No more plaid

I've grown up with my parents being involved in ministry. They volunteered when I was a kid. My mom worked as the church secretary. My dad was a Sunday School teacher, on the board, sang in the choir and whatever else needed to be done. When I was 8 years old we entered into full time ministry as a family on the evangelistic field.  My dad has pastored, been back on the evangelistic field and now serves as an interim pastor while churches search for new pastors.  It's been a varied career to say the least. This is the reason I love talking to my dad about ministry. We don't always see perfectly eye to eye but I think that's why we both enjoy the conversation. We recently had a conversation about traditions in church. You see, part of the reason I believe my dad has been called to serve as an interim pastor at this point in his ministry career is because at 62 years old, he is amazingly open to change within the church.  Not that he necessarily likes all the changes, but at least he sees the value in them.
While we were talking I had this thought about traditions in the church. I don't think there is anything wrong with what a lot of us would call "traditional" services.  Here's what I learned while on the evangelistic field in my own adult years.  There are a lot of different churches out there doing some pretty phenomenal things.  I've been to churches that were so traditional I thought I'd stepped back in time. But there was an excitement there that I couldn't explain except to say that God was moving. I've been in some churches that on the outside seemed more like small amusement parks and even had a literal Starbucks in the lobby. While the idea of this seems to turn off a lot of people I also saw people in real relationship with Jesus.  See there are people on both side of the traditional fence that say the other is wrong but I don't think there is anything wrong with either church. In all honesty I think I sit somewhere in the middle of this issue. I love some of the traditions that I grew up in and miss them from time to time. I also love some of the new things that churches are doing to reach this emerging generation.  Here's what I think is important...Do you know why you do what you do and why you believe in what you believe in?

See everyone wants to debate on what is right or wrong so that they know what they should do in church. They want to know how they should teach, what songs to sing, what instruments to have. Should they have all the lights turned on during worship or turned off? Should they laugh and tell jokes or should the house of God be a place of reverence and quiet? Should we only read out of the King James Bible or can we still understand God's meaning in modern day language? How should we dress? Are suits and dresses the appropriate apparel for meeting with God or are jeans and plaid shirts okay too? What I see when I attend ministry conferences sometimes is a whole bunch of people desperately trying to look like each other and to copy what each other are doing.  I'm not saying you don't learn from each other but I do think it's dangerous to try to be something God hasn't called you to be. It's true for churches and for Christians. Don't fall into a mold just because that seems to be the popular thing to do right now. What happens is you will soon become disillusioned with church and in turn place that feeling on your relationship with God. The fact is, God has created each uniquely and just like I have to treat my two children differently, because they are different, God wants to speak to us and use us differently.  There is nothing wrong with turning the lights out and cranking the amplifiers up until your ears bleed if that's how you connect with God. There is nothing wrong with stained glass windows, daylight and pipe organs if that's how you connect with God.  So wear the suit or button up the plaid. Slick back the hair or shave that head until it shines. Wear the wire rim glasses or opt for the hipster look. God doesn't care as long as you are being real and showing the world that He is real. We are all going to reach different people, the people that God called us to reach.  But when we all sit and argue about who is right and wrong the world doesn't know what to believe anymore because we are putting up a dividing wall.  Be willing to accept people for the way they are until they figure out who God made them to be, stop pushing people away because of YOUR rules and regulations.  Don't make a religion out of what you've heard other people say, what's God saying to you? Who are you? Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you prefer that music when you worship? Can you hear God better when you laugh or when things are serious? Can you connect with God wearing shorts or do you have to be wearing a tie?
I never really understood my relationship with God until I started asking questions. I was raised in what some would call a cutting edge ministry.  At the time we were condemned for the way we presented the gospel. Now it's considered traditional.  But you know what, it worked 30 years ago and it's still working today. Why? Because at it's core it's the authentic message of who Jesus is.
I've been asking a lot of questions lately. Why do I talk the way I talk? Why do I connect with a particular style of music when I worship? Why do I counsel the way I do? Why do I teach the way I do? Why do I believe what I believe? Why do I pray the way I pray? Why am I drawn to certain people and ministries? Why do I like certain people's preaching/teaching styles over others? Why do I dress the way I dress? It's been really eye-opening. I'm not trying to influence anyone to any specific side. Quite the opposite. I'm encouraging you to ask the same questions. Ask God who He made YOU to be and who YOU are supposed to reach. I can tell you this...I'm not buying any more plaid.