Thoughts on 'Passing the Baton'

I realize we cannot continue this discussion, ad infinitum, but I would like to weigh in on the "Passing the Baton," article in the June 23 issue of the Index. And so that you know my frame of reference, I did not surrender my life to Our Lord, Jesus Christ, until 1983. I am now 79 years of age, and a Marine veteran of WWII.

We hear catch phrases like "A Contemporary Church for a Contemporary Christ." The Jesus I know, and read about, and worship, never said or indicated He was "contemporary." To the contrary, He said He was the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love that statement.

If you walk back just a short distance in history, you will find, perhaps, the greatest number of persons subject to being evangelized were the returning veterans from World War II. There were millions of us, and we were ages 19 or 20 through 35 or so. Even though I was not churched at that time, we were not into drugs; we were not into alcohol; we were not into "love fests" or "living together." We were, however, into "big band" sounds, music and rhythm, with vocalists like Doris Day, Don Cherry, Peggy Lee, Helen Forrest, etc.

Did the leadership of any protestant church, or Southern Baptist church, reach out and bring "big band" sounds, or rhythm into the church worship services? Don't think so! Then why now?

Our hymns and our hymnals have withstood the tests of time. Many of their words compel us to look inside ourselves, and realize how worthless we are and what a loving God we worship. The so-called "praise songs" we hear today are nothing more than a few phrases put to music and repeated over and over and over and over again.

But here is the difference - its the music, its the "beat", its the loudness, its the rhythm. It is the same type music the youth can and do hear at any "concert" they attend outside the church. This is not worshipful music; it is "emotional," "feel good" music that one can sway to the rhythm of.

Has anyone stopped to consider just how recent this phenomenon actually is? How do you suppose the church survived and prospered during all the historical periods of upheaval and societal mores? They did not bring in the waltzes; they did not bring in the "roaring 20's" music; they just kept on singing the great hymns.

And now, my friends, I truly believe what I am about to say. It may bring angry reactions, but I have to speak my heart. Liberalism/Secularism is knocking at the church door. As one writer to the Index so elequently put it "I'm wondering if it (passing the baton) is an endorsement or a wake up call." He, and numerous others, see it as an endorsement.

Add this writer's name to that list of very concerned Baptists. And until someone steps up and says "enough is enough," our Southern Baptist worship services will continue down that slippery slope to eventual hedonism. Lord, save us from that, and enable us to put our shirt tails back into our trousers.

Editor's Note: The "Passing the Baton" article was neither an endorsement or a 'wake up' call on behalf of the Index writer. The purpose of the story was to shed light on a developing trend that is occurring throughout the denomination and to communicate how the next generation is breaking new ground in sharing their faith. The second installment, titled "Stained Glass and Starbucks," will appear in the Sept. 29 issue of the Index. That story will further explore the creative approach which pastors of all ages are using to start churches in Georgia.