In the business world, it seems tribes are all the rage. I just finished reading the book Tribes by Seth Godin. In the church space, I've read Tribal Church by Steve Stroope. When I talked with a publisher about a book idea, he encouraged me to build a tribe.
Tribes are not a new idea. You may recall reading throughout the Old Testament that there were twelve tribes of Israel.
Consider the worship war between the prophet of God and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:30-32, "Elijah called to the people, 'Come over here!' They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons."
I'm concerned that many of our churches have shattered altars, figuratively speaking, and they need to be rebuilt in a way that all tribes can worship as one people.
This is no small or simple task. And because the tribes are always growing and changing, it's a bit like nailing Jello to a tree. Those of us privileged to serve in intergenerational churches can never stop looking for, and listening for, the tribes in our churches.
Just last week, one of our retirement age folks sent me a gracious email that I wanted to listen to. They'd been hearing that I wasn't choosing songs that include her tribe. In my gracious response, I mentioned that we virtually always include songs from "the hymnal" but also confessed that if people don't feel like I am, I've failed them. (I was grateful that I'd already chosen a rather traditional setting of one of my favorite hymns, "It Is Well with My Soul" for the next Sunday!)
At the same time, I need to listen to the tribe of students on another part of the spectrum. And the parents who listen to Christian radio. And those on staff with me, especially my pastor. And the list goes on.
By the way, just to make it a little more complex, not all tribes are age-oriented. Some have to do more with musical taste--pop, rock, classical, etc. Some are new believers and others long time Christ-followers. Some has to do with ethnic upbringing, or cultural context. The deeper you dive, the more you can discover: examine the extroverts and introverts in your worship gathering, learn about Enneagram types, etc.
Be assured: this is about more than musical style, but it is not about less than that.
Let me pass along the counsel of my pastor when I first came to Woodburn -- become a sociologist and study this church and this community. And then serve them well.
So as you plan, as you lead, and as you encourage those who do, let me offer three quick action ideas:
1) Pray for unity. Just putting the stones on the altar won't bring people together. That's the work of the Spirit.
2) Plan for unity. Even though we are utterly dependent on the Spirit to provide unity, the Spirit calls us to action. Like Elijah did, gather the rocks. Assemble the people. Call them--all of them--to worship.
3) Lead for unity. Make choices that unite the tribes in your church. Find new ways to sing old songs (Wherever He Leads I'll Go by Travis Cottrell has been powerful for us) and old sounds with new songs. (All My Hope by David Crowder comes to mind.)
And if you're not the person in charge, may I implore you... help those who are. Fight for unity. (Ephesians 4:4) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21) Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. (Romans 12:9)
Let's move from scattered tribes to a unified people.
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