Is 'Contemporary' Worship out of date?

[TC3033]

And please understand, I’m not trying to sound like a jerk.
I have been in Baptist churches (and you can’t get more anti-liturgical than them) that have been VERY worshipful. They have piano or organ and a modest choir. And their numbers are dwindling because of the smoke and mirrors of the local mega-church. Young people get board with the hymns, the responses, the sermon. They want something flashier that doesn’t require their participation.
What happens when excitement stops? Because it will.

I guess that’s between them and God, isn’t it?

People leaving for the “mega-church” as you call it, from my experience isn’t all about young people getting bored…,

 

[Sy_Noe]

And my guess is that in Africa, they sing music that is very African, accompanied by drums, and quite joyous. I’ve seen videos where they dance up and down the aisles. It’s ages ago, but does anyone remember when the Missa Luba came out?

This isn’t in Africa but it is a video presented by the Archdiocese of Washington DC which might be of some interest and addition to the thread. Doesn’t appear to me as another poster suggested that people just sit passively listening. Unless I’m the only one hearing and seeing clapping and standing.

youtube.com/watch?v=Y_At5RC2zHc

And here’s one I found in Africa.

youtube.com/watch?v=fA3EFcBBYc8

 

[Sy_Noe]

Don’t have to imagine. Forgot to put my kneeler down on Sunday and ended up kneeling on the floor by accident. Not the most comfortable thing to have done

As for the overall idea of this thread. I’m not sure contemporary worship is going out of style. If anything it seems churches that specialize in it are part of one of the areas of Christianity that is growing. Whether that will last remains to be seen. And that’s not to say there isn’t a place for traditional worship either. Personally I prefer more traditional forms of worship and I’ve seen many forms both traditional and contemporary across many denominations. But that’s not to say what I prefer and what moves me necessarily is what appeals to or moves someone else.

The last Catholic church I attended didn’t have any pews or kneelers and hardly no one kneeled. In fact only 1 of the last 3 I attended had all pews with kneelers. The 3rd one mostly chairs with no kneelers.

But anyway back to the idea of the thread. Your last sentence hit the nail on the head. :clapping: There is indeed a place for both styles of worship along with blended forms inbetween. I just don’t see the problem. Believers are moved in various ways.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

If The Church says that Mass with contemporary music is okay, I have to agree that it is okay. But it is not my cup of tea, as others have also said. I think some contemporary songs are okay but most the time they sound awful to me. However, I know some people love them. Sure does not seem like it is going out of date. If anything, it looks like it is getting more popular to me.

 

[Sy_Noe]

If The Church says that Mass with contemporary music is okay, I have to agree that it is okay. But it is not my cup of tea, as others have also said. I think some contemporary songs are okay but most the time they sound awful to me. However, I know some people love them. Sure does not seem like it is going out of date. If anything, it looks like it is getting more popular to me.

That’s what makes tea so great. Different varieties for different folks. I prefer mine iced with lemon. Don’t mind a hint of sugar in it. Or honey if hot. But not too sweet. We all have different tastes. 1 variety in a glass or cup doesn’t need to suit all.

 

[Michael68]

I agree. I think the OP is way off on his assertion

 

[ltwin]

Some on this thread have made the comment that contemporary worship is not true worship because people just sit in pews and listen to a band play. I take issue with that. It would be like me saying that Catholic mass isn’t true worship because people just read a script.

Neither accusation is true or charitable; though, there probably are people who go to church and listen to the band play without truly worshiping–just like there probably are people who go to the mass and follow along with the service without truly worshiping.

Maybe I’m too Protestant or something, but I was raised in church and this looks like worship to me.

http://transact.myhillsong.com/Imag...est-worship-album-card-hillsong-collected.jpg