todd,

my brother in-law is the mastermind behind all this - he’s the middle school pastor at fbc columbia, sc.

hey yah!

That’s amazing. I literally am speechless, I’m not sure what to even say:)

They still need a lot of work and a lot more real coffee.
fishon

Looks like a real bad version of Young @ Heart to me!

the video wasn’t made to try to make things more “relevant.” it was made to go along with a student ministry Fall Retreat as a “late submission” for a “talent show.” it’s not supposed to be good. of course they can’t rap!

what made it “good” was the relationships that were formed and strengthened between the sr. adults and students in the student ministry when they saw their grandparents doing something out or the ordinary.

Brad....

really!??!?

There’s always gotta be one in the bunch.  Come on Brad.

Yes, I think it was kinda poorly done.  Doesn’t look like it was meant to be great and they probably didn’t practice all that much.  I do think it’s pretty funny though.

But exploited?  Come on.  I hate to say it this way, but whatever assumptions you might make looking at them, I’ve been around churches long enough to know that the “older saints” have some of the strongest opinions and aren’t afraid to share.  If they had problems with this, they probably wouldn’t have done it.

Confess?  Sin?  No offense but let’s kick back a little.
It wasn’t corporate worship and I don’t think anyone was aiming to defile the hard work throughout church history.

friends:

sanctity of life, as an umbrella term, has more to do with appreciating the all of life is sacred.  we minimize it to abortion or seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s, but it’s a Biblical issue of inviolability.  to ask them to do this in the first place just baffles me.

believe me, i expect to be in the minority.  i knew that going in.  that is where we are as a culture.  and as the comments rack up against me, i’ll continue to be saddened at the lack of discernment and integrity and ‘dumbing down’ that culture has had on us in the ministry. and if i’m “that one,” well, that is my lot with my comments…

well then, keep doing your thing brad.  i am not one to stand in the way off someone’s opinion.

the adults in the video knew what they were doing, they loved being a part of a weekend that saw over 200 people participate and 17 decisions made for Christ.

one of the benefits of being a part of a multi-generational church is seeing senior adults on a normal basis...being able to worship with them every Sunday...seeking their wisdom in decisions that I have to make as a 27 year old...and yes, even having fun with them!

In Brad’s defense - the first time I saw it I was rather horrified too - until it was put into context.

In context it’s wonderful.  What could the kids do but laugh and grin at seeing their grandma and Grandpa singing songs that /they/ sing.  It’s funny. It’s cool.  And it would give them both something to talk and laugh about for a very long time.

But until I had the context I was thinking that if the choir director told me to sing that stuff I’d tell him exactly where he could put his request, and it wouldn’t be a very ‘Christian’ suggestion either. *wink*

okay friends.  good pushback..

more food for thought…

someone explain to me why it’s ok for anyone to sing these songs?  let alone by our elders?  for a chuckle?  on the basis of ‘connecting’ to the youth of the church?

Brad,
I think you’re being a little too serious here. As noted, they did this to form a connection. As for why anyone should be singing these songs - that’s a good question to ask. I seem to remember that Charlton Heston read the entire lyrics from some rapper’s album into the minutes of a board meeting.  When told he couldn’t read that (because of the lyrics), he responded that the company was selling it. (Wasn’t invited back, IIRC.) Perhaps hearing these words from someone else’s mouths would also prompt a little discussion on the appropriateness of those lyrics.  After all, kids don’t actually listen to the words, they just like the music.  At least, that’s the line I always hear when you question them about the lyrics.  Of course, they have no problem mouthing those words while the song is playing or singing along, but of course they don’t _listen_ to them.

I appreciate your passion on this topic, but I think this might be an area to agree to disagree.  And related to the age and group, I know several senior members across several choirs who would practically jump at a chance to do something like this for a youth weekend gig. They would have had a lot more movement, too.  :-D

I think Brad is right on target.  What lyrics are they going to sing next?  How about “I Love Big Butts” Why would we ever legitimize this kind of music to our kids?
You want to connect the seniors of the church with the youth? How about teaching them Biblical principles of honoring the elderly and respecting them.  How proverbs tells us that silver hair is the sign of wisdom.  No let’s not do that...I know let’s put them in a position of ridicule so that we can perpetuate secular thinking that old people are useless, irrelevant, out of touch, bad drivers, too slow and incapable of taking care of themselves.  Remember that we are to be sanctified...a peculiar people...in the world but not of the world.  We have become so wrapped up in trying to be attractive to the world that we can no longer be distinguished from it.  If we want to connect with the youth, how about we use the “youth ministry” in our churches to teach them the whole counsel of God instead of as a entertainment center or as a baby sitting service.  Once they see their sins in the light of the suffering that Christ endured in our stead and surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, then the Biblical principles of respect and honor towards the elderly in our midst will make sense to them and they will obey.  Sounds radical doesn’t it?