The turning over of traditional tables

Speaking to a professor at Liberty
University, Frederica Mathewes-Green was surprised to find out that the
professor and some of the young people at Liberty were going to a Celtic
liturgical service at a local Baptist church (link;
relevant conversation starts at the 28:50 mark). The professor related
that the baby-boomers wanted the contemporary worship—with guitars and
drums—while the young people of the church were willing to go to the
7:30am service on Sunday morning for a traditional Celtic service. Even
more, these young Baptists were asking for intercession and litany.

Recently, in the 50th issue of RELEVANT, many of the faith trends
the magazine summarized in coverage of their publishing history dealt
with a return to liturgy, ancient-future worship and spiritual
disciplines. There has been a huge surge in liturgical interest among
young people like myself that Christian media has really picked up on.

The Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers see this as a “trend.” It’s something
that young people are into, like Arcade Fire, Invisible Children, social
justice or Tom’s Shoes. In part, it’s seen as “cool” or “hip.” They see
a return to liturgy as a turning over of traditional evangelical or
low-church Protestant tables. It’s a way to stick it to the man or not
be part of the status quo.