Finding A Common Ground<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
 
            Having been brought together under the blood of Christ, the last thing that we ought to find amongst our brethren is disunity.  Sadly, this is exactly what we find amongst different churches and denominations, and even within individual churches.  Now, disunity can be a good thing when a church strays away from scriptural teaching, but the issue I'm concerned about here is that which is found amongst those who hold to the fundamentals of the faith.  Yes, we are all different, should that give us reason for dissent?  Lets examine some of the areas where, though we are miles apart, we ought to find away as a people of God to come together and appreciate the gifts He has given.
 
Unity in Our Music
            Some may disagree, but the style of music played in any church is completely irrelevant when it comes to praising the Lord.  There is no such thing as non-Christian music .  .  . only non-Christian lyrics.  Whether it's hymns, contemporary worship, rap, hip-hop, soul, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, you name it; all music can bring glory to God.  Fundamentally, the Who is far more important than the How. 
There are, however, two very important questions the church should address.  If a non-member were to walk into your church, would he think that he had entered into a funeral home?  Conversely, if a non-Christian were to walk into your service, would he be able to tell the difference between your manner of worship and the actions that he was putting on display at a fraternity party the night before? 
There are times for reverence, sobriety, and reflection in our music, and there times for singing at the tops of our lungs, raising our hands, clapping, and even dancing before the Lord.  But either way, if our singing becomes about the music rather than the One to whom we are singing, if the sound that we make before men is more important to the sound that rises to the Lord, if we lift our hands while dancing or bow our heads in prayer while sneaking a peak at who is watching, then all of our harmonies, melodies, and rhythms are but vain pursuits. 
 
Unity in Styles
            How, then, do we come to an agreement on what type of music to play?  My generation seems to think that anything old should be tossed out with the trash, but they couldn't be any more wrong.  It is important to remember where we come from and to cherish the writings of the great men and women whose traditions we inherit.  In fact, in many liberal churches today, the only theology that the people get comes from the hymnal.  So before throwing out tradition, pay attention to the positive affects that it is having on the rest of the Christian community.  Some in the pews may never read their Bibles, but every Sunday while singing words like, "Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise," they are getting sound Biblical doctrine engrained in their minds.  The hope, of course, is that one day such words will sink in deep enough to encourage them to pick up their Bible and learn just Who it is they have been singing about. 
            Those that are older, though, often mistake youthful exuberance and the desire to play new music as some sort of rebellion.  Our generation wants to "sing a new song" just like the adults did when the Stones came onto the scene.  So rather than trying to cast them aside, remember two things:  First, those whose music you want to reject are the ones that will carry or drop the banner of faith in the future.  Second, we are still minds that can be molded, and (believe it or not) we want to be molded.  Instead of whining, set aside some time for that kid playing the guitar so that you can teach him and guide him in the work of Christ.  In this way, you can show him the importance of remembering the words and music of those who went before.  I enjoy hymns not because they were forced down my throat, but because I recognized very early in life (thanks to great spiritual leaders) how much historical and spiritual significance can be found in those songs. 
            To each generation:  Rather than fighting over style, how about trying a little compromise.  Rather than splitting services, why not have both types of music in your service and learn to appreciate that style that you dislike so much.  Maybe then we wouldn't have fifty different services for every type of person.  Maybe then we could learn from each other and fix the mistakes that only those on the outside can see.  Maybe then, and only then, we will be what Christ called us to be.  
 
Unity in our Preaching
            If you go to fifty-two churches over the course of the next year, you will see fifty-two different styles of preaching.  To emphasize a point, one will raise his voice and another will whisper.  When moved, one will cry and the other will shout.  One will like to move around, one will come into the audience, and one will never move from behind the pulpit.  Just as God has given each of us unique gifts and abilities, God has made every preacher different.  But in the midst of our disunity of styles and presentation, we have one Bible from which we should get our content, we have one Savior who redeems us all, and we have one Lord whom we serve.  It's the content of the message that is most important, and it is in agreement on the message that every manner of preacher can come together.   
 
Unity as a Body of Christ
            Ultimately, we will find unity when we set aside our difference and recognize that we can learn from each other.  The fact that we all have weaknesses applies to the church just like it does the individual.  Every type of church would be wise to examine both its emotional and intellectual disposition.  Consider yourself in light of some common dangers.  Do you ever allow yourself to be moved by the Spirit of God?  Or, are you so dependent upon your emotions that when they do not come you worry about your faith?  When you are flipping through your Bible, do you have to constantly lick your fingers because the pages are stuck together?  Do you have, as 1 Pet <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />3:15 says, "a reason for the hope that is in you?"  Are you open to new ideas, or do you need to be open to old ones?
            Whatever the state of your church and/or your self may be, be very encouraged.  One of the most exciting things about life is that when we recognize our weaknesses and are willing to work on them, they soon become our strengths.  Moses stuttered and became the spokesman for the Lord and His people.  Gideon was a coward who led 300 men to defeat tens of thousands.  Whatever things with which you may struggle, the God we serve is greater than them all.