Senior Citizens Sit at the Feet of Church Leaders

In the waiting room of the doctor’s office I visited with an older woman who proudly said she was a life-long Southern Baptist. She loves her church, but grieves because hymns have been replaced with repetitive praise songs. She said, “I so miss the hymns. They want to sing other songs to bring in younger people.” I often hear the same lament from other seniors and I’m becoming more convinced that church leadership is practicing favoritism — favoring the younger generation over the needs of the older generation. James said, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts” (James 2:1-4 NIV)?