Went to the contemporary worship service this morning...

My opinion is that this 'new age crap' is not crap...You like like traditional. Others like contemporary. Both are valid choices. God made variety in his Body for a reason.

I've never been to a super formal church. My favorite church was a historic black Methodist church in DC. Great message, great gospel music, eclectic people. To each their own!

William II said:

it was terrible. holy cow. the sermon was still good, but the whole 'band' thing, pastor not wearing his usual robes really irked me. i don't mean to be some old draconion church goer, but the pipe organ, hymnal, and 'high church' kind of feel really helps me be in the spirit of worship, this new age crap just isn't.

what do you guys do? preferences? opinions? thoughts?

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Well, then you should definitely attend my church because it is definition of 'high church'.

I greatly prefer a more traditional liturgy, but I know some people prefer a more contemporary worship band experience. I usually just endure it when I'm at one of those kinds of services.

I like both, as long as they're not trying to entertain the crowd, or appeal to certain people just because that's what they want. If a church has been been doing things a certain way, and that works for them then great.

If a church is a little more "modern", but still holds to the values of the bible, and keeps true to the word of God then great.

As long as it's still a worship service, and not just "entertainment" on Sunday.

Yeah I didn't grow up in the church. My faith just turned 10 a few weeks ago actually so I only really know the contemporary Hillsong type worship. I love it. We did some singing from the hymnals during mid-week service and it just wasn't my thing. I love instruments and rocking it out

Some people feel so strongly about this subject though. When I went to bible college, one of my professors said if they use drums and a guitar, it's not godly and any churches who use instruments are not Christian lol.

I probably shouldn't have posted it to begin with. So I'll just take it out.

I don't want to cause any hurt feelings, even if that wasn't my original intent

William II said:

it was terrible. holy cow. the sermon was still good, but the whole 'band' thing, pastor not wearing his usual robes really irked me. i don't mean to be some old draconion church goer, but the pipe organ, hymnal, and 'high church' kind of feel really helps me be in the spirit of worship, this new age crap just isn't.

what do you guys do? preferences? opinions? thoughts?

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I personally prefer traditional churches as well. Lutheran and Episcopalian churches are more my taste. I grew up in a non-denominational church, couldn't stand it. It felt like a performance rather than worship, but that's just my opinion.

"lex orandi, lex credendi - "the rule of prayer is the rule of belief".

What you believe influences how you do church and how you do church influences what you believe. It's not nearly as much as a matter of personal preference as many think.

What you believe worship is and the role of music in it determines what kind of service you'll do/attend.

For example, the CoWo service format of song block, sermon, maybe an altar call/time of decision has it's origins in the Revival meetings of the Second Great Awakening. That Awakening was Arminian, and so they did not believe preaching the Word was enough to convert people, and they used music to get people into the right emotional state for the sermon and to "sit at the anxious bench", make their decision for Christ.

And the contemporary worship music as done by the likes of Hillsong or Chris Tomlim has as it's purpose aiding in seeking a mystical experience, to "enter into God's presence" and the like. This is why CCW has the things like shallow repettive lyrics many hymn proponents complain about.

All of this goes against what Lutherans say about church and worship is.

Even things like how the church is laid out physically reflects what you believe about worship. For example what is front and center in church? The Pastor? The Altar? The musicians? etc.

How many times have you seen a praise band play from a choir loft behind the congregation?

Went to the contemporary worship service this morning...
it was terrible

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A lot of Lutheran churches have the later service be contemporary or "blended", and they can be pretty bad.
Remember what I said about worship reflecting what you believe? Lutheranism doesn't have a theology of worship as mysticism, and has a strong tradition of congregational singing, so when you do praise bands in a Lutheran church, while you might see a couple people raising their hands and such and the band will be into it, but by and large the congregation will treat it like a performance to observe.

In my experience Lutheran CoWo services are actually less lively have less congregational participation than an historic hymnal based services. Of course, that's painting with a broad brush.

stress the individual too much

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Yes, Contemporary worship is very man-centered. They'll argue it's not based on all the praise and glory they heap on God and that it's all focused on God, but that's the point, Contemporary Worship is about what you do to/for God, while historic worship is about what God does for you in Word and Sacrament as well as our praise and reaction to that.

for some reason churches remind me of convenience stores

I prefer very conservative music in church. That's what I'm used to and that's simply what I like. I've been through the whole contemporary thing in my old church and in visiting other churches and it just rubs me the wrong way...like it encourages something in us that ought not to be encouraged. If people are happy with their church having contemporary music and truly feel it isn't taking away from really worshiping the Lord, then whatever I guess. But it's just not for me.

I like attending a very 'reverent' church service, which is not weird like some may think; afterall...we owe Christ great reverence, don't we? Clapping, waving one's hands in the air, a rock 'n roll worship band, colored lights, ect...I'm sorry, but that isn't very reverent to me. I should feel like I'm actually at church, not at a concert. The mentality is all about "Yeah! Jesus rocks! He's my buddy! I'm going to be dancing in Heaven with Jesus one day! Woooo!" ...Uhhh...no. When you get to Heaven and are face to face with Jesus, you're going to fall on your face at His feet.

Anyway, I know a lot of this has to do with different mindsets due to different upbringings, sooo...I'm sure there are some who will disagree. That's okay.

are you asking me out?

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Nope.

What we need to remember here, and we had this discussion at a bible study, but worship is not done with music. That's not true worship. Worship is what you do in private in your prayer closet. Me, I totally get down on my face, on the floor prostrate before God. (not bragging that I'm such a good Christian, because I need to do it more than I do). My pastor as taught that true worship is as a dog coming to lick the hand of his master. It has nothing to do with music and lifting your hands or rock music vs. hymnals. We all like different kinds of music and that's completely fine. But again, worship is not ten-fifteen minutes spent at church singing.

William II said:

that hits the nail on the head pretty well, which i think we would both agree is where our dissatisfaction with contemporary worship stems from. definitely not enough revering/fearing the holy spirit

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As long as your aim is to revere and fear the Holy Spirit on Monday-Saturday, you have a place to say this type of thing.

Saucy said:

What we need to remember here, and we had this discussion at a bible study, but worship is not done with music. That's not true worship. Worship is what you do in private in your prayer closet. Me, I totally get down on my face, on the floor prostrate before God. (not bragging that I'm such a good Christian, because I need to do it more than I do). My pastor as taught that true worship is as a dog coming to lick the hand of his master. It has nothing to do with music and lifting your hands or rock music vs. hymnals. We all like different kinds of music and that's completely fine. But again, worship is not ten-fifteen minutes spent at church singing.

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Agreed with this. That's why I've started generally using the phrase "musical worship" instead.

Also, for all of the critics, it's okay to have opinions and critiques of those styles of worship that you don't prefer, but putting generalizations on them like "They don't revere God as much" are just unwarranted. You don't revere God more just because you sing a song more quietly, more slowly, or with a certain instrument.

Also, I think it's important to keep in mind that the point of the church is not to suit all of your preferences. There is far too much consumerism going on in American Christianity right now.

Not sure I could sit through a more traditional type service. Even most contemporary worship services have me yawning.

My heart worships God through the way I treat people, moreso than through music.

Also, I've never dressed up for church. I don't go to those churches.

But that's just me!

Edit.

I don't think there is anything wrong with contemporary services, I also just don't like them as much. For me, I have theological reasons for not liking them. I don't listen to CCM because I don't like the idea of people being famous for worshipping, and I think it's much easier for that to be about showmanship than worship.