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At the risk of sounding like an "old fogey" (whatever that is), I do think maintaining traditions is very important in church. I see nothing wrong with inserting modern music that has a religious message in a service on occasion - although I remember when they started doing it at my church back in the seventies - I was a teenager at the time & it turned me off, seemed out of place.

I love hearing the old music, it sets me in a reverent mood when I still hear it today (which is rarely), I loved it when I was younger too. I could imagine all the people that had listened to that music before me & it was comforting, knowing that the church was a rock I could depend on & would never change, even as I would go through my life & changes myself. I knew I could go to church and get grounded again.

The message of Christ never changes, it is as relevant today as it was from the beginning. That's what "Rock of Ages" means to me. I fear that young people today don't have that foundation of tradition & security. They see a world that is constantly changing (eggs were bad for you yesterday, but good for you today). They hear conflicting messages at home, school, television, popular music and movies. Church should be the one place that stays solid and comforting - not desperately seeking acceptance.

I remember the old church of my youth fondly, but I stopped going to it after I grew up and went out on my own - by that time it had gone "modern". Sitting in the pew, before the services, watching them setting up - with electric guitars, drums, etc - I felt I was in band class. Then, my classmates would get up & perform (many of them badly) in their hippie outfits & hairstyles and it just felt cheap to me even then. Cheap & sad - I imagined Christ having to change with the times - and even then I realized it was a ploy to attract the "youth". Society has been coddling to the youth ever since & I can't say we have been uplifted for it. Not at all.

I'm with you, it won't work - what will the bored youth demand from their churches next to keep their attention?