When today’s young people (far-out or close-in as they may be) come regularly to church, a warm glow of gratitude ought to suffuse our hearts. Hallelujah! Surely, this is not a blessing merely to be taken for granted—not at such a time as this!
But let’s never get the silly notion that young people are doing God, the elders, and the minister a favor when they are in church. The privilege is all theirs. Which, of course, is true of us their elders also. To be allowed an audience with the Lord of lords and the King of kings—well, there are just no words to really say how unworthy every sinful mortal is of an honor as great as that.
So, if you go to church, watch your step!
Old fashioned stuff? No, not at all. Fact of the matter is, it’s just as up to date as the Book always is. This is how Koheleth (the Preacher) puts it:
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they know not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth; therefore let thy words be few” (Eccles. 5:1, 2).
Youth complex – But why look especially at youth as we caution against rashness in our worship? The question is a good one, because children, parents, oldsters—none are to suppose themselves to be altogether immune to this evil.
Could it be the frustration of age that now leads us to beam this toward the young? Let’s hope not, for it is by no means a small matter to determine that our motives are always simon-pure.
Some wit has recently expressed the frustration of today’s older persons as that of a generation that never had a chance. Why? Because when we were young we were always told to listen to our parents and elders; and now that we are older, we are being told that we must listen to our children.
Let’s face it; today’s prevalent and obsequious deference to youth so easily becomes a complex or an obsession—however dangerous it may be for a minister, a teacher, or a politician to dare to say so.
Everybody (except Rip Van Winkle who slept for twenty years, even right through the Revolutionary War) must know that young people today are really feeling their oats, probably as never before. Parents, teachers, ministers, and also the police become increasingly aware of this at home, at school, at church, and in society at large.
In a large newspaper ad, a well-known firm claims in bold, black letters that, even though “the young people of today are the most independent, inquisitive, disbelieving, and demanding generation in American history,” they do buy their gasoline and have confidence in its value.
Of course, the statement in that ad about today’s young people is far too sweeping. We know too many splendid, dedicated, Christian young people to be so foolish as to tar them all with the same brush. Always remember that even the best young people are still young people, and that you can’t put old heads on young shoulders.
But, giving all credit where credit is due, one would have to be an incurable optimist, blind as a bat, or in his dotage not to recognize a hard core of truth in what the ad says about today’s young people. Ours is, in all probability, a generation of youth with more affluence, more mobility, more temptations and enticements, greater proximity to all that is secular, and more patterns of revolt than any that has ever gone before.
To cater to the whims, the folly, and the half-baked demands of youth, and thus attempt to ingratiate ourselves with them, is just as bad as it is to fail to be understanding and patient in the case of those who are immature. To knuckle under to what at times should be recognized for what it is the tyranny of youth—is actually cruel and contrary to what the Bible plainly requires of us as their elders.
This youth complex or obsession has a way of asserting itself also in the church. When the young people want this or that, we’d better let them have it; or, who knows, they might leave the church and not come back. We certainly don’t want that to happen, do we? Of course, we don’t. But does that mean we are not ever allowed to stop and count the cost?
The church had better “get with it” today, the minister must be young, the sermons short and snappy, far-out liturgical innovations acceptable, and the young people consulted or given a voice in how we are to worship.
To pick our way carefully through all this so as to glean from it whatever may be good and refuse that which is evil, requires what a wise and experienced elder once spoke of as “the patience of Job, the meekness of Moses, the courage of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and the zeal of the Apostle Paul.” May God graciously grant parents, pastors, and youth leaders nothing less than all this, even in rich abundance. And may He, in the same measure, guide and bless devout young people as they aspire to active participation in divine worship.
Sine qua non for Worship – The familiar Latin expression, sine qua non, stands for that which in any given case is absolutely necessary, essential, or indispensable. There is in worship also a sine qua non.
It is awe, reverence, respect, and a deep-seated conviction of our own unworthiness in the presence of the God of infinite greatness as we come to worship. Goethe was right: “The soul of the Christian religion is reverence.”
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God . . .” says the Preacher (Eccles. 5:1).
One brother, member and past elder of a Christian Reformed Church, unburdens himself to this writer about a Sunday evening youth service at which, as he reports, one of the young participants was not even a confessing member of the church. Is that according to the Church Order, he wants to know.
A correspondent from the west coast deplores the “Youth Worship Service” recently held on a Sunday evening at the Christian Reformed church of which he is a member. Enclosed with his letter is a mimeographed copy of the Order of Worship with statements by both the young people and the elders to introduce it.
The young people say: “This isn’t like our usual services because it’s ecumenical, but we think this worship service is as good or better than any other . . .”
Assuming responsibility together with the young people, the elders state: “Our purpose is to provide a real life opportunity for our young people to express themselves in worship together with the adults, but in their own terminology . . .”
Having read and given due recognition to whatever is good in this order of worship, let it suffice to say that, in my judgment, when these young people go overboard by trying to tell their congregation that “this worship service is as good or better than any other,” they are either victims of their own immaturity and ignorance or carried away by presumption; and that the permissiveness of the elders in this is to be deplored. I can well believe, what my informant states, that since this service a number of families have not been at this church again.
Well, what do you make of all this and more like it? At least two comments seem definitely in order. First, let the elders make sure that they are thoroughly familiar with the requirements for the proper and responsible regulation of the worship services as these are set forth in the Church Order (Art. 51 ff.). Next, in view of some of today’s liturgical innovations and hoopla, there is a dire need for realizing for the first time or anew that true worship requires three things: first, reverence; next, more reverence; and finally , still more reverence. The Bible leaves no doubt about that.
What does Scripture say? – The Bible is clear as broad daylight about this: in worship, only fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Once again: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God . . .” (Eccles. 5:1, 2).
Think of Moses in the presence of God at the burning bush. “Draw not nigh hither;” the Lord told him, “put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5).
Disregarding the divine directive given for worship, Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron) “offered strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah” (Lev. 10:1, 2).
One might think it to have been only a minor matter when Uzzah put his hand on the ark of God to keep it from falling when the oxen stumbled. But, “the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (II Sam. 6:6, 7).
Think also of the holy angels Isaiah saw in a vision. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Is. 6:3).
Major prophet though he was, Isaiah himself cried out: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts” (Is. 6:5).
And one day when Peter caught just a glimpse of the Master’s divine power and majesty, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).
The publican who went up into the temple to pray, and afterward down to his house justified, cried out: “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
The inhabitants of heaven worship God by saying: “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:12).
True. God is our Father in Christ. Hallelujah! But He is also “a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24). Surely then, undue familiarity and the cheap, buddy-buddy approach in worship should be absolutely taboo!
But let’s never get the silly notion that young people are doing God, the elders, and the minister a favor when they are in church. The privilege is all theirs. Which, of course, is true of us their elders also. To be allowed an audience with the Lord of lords and the King of kings—well, there are just no words to really say how unworthy every sinful mortal is of an honor as great as that.
So, if you go to church, watch your step!
Old fashioned stuff? No, not at all. Fact of the matter is, it’s just as up to date as the Book always is. This is how Koheleth (the Preacher) puts it:
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they know not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth; therefore let thy words be few” (Eccles. 5:1, 2).
Youth complex – But why look especially at youth as we caution against rashness in our worship? The question is a good one, because children, parents, oldsters—none are to suppose themselves to be altogether immune to this evil.
Could it be the frustration of age that now leads us to beam this toward the young? Let’s hope not, for it is by no means a small matter to determine that our motives are always simon-pure.
Some wit has recently expressed the frustration of today’s older persons as that of a generation that never had a chance. Why? Because when we were young we were always told to listen to our parents and elders; and now that we are older, we are being told that we must listen to our children.
Let’s face it; today’s prevalent and obsequious deference to youth so easily becomes a complex or an obsession—however dangerous it may be for a minister, a teacher, or a politician to dare to say so.
Everybody (except Rip Van Winkle who slept for twenty years, even right through the Revolutionary War) must know that young people today are really feeling their oats, probably as never before. Parents, teachers, ministers, and also the police become increasingly aware of this at home, at school, at church, and in society at large.
In a large newspaper ad, a well-known firm claims in bold, black letters that, even though “the young people of today are the most independent, inquisitive, disbelieving, and demanding generation in American history,” they do buy their gasoline and have confidence in its value.
Of course, the statement in that ad about today’s young people is far too sweeping. We know too many splendid, dedicated, Christian young people to be so foolish as to tar them all with the same brush. Always remember that even the best young people are still young people, and that you can’t put old heads on young shoulders.
But, giving all credit where credit is due, one would have to be an incurable optimist, blind as a bat, or in his dotage not to recognize a hard core of truth in what the ad says about today’s young people. Ours is, in all probability, a generation of youth with more affluence, more mobility, more temptations and enticements, greater proximity to all that is secular, and more patterns of revolt than any that has ever gone before.
To cater to the whims, the folly, and the half-baked demands of youth, and thus attempt to ingratiate ourselves with them, is just as bad as it is to fail to be understanding and patient in the case of those who are immature. To knuckle under to what at times should be recognized for what it is the tyranny of youth—is actually cruel and contrary to what the Bible plainly requires of us as their elders.
This youth complex or obsession has a way of asserting itself also in the church. When the young people want this or that, we’d better let them have it; or, who knows, they might leave the church and not come back. We certainly don’t want that to happen, do we? Of course, we don’t. But does that mean we are not ever allowed to stop and count the cost?
The church had better “get with it” today, the minister must be young, the sermons short and snappy, far-out liturgical innovations acceptable, and the young people consulted or given a voice in how we are to worship.
To pick our way carefully through all this so as to glean from it whatever may be good and refuse that which is evil, requires what a wise and experienced elder once spoke of as “the patience of Job, the meekness of Moses, the courage of David, the wisdom of Solomon, and the zeal of the Apostle Paul.” May God graciously grant parents, pastors, and youth leaders nothing less than all this, even in rich abundance. And may He, in the same measure, guide and bless devout young people as they aspire to active participation in divine worship.
Sine qua non for Worship – The familiar Latin expression, sine qua non, stands for that which in any given case is absolutely necessary, essential, or indispensable. There is in worship also a sine qua non.
It is awe, reverence, respect, and a deep-seated conviction of our own unworthiness in the presence of the God of infinite greatness as we come to worship. Goethe was right: “The soul of the Christian religion is reverence.”
“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God . . .” says the Preacher (Eccles. 5:1).
One brother, member and past elder of a Christian Reformed Church, unburdens himself to this writer about a Sunday evening youth service at which, as he reports, one of the young participants was not even a confessing member of the church. Is that according to the Church Order, he wants to know.
A correspondent from the west coast deplores the “Youth Worship Service” recently held on a Sunday evening at the Christian Reformed church of which he is a member. Enclosed with his letter is a mimeographed copy of the Order of Worship with statements by both the young people and the elders to introduce it.
The young people say: “This isn’t like our usual services because it’s ecumenical, but we think this worship service is as good or better than any other . . .”
Assuming responsibility together with the young people, the elders state: “Our purpose is to provide a real life opportunity for our young people to express themselves in worship together with the adults, but in their own terminology . . .”
Having read and given due recognition to whatever is good in this order of worship, let it suffice to say that, in my judgment, when these young people go overboard by trying to tell their congregation that “this worship service is as good or better than any other,” they are either victims of their own immaturity and ignorance or carried away by presumption; and that the permissiveness of the elders in this is to be deplored. I can well believe, what my informant states, that since this service a number of families have not been at this church again.
Well, what do you make of all this and more like it? At least two comments seem definitely in order. First, let the elders make sure that they are thoroughly familiar with the requirements for the proper and responsible regulation of the worship services as these are set forth in the Church Order (Art. 51 ff.). Next, in view of some of today’s liturgical innovations and hoopla, there is a dire need for realizing for the first time or anew that true worship requires three things: first, reverence; next, more reverence; and finally , still more reverence. The Bible leaves no doubt about that.
What does Scripture say? – The Bible is clear as broad daylight about this: in worship, only fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Once again: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God . . .” (Eccles. 5:1, 2).
Think of Moses in the presence of God at the burning bush. “Draw not nigh hither;” the Lord told him, “put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5).
Disregarding the divine directive given for worship, Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron) “offered strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah” (Lev. 10:1, 2).
One might think it to have been only a minor matter when Uzzah put his hand on the ark of God to keep it from falling when the oxen stumbled. But, “the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (II Sam. 6:6, 7).
Think also of the holy angels Isaiah saw in a vision. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Is. 6:3).
Major prophet though he was, Isaiah himself cried out: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts” (Is. 6:5).
And one day when Peter caught just a glimpse of the Master’s divine power and majesty, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).
The publican who went up into the temple to pray, and afterward down to his house justified, cried out: “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
The inhabitants of heaven worship God by saying: “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:12).
True. God is our Father in Christ. Hallelujah! But He is also “a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24). Surely then, undue familiarity and the cheap, buddy-buddy approach in worship should be absolutely taboo!