Campmeeting Days Are Here Again!

Monday night was the opening night of the Tennessee State campmeeting for the Church of God. Dr. Tim Hill, the Second Assistant Overseer of the denomination preached powerfully. Each morning at 9:30 AM we have Bible Study, and after the morning break we hear from a selected minister. The afternoon is free and then at 7:00 PM we are at it again with more good preaching by Bryan Cutshall.

Campmeeting today is not like what I remember and is not like what I have heard so much about from my Mother and Dad and my Grandmother. All were ministers. I actually remember 'camping' on the campgrounds for the campmeeting. Sometimes I become weary from hearing about how things are not like they used to be, so I'll try not to complain to my decedents about it. I know things are changing. It is inevitable. Thank God for change. I prefer padded pews to wooden benches; brick walls to wood lap-siding; automated heating and cooling systems to wood or coal burning stoves and funeral parlor fans; carpet to rough wood or cement floors; all of these modern facilities to those old, inconvenient and inadequate ones.

It seems fairly easy to accept cultural differences when we think about those who worship in another country, but it is more difficult for some of us old-timers to accept the cultural changes that are taking place in our own locale. It is happening. Our parents thought we were 'going to the dogs', so to speak. Now, we look at this new generation coming up and we think, "Oh, God! What has happened? Where did we fail? Our church is going down the road to destruction!" In those old campmeeting days, the preaching was different. The music was different. The program was different. And yes, the culture was different. These people of today are not just like those of yesterday. I must allow for this new culture to be captivated by the power of the Holy Spirit and let God do what He will with them. I have a feeling that God is big enough to preserve whatever He wants to preserve and to eradicate whatever He wants to eradicate. To my peers I say, "Let go! Turn loose! Quit holding this culture back from God. God is in control. It is His church, not ours. He promised that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' - His church, not our church." I am confident that He knows what He is doing and He is doing it right.

But I do miss those "good-ole-days". There are a lot of us old-timers alive and well. We could make up quite a number if you got us all together. Now, whoever is in charge will probably, and understandably, do it their way - as God allows them to. If you're talking about a church full of seniors, there will probably be some hymn book singing and KJV Bible reading, and some "Haah!" anointed preaching. Do you know what I mean? But, if it is a church full of young people like my sons and daughters, they will do it differently. Bear with me just a moment now. We older folks could just eliminate every position for young people and require them to just sit and listen, and that might solve the problem for some folks. On the other hand, the youth could just ignore the older ones of us, and do what they please while we grasp for anything to help us survive. What a problem! The solution must be in different ministries to all the different cultures in the church. OK! We will let the youth play their worship music and we will pick-and-grin while we use the old red back hymnal. But when and where with each one? I'm telling you, pastoring is not easy, but it can be done.

I see some great, exciting leaders emerging in this generation. I believe we can expect some good ole "campmeeting" days ahead. They will probably not be referred to as "campmeeting days", but call it anything you like, just let God be in control.