What I don't understand is the dogmatic hatred by some (mostly older) members for the new stuff.
Ironically, the old hymns they love were once “new” music and much was rejected by the church establishment of the day. Silent Night was rejected at 1st for not being sung in Latin and guitar accompaniment.
Style of song worship not being directly addressed in scripture leaves a matter of opinion and taste.
Unless you are Jimmy Swagger, you preach a TV sermon on the evils of modern music before your commercial for your new Southern Gospel album.
Church music does change and we are seeing it happen now. Many people respond to CCM and others respond to the old hymns.
Jesus provides what each person needs to bring them to him.
I’m not against a lot of contemporary Christian music just the type that has a praise and worship leader singing songs of a type that untrained voices can’t easily follow. These folk wail like they are on American Idol. What is edifying about that sort of music? Good simple scripturally derived praise songs...I love them. Guess who first wrote the first and greatest scripture praise song book and what did he write...? Georg Friedrich Handel who wrote “The Messiah!”(yeah a lot of folks can’t sing that as well but since no one can sing 4 part choral harmony...one just chooses the part they can sing blending in with the melody.) The Hallelujah Chorus is such that even if you can’t sing a note...just croaking along with it makes you feel like you can sing anything God puts in your heart...even a joyful “noise” is better than joyless but correct singing!”
You see, good hymns and contemporary worship music should be written like that...music that draws everyone in...screech owl sopranos to sour note blunderbuss baritones, trilling tenors and awkward voice changing males!