This time of the year used to be very special for me because usually we had our SCCOG Youth Camps in June and Camp Meeting the week of July 4th. I remember saying while I served on our State Youth Board there would come a time when because of school closing dates getting later and later we would have to have our church camps in July, which is one of the hottest months of the year in good old South Carolina. I am not a prophet but what I said in the 90's is now a reality. I also remember speaking in favor of a change in our Camp Meeting date at one of our State Minister's Meetings at the old Tremont Avenue COG. The motion was made by another minister due to the economic and social change in SC during the massive textile shutdown, plus the fact of upcoming changes of our International COG General Assembly dates. We had always had Camp Meeting during the 4th of July week because most of folks who attended Camp Meeting worked in the textile industry during that time and all the mills shut down for that week. It's still kind of funny to me that one of my fellow pastors who opposed the change of Camp Meeting dates served on the board that later made that change a reality. So over the last 45 years I've seen a lot of changes in our summer ministries here in the SCCOG.
Hey, I'm not a dummy-change is inevitable. It's happening in the world, in society, and also in the church. Some of it is for good, but some of it is also for the bad. It's always been that way. In fact some things we were taught growing up really sounded good, but had little scriptural basis. We just did them because we had always done them. They had always worked before so in our thinking they would continue to work. Sadly we have lost so many things because of our resistance to change our thinking and also our lack of emphasis on biblical living. Instead of being trend setters of righteousness we have become copycats of methods. Instead of making disciples we have sought after crowds. Instead of understanding why we are who we are (Pentecostal) we have clashed over worship styles and distanced ourselves from the spiritual things that made us unique in evangelicalism.
Truthfully, some things needed to change because we lost a lot of good people because of some hardships we placed on them that really were not scriptural. I will get bashed for this statement, but it is the truth. I believe in BIBLICAL living! Show it to me in the Word and I will accept it, but twisting the scripture to justify your own beliefs is just as wrong as stealing or lying. I've pastored some people who looked like old-time holiness, but gossiped and attacked people with no remorse. It's those kind of people that have caused the world to label Christians as bigots and fakes. It is also people who don't tithe or support the church faithfully that always want to be in control and cause the pastor constant heartache. That's why we need to accept some changes that will bring respect back to the church, the ministry, and to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
I miss the music of the past, the choirs, and the way we used to worship. But folks, it isn't coming back that way again no matter how we cling to our heritage. As we older folks go the way of the grave a whole new style is taking over with again some good and bad things just as we've gone through and the generation before us. Yet, I really don't think it matters to God whether we have on a suit or wear jeans to preach in as long as we teach, preach, and live the Word. Fuss over music style if you want too-it's been done before. Fuss about the way people dress-it's been done before. Fuss about the way people live-it's always been done. Rather than fuss, make up your mind that you are going to be a light regardless and that you will not impose your will on people. Give them the gospel and let them make their choice. Live as an example before them and do the best you can for God understanding that you are not perfect either. Jesus will never change, but people have and will. The evolution of worship will continue to change. Lifestyles will continue to bring conflicts within and without the church. People will continue to be people. Again, change is inevitable-you can't stop it. So trust God and deal with it. The quicker you can do this, the quicker the devil will be dealt with and the church will begin to prosper again.
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