Thoughts on the Run: Worship Music

On my runs this week, I found myself contemplating music and worship in the church. these thoughts came about because, once again, someone in our congregation felt the need to request that we use more contemporary music. Having been involved in church music leadership for the past 40 years in a full time, and part time capacity, this topic has come up from time to time.

Of course, being a professional church musician, I have found myself on both sides of this issue. Early in my career, things were simple. We performed contemporary music with the youth choir and incorporated some of that music into the evening service because it was informal. We generally avoided use of less formal contemporary music in morning worship.I still recall one of my youth choirs singing a contemporary youth choir anthem in a revival. When we were finished I scanned the congregation, to find that it was not well received by our pastor. However, the choir had done a good job and the music was well received by the congregation.

At my first full time church in Plantation, Florida I continued this practice with much success. However, there were a few members of the congregation who decided that we needed to make the morning service more informal. These folks kept suggesting that we use more "spirit filled" music. They did not like our service, because it was too formal for them. It got to the point where I found myself deliberately avoiding these individuals, since I had no intention of changing our worship style. Our pastor felt the same way, but these folks wanted me to change things because I was in charge of the music.

Through the years, I have consistently stayed with hymn based congregational singing, while at the same time allowing flexibility in choices of anthems, solos, and ensembles. I have generally steered the less formal selections toward evening worship.

Corinthians 14:23 speaks of the need for order and understanding in worship:If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Whatever we do, we must do it in an orderly and appropriate manner. Churches need to decide what their musical identity is. They also need to consider how music effects their style of worship. Modern, contemporary music is really not different from the youth retreat songs of the 1970's and 80's. The style lends itself to more informal worship. It moves churches away from the reverent worship of God while co-opting the terms "Praise and Worship". I understand that there are people who love this informality, however, I prefer awe contemplation and splendor. If I want the other, I will listen to the radio.