I complain about how busy I am, but who sets most of my schedule? Am I really so busy that I cannot give God a small portion of my day to simply hang out with him? I am his beloved, but am I seeking him like he seeks me? Are my actions consistent with my heart’s cry to get to know my Lord more? I have to say no. Sadly, I say no.

I am challenged once again to look at my use of time. I look ahead to the time I am being given and say, “Come, Timeless One, teach me more of who you are. Thank you for dipping into my brief timeline here on this earth and letting me know how much you love me.” This would make a great song!