Nothing is wrong with different styles as long as they are focused on Christ.
There are a number of reasons to offer different worship styles.
1. Not all churches have 10,000 seat auditoreums.
2. Not all churches have 5000 slot parking lots.
3. When seating capacity gets near to 75% visitors are uncomfortable looking and regulars are uncomfortable looking. Visitors tend not to visit again.
4. When parking is hard to find, visitors vote with their accelerator and regulars get antsy.
5. Therefore, it is better to have two services than one packed service.
6. If you are having 2 or more services anyway, then there is value in exploring other styles.
7. There is no reason different worship styles can’t both be faithful to scripture.
People who argue against different styles always seem to argue their style is best and everyone else must give up what they like.
"We will all join in singing the unending hymn, even if we don’t like the tune, even if there are no projection screens, even if the seating doesn’t perfectly mold to each individual backside. Perhaps we should start practicing now."
According to Revelation 5, worship in Heaven is spoken anyway. Imagine the surprise :) In the meantime, the never ending search for Churchtainment is both distracting and saddening in terms of a unified worship experience.
As Dr. Steve would say, "there's a seeker born any minute!"
As one whose ancestral denomination saw countless congregations separate over German vs English in the late 1800’s: Spot on.
EVERYBODY has to bend a little. The young need to learn traditional hymns. Their elders need to accept some of the youngster’s musical style.
If any become too stubborn the sad result is stratification and division.
I cringe every time I hear a modern “I Wanna be Jesus’ Girlfriend” worship song...
If I want to attend a chant Mass — I go to a Tridentine Mass
If I want to attend a Mass with traditional music — I go to the early morning Mass.
If I want to attend a Mass with contemporary music and guitars — I go to the mid-morning Mass.
If I want Spanish music — I attend the Spanish Mass.
The Sacrifice of the Mass is the same — just different styles of worship.
Why worry about it?????
I would have to agree with the author on this. Having participated as a musician in worship music for 35 years I’ve played in symphony orchestras as well as 4 piece rock bands. It is obvious to me that the vast majority of contemporary “worship” music is indeed centered on American pop culture and invariably shallows the profound truths of G*d’s plan of salvation and how he manifests his exalted status in our universe. Self expression is the rule, not the exception as musicians jam and riff as their mood allows and there is a notable lack of disciplined musical excellence among the participants.
The “old” hymns are only old just as scripture is old. The symphonic orchestral performance and congregational singing are quite different, especially since the congregation usually gets to read the actual music as written instead of going on and on like mindless drones about silly catch phrases projected onto a wall while trying to figure out what notes might fit with the musicians. Worship is also about giving G*d your “A” game and that’s where musical study and discipline come in. What is a joyful noise to the Lord? Probably not something thrown together with almost no forethought or depth of logical proclamation.
Of course G*d meets us where we’re at but most churches seem to think they have to conform to the short-lived fads of our depraved culture in order to reach people with the Gospel. If ever there was a time to be provocative, unsettling, and incompatible with our dominant culture it is now, however many churches will soon realize their irrelevance.
I’ve given up in organized religeon. The “rules and regulations” get between me and God. I’m enjoying a clearer view these days.
I think that there are important issues, such as law vs grace (see chapter 3,4,5 of Galatians and especially Galatians 5:4 “you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”. In my view, this is very important and it should not divide the church. But in some cases it does.
And I think that a lot of the divisions are to simple minded to worry about. Music to me is one of those. But I understand that the message in the songs need to be on point regarding the important issues.
I hear pastors tell me that I need to attend church for fellowship. A lot of churches that I have gone to go exactly like this. I walk in find a place to sit. I don't say much or anything at all to others and they do the same to me. We sing a song or two. Maybe I am told to say hi and shake the hand of the person next to me (this is the closest thing to fellow-shipping that I may get. I hear and send out prayer requests sometimes. Maybe sing another song. Maybe hear a message on the Scripture, if I am lucky to find a Pastor that doesn't go off on some kind of personal story (I want to hear the word of God, not a personal story because faith comes by hearing the word of God. Doesn't say nothing about faith coming by some kind of story. No matter how it applies. Than we sing another song. Maybe shake hands and say goodbye. That is not much of fellow-shipping to me. I honestly think that we would be better off going to somebodies house. Sending out a song of praise to our Father. Read the scripture together and discuss it some. Give a testimonial on how God is working in our lives. Sing or simply give God His praise and glory. Maybe have lunch together and remember Jesus when we do it. Sing another song again, maybe even read some more scripture. Stay as long as someone needs prayer and discussion. Give God praise in prayer And go after we have had our fill. I don't think we should hurry it all up in an hour so folks can go home and watch football, NASCAR, or whatever. It should be a more personalized experience. A personalized experience that helps people grow their relationship with Jesus and our Father.
That is just me. Rituals and/or doing the same agenda without true participation is not really fellowship to me. Growing in Christ and helping others do the same is what fellowship should be all about. I believe that comes through hearing the word of God and talking about it. But that is just me. Maybe I don't make sense and maybe I got it all wrong. That is just the way I feel about it for now. A wise man will change his mind and a fool won't. So, I am always open for suggestions.
I’m going to guess that the objection many have is not the songs themselves, although some of them are not worship songs at all, but the delivery.
I don’t want a rock band performance with people jumping all over the stage, lights flashing, smoke, music so overpowering that the church hands out ear plugs to people who are entering (true in one church I visited).
People should be worshiping, not being whipped into an emotional frenzy by a heavy, repetitive beat and lyrics.