Worshipping In Diversity...

            The last couple of days, I have been at the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) Annual Meeting. I have been to this and other annual meetings several times over the years. I am always intrigued with the diversity in those meetings. Different ethnicities, different cultures, different languages, and different ages. I generally look around at people during the services to just observe what is happening in the room. I often wonder if this is how they prefer to worship if they are different from who is leading worship. African Americans preach (usually better), and worship differently than mostly white churches do. Watching Hispanics and Asians also poses similar questions. At convention meetings like these, they are not coming because this is their church, but because this is their convention. The BGCT Annual Meeting is a very diverse gathering, so the worship services offered have variety as well. I have yet to attend a service where I was not able to worship, but I know I am not normal.

            This poses a question; can you worship in diversity? I am not talking about ethnic or language diversity, but style diversity. I am old enough to remember the days of hymns only in worship. I have lived through the days of praise and worship teams leading, and I am currently living in a time where worship music can be heard on the radio and several streaming stations. There has been that entire time a discussion on traditional versus contemporary worship styles. I have heard hundreds of people complaining about one style over another. People have said they love the doctrinal focus of the hymns. People say they love the scripture rich praise and worship songs. So, they question is, can you worship no matter which style is used? I have looked around the churches that I attend and see people singing to one style and not the other. I have also seen people not singing no matter what style a song is. The problem with this whole discussion is the focus on the style instead of the One we are worshipping. There will always be differences and preferences, but worshipping God should not be done only in one style. I listen primarily to Christian music channels in my car and at home. I listen to a wide variety of Christian music. I listen to Christian rap, rock, hip-hop, and praise and worship. It generally depends on the mood I am in or what I am doing. However, when we come to church do we focus on a style or on the true focus of our worship? We are challenged in scripture to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs unto the Lord. That points to a variety that some are not okay with. I just hope that we focus on what scripture calls us to instead of our preferences. Diversity is a beautiful thing, and I can only imagine what heaven is going to be like as every nation, tribe, and tongue worship God for all eternity. I just think we should practice that while we are here on earth.