The trends we are seeing in our western society is a culture of individualism and consumerism that says, "I am most important and my likes or dislikes are more important . . ." Individualism rather than community drives the action of people. This mindset is fragmenting our marriages, families, and communities. Being interdependent of one another is being replaced by independence. Relational principles are taking a back seat.
Unfortunately, though that is not Biblical, it has affected the church. We as the church should be counter-cultural as God's people showing the reconciling, uniting power of the Gospel and the concept of the Body of Christ challenging the destructive trends in our society. If believers and church families don't keep it together in the name of Christ, there is no hope.
You can call it intergenerational worship, multi-generational worship or as we have called it in our local church many times, family worship. Family worship takes into consideration all parts and ages of the family in creating an environment for worship. And, yes, that means a great variety of expression and music in worship. In the Old Testament the "people of God" were called to worship, not the older people of God or the younger people of God - the people of God. I believe the issue of variety in expression and music in worship is addressed by Paul in both Ephesians and Colossians when he says we are to sing - "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs". We do not know exactly what kind of songs these are, but we do know he is calling for variety and yielding to one another in the Body. The concept and mindset that "I always have to have my own way" is contrary to Biblical teaching about the Body and servanthood. We need to learn to love and yield to one another, even in worship. mjm
