Yes, it's a shame that musical style has become the "center" of worship for many churches these days. Especially given the fact that music is only part of the worship experience. It's also a shame that we have divided our camps into "traditional" and "contemporary". It's also a shame that along with those classifications comes an attitude that the folks in the "other" camp are somehow inferior.The church I attend has a "blended" service. We are also in the process of planning a more contemporary service scheduled to begin this September. Why? Isn't our blended service "good enough"? Well, long story short, we recognized the fact that our "blended service" although it is very good (we use everything from pipe organ, to strings, to brass, to guitars and sing everything from hymns to CCLI's top 25 on a regular basis), we are not reaching as many people as we feel we should in our surrounding neighborhoods with worship and teaching that we believe is theologically strong, challenging and life-changing. In addition to worship, part of our responsibility as Christians is to evangelize the world around us. So we have become very intentional about introducing more and more people to a saving knowledge of the wonderful God who loves each one of us.
Regarding contemporary worship not being for the over 50 set, I don't believe that is the problem. I have been amazed to see, both in my church and in other churches I have visited, how many people over 50 DO attend contemporary services. Last Sunday I had the opportunity to visit a church that had both a contemporary and traditional service. I was amazed to see that sitting right behind me, in the middle of the audience, was a couple that I would guess were in their 70's. In the church I previously attended, the demographic for their contemporary service is widely spread from pre-teens to 70's (they also offer a more traditional service). I would expect the attendance demographics will be somewhat the same in the church I currently attend when we begin our more contemporary service later this year. Observations such as these would lead me to believe that what is really the problem are the hearts and motives of both the leadership and the audience member. I believe both leadership and the audience member must be willing to die to the personal preference for worship style and see the body of Christ as being diverse and recognizing our indivual responsibilities to each other and the world we have been called to evangelize.
A quote I once heard resonates with me when I think about worship. It was in regard to a discussion between two people. The one, coming from the worship service feeling rather frustrated and unfulfilled commented to the other "I just don't get anything out of our worship services." The other responded "Well, we're not here to worship YOU." Unfortunately, we have a tendency to see worship as something that should leave us feeling good. Frequently that can happen, but it should never be what we're striving for in worship. If it is, I would argue that we may be doing little more than worshiping the "feeling" and not God. When we worship, even if the style isn't what we would prefer at times, we should be working at seeing the experience through God's eyes; finding out what it is that HE wants to come of this. I truly believe as we see our corporate worship through HIS eyes and begin to try and understand each other and what it is that God thinks is so special about the act of corporate worship, that we will gain a new, fuller appreciation for others and for the significance of worship.
In contemporary worshpip the music being too LOUD may be a problem (I tend to think that's simply negligence or lack of skill on the part of technicians and leadership, nothing to do with the style). The inability for those leading to be sensitive to the needs of a diverse audience may be a problem (but that can happen in traditional circles). Contemporary worship becoming a performance of sorts can be a problem (that, too can happen in traditional circles). The narrow focus of theme and lack of depth in contemporary worship can be a problem (that can happen in traditional circles). The content is "flat" and unispired or shallow (that can happen in traditional circles). So, when it comes down to it, the problem is not contemporary vs. traditional style. Rather, I believe it is a church that is excited about God, each other, and our purpose verses a church trying to work under it's own uninspired, even self-centered power.
Blessings!
Craig
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.