"The Church and Trends"

At Blogotional a very good question is asked:

"Why does the church have 'trends?' Oh, I understand it sociologically, but I am asking in a more theological vein. This post from the Out of Ur blog sent me to asking that question.

My friend's comment got me thinking because over the years I have seen the church get excited about 'small groups', or about being 'seeker sensitive,' or 'Vineyard worship music' and other various bandwagons the church jumps on for a season. And there have been many other trends that I wasn?t a part of like cell churches, or using the baseball diamond for assimilation, or the breakouts of laughing in the Spirit by certain types of churches, or radio preaching, or whatever it may be. Whatever the trend the routine is the same. First there is excitement, then early innovators adopt them (maybe not the laughing in the Spirit), then in time most churches may do it. But eventually, it passes and we wait for the next ?new? thing.

The whole idea of 'trends' in institutions definitionally devoted to the eternal and unchangable causes cognitive dissonance in me. Somehow when we chase the current, when we evaluate the fad, we lessen God. I mean to think a God about whom it has been said

Heb 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.
Rev 1:8 - 'I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

is worried about a "trend?" Somehow I think what is important today to such a God was important yesterday and will be important tomorrow."

"All that is not eternal, is eternally out of date." C.S. Lewis