Contemporary Service

[Julian of Norwich]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

 

[Athanasius377]

I agree. I absolutely loathe and have utter contempt for most contemporary worship. Period. Not to say there aren’t great modern hymns because there are. What concerns me is why Lutherans feel the need to emulate modern evangelical movements and minimize if not suppress our Lutheran heritage. Let me see, JS Bach or Hillsong. . .

 

[TKA_TN]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

This has been an issue with me, too. My church has 3 services. Traditional, Blended (still Liturgical) and contemporary. Contemporary is in the gym, thankfully. The blended is nice, but still seems to lose some reverence.

 

[Newtheran]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

I am opposed to contemporary services. Now is not the time to dilute and change historic Christian worship for a culture turning its back on the faith. The mission is greater than filling the pews. There isn't anything that can be done in the style of worldly entertainment on a Sunday morning in a church sanctuary that can't be done better at a bar on Saturday night. There's an old Baptist saying that more Lutherans should be familiar with: "you keep them with what you win them with."

 

[Concord1968]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

The church I go to is LCMS and has contemporary worship all three services.

 

[Newtheran]

The church I go to is LCMS and has contemporary worship all three services.

There are some that have gone that direction. My personal feeling is the synod would be better off if they simply de-branded and became non denominational.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

Not only is the music not traditional (and I do appreciate the good voices and the overseeing of doctrine in the songs that the LCMS has), but the liturgy otherwise seems to be gone. No confession and absolution? So depressing! Not even robes!

 

[TKA_TN]

Not only is the music not traditional (and I do appreciate the good voices and the overseeing of doctrine in the songs that the LCMS has), but the liturgy otherwise seems to be gone. No confession and absolution? So depressing! Not even robes!

That's not your only option for a service is it?

The contemporary service at my church still has confession and absolution, but cuts back to only 1 reading (the one the sermon is based off of) so you may not even hear the Gospel that day if the sermon is based off the Epistle reading.

This is where I wish the LCMS would not allow congregational authority on some things. We're Lutheran because we believe in what the early church looked like. Early church didn't have guitars.

 

[tampasteve]

No confession and absolution? So depressing!

That is honestly shocking for a conservative church like the LCMS that bases it's worship and builds its beliefs on Scripture and the Book of Concord. Cutting back on readings is one thing (though I do not agree), but the confession and absolution part of the service/liturgy is really a basic part of the service that should not be left out.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

My wife and I found most LCMS churches in our area were all attempting contemporary services in the late 1990s to early 2000s. We became Eastern Orthodox in 2002

 

[Julian of Norwich]

My wife and I found most LCMS churches in our area were all attempting contemporary services in the late 1990s to early 2000s. We became Eastern Orthodox in 2002

Well, you'll notice my denomination designation change on my profile. I wonder how many people are being driven away by the contemporary service?

 

[Silverback]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

My Church has a traditional service on Sunday morning @10:00 am, which is very well attended. There is a contemporary service at 6:00 pm, which has about 30-40 regular attendees. I think it's more liturgical with more modern music, and a small band.

Personally speaking, I prefer traditional worship straight out of the Hymnal, but there is nothing wrong with contemporary worship either as long as God is worshiped, the word proclaimed, and the sacraments rightly administered.

Decently, and in order as St. Paul would say

As far as attendance being impacted by modern trends such as more modern music, very casual attire, and forgoing vestments, I don't think it's really making that much of a difference, neither is acceptance of modern theological positions.

In the end, the spirit draws people to worship, not the other things, either you want to worship God, or, you don't.

 

[TKA_TN]

Well, you'll notice my denomination designation change on my profile. I wonder how many people are being driven away by the contemporary service?

Sorry you ran into that at your church and you switched. I believe the LCMS doctrine is sound, and I wish the Synod leadership would step in on these issues and ask for a more uniformed-looking Liturgy.

 

[Athanasius377]

I think sometimes it would be helpful to use the categories of Sacred and Profane (common) when it comes to worship. And the Baptist saying is soooo true. What you win with is what you win them to. (My version).

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Sorry you ran into that at your church and you switched. I believe the LCMS doctrine is sound, and I wish the Synod leadership would step in on these issues and ask for a more uniformed-looking Liturgy.

Be mindful that the polity is for the most part, congregationalist; so it is not so easy to enforce. Strong willed individuals who are the main supporters of a congregation can pull strings and things tend to not always be in the best interest of the Synod.

 

[Paladin7]

It's hard to actually know what the LCMS believes about Contemporary Worship, since the LCMS is all over the map on the subject. LCMS's official Theology would condemn any type of Antropocentric Worship, but in the Districts they don't condemn it and seem to either acquiesce to it or are supportive of it. The problem isn't Contemporary Worship, that is just a symptom of the larger problem, which is that the LCMS has become a "Big Tent," where the beliefs change based on who the Pastor is.
You originally said that you thought you joined a Lutheran Church. By that I'm assuming you meant a Confessional Church. Well sorry to tell you this but, you did on paper, but not in practice... My best advice to you, is if you are truly interested in a Confessional Lutheran Church, I'd either find an LCMS Church with a Confessional Pastor, or go WELS, where you won't see much if any of this nonsense going on.

 

[FaithT]

What do LCMS think of the Contemporary Service that is sweeping our nation? Apparently, the powers that be and even congregations think it will bring in new converts and stop decline in membership. However, when I joined the LCMS I was under the impression that I was joining a Lutheran church as opposed to an evangelical would-be mega church!

The Contemporary Services are always the services at the most convenient time(s) everywhere, it seems.

Hi, I’m new here and new to Lutheranism, coming from Catholicism. I guess I’m in the minority here but I love the contemporary services. I wanted something totally different from my Catholic Church. I couldn’t decide between a very contemporary non denom church or Lutheran, but Lutheran won.

 

[tampasteve]

Hi, I’m new here and new to Lutheranism, coming from Catholicism. I guess I’m in the minority here but I love the contemporary services. I wanted something totally different from my Catholic Church. I couldn’t decide between a very contemporary non denom church or Lutheran, but Lutheran won.

Interesting, it seems many (most?) people coming to the Lutheran or Episcopal church from the Catholic church prefer the more traditional services. Although that might be partly because they are familiar with the way the liturgy is set up.

 

[FaithT]

Interesting, it seems many (most?) people coming to the Lutheran or Episcopal church from the Catholic church prefer the more traditional services. Although that might be partly because they are familiar with the way the liturgy is set up.

Yeah, I can see how they might prefer traditional services since it’s what they’re used to. Still, after I went to my first contemporary non denom (ND) service, which I think I went to first, before Lutheran, I knew that type of worship is what I wanted.

 

[FaithT]

Could it be a generational thing? I’m 59 and like rock, pop and contemporary Christian music, as I think many my age do.