Culture Wars - A New Hope

I'm preaching this week.  I'm really excited.  I love to preach.  We've been in a series called "Culture Shock" and we've been discussing ministry in culture.  How do we adapt, how to we contextualize, and how to we remain true to the gospel in that.  So, I'm thinking about how we often ignore the culture around us, choosing instead to engage in culture wars within the church instead of engaging the culture around us.  

I've been a music leader for most of my life.  I started leading at my church when I was about 16 and have lead music ever since.  As such I have seen this particular issue become a real sticking point in different churches in which I have served.  We argue over the style, the volume, the instrumentation, etc.  The discussion is rarely about the gospel and almost always a question of personal preference.  Culture.  Usually the cultural leanings of one generation vs. the cultural leanings of another.

If the Lord allows I will one day be old enough to dislike the music at church.  It's inevitable.  I already find myself disliking some of the music I hear on the radio and it's only a matter of time until those styles influence the music in the church.  That's not evil, it's just the natural progression of time.  I was influenced by certain songs, bands, and sounds as a kid and my kids will be the same.  We should use those influences to communicate the gospel to others who are acculturated in the same way.

So, I say all that to say this.  I hope that when I do begin to 'hate' the music at church I will see past style and look for the gospel.  That my contention will always be that Christ be glorified.