Are contemporary services un-LCMS?

I think maybe we should let TCat be the one to clarify.

TCat, I agree with what has been said about checking out other LCMS churches in your area before leaving entirely. I have heard of other large churches where the Pastors don't seem to have time for people and I think that is very sad. That tends to be one reason why people leave a larger church for a smaller one.

I would also recommend that you reread your small catechism and read the book, "The Spirituality of the Cross" before you make any decisions.

PreachersWife2004 said:

Obviously I am not inside TCat's head, but to me her posts came off as saying that she didn't want to feel as though she had something with God simply because she attended church that week.

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I agree that we can rejoice in God's grace anytime. I didn't mean for it to come across that way. (Mea culpa) I was merely responding to never feeling the need to approach Him with humility and repentance and that the worship service should be all happy-clappy all the time.

DaRev said:

I agree that we can rejoice in God's grace anytime. I didn't mean for it to come across that way. (Mea culpa) I was merely responding to never feeling the need to approach Him with humility and repentance and that the worship service should be all happy-clappy all the time.

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I didn't take it as you saying that, either. My apologies as well if I made it appear as though I did.

We just watched our most recent WELS connection video and it talks about a mission (unfortunately I can't remember where) and they had a service where our president was in attendance (it also marked the graduation of several pastors from their seminary) and right in the middle of the service they were clapping to the music. It nonplussed me a bit, but it made me think. Clapping is not necessarily bad in church, it's just not in our particular nature to do it. Where this church was, even though it was WELS, their culture includes that kind of stuff. I imagine they might be a tad uncomfortable in one of our state-side churches.

Just something to think about...

I am hard of hearing since birth and music always has been part of my life, especially Christian music. I have learned that the Bible talks about music. Luther said, "Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us." Music often provokes "feelings" however, we need to understand how important music is. Both of LCMS Churches I am attending including a deaf church are using contemporary music and most members are happy and content (especially the younger generation).

1 Chronicles 15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

1 Chronicles 23:5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose."

2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud,

2 Chronicles 7:6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

2 Chronicles 34:12 The men did the work faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments-

On of my favorites songs is Handel's Messiah Across the span of 250+ years, Messiah still holds its extraordinary grip on musician and audience member alike. During the time of Handel, expensive instruments and equipments were used.

My other favorite song is by Twila Paris. There was ONE song when I first heard it at one of her concerts before I bought her recordings, "We will Glorify". She sang so beautifully. We will glorify the King of kings We will glorify the Lamb We will glorify the Lord of lords Who is the great I AM Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty We will bow before His throne We will worship Him in righteousness We will worship Him alone He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth He is Lord of all who live He is Lord above the universe All praise to Him we give Hallelujah to the King of kings Hallelujah to the Lamb Hallelujah to the Lord of Lords Who is the great I AM

We are to Glorify God with songs and music. Ephesians 5:19 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord"

TCat said:

Rev, we seem to be miscommunicating here. I would never suggest that one does not ever approach the Lord or His table without humility or the need for a repentant heart, nor do I condone cheap grace. I simply meant that because of the great love of Christ and His outpouring of grace I recognize that I am free from the punishment of sin thru separation from God and therefore come into His house with thanksgiving and praise!

As for leaving my church, well there are a couple of LCMS churches that I plan to check out. Our family is deep in prayer and seeking God's direction in this. I think first and foremost we must be certain that any church we attend is Bible based and theologically sound, nothing liberal about us. But we are in need of a church where our whole family can be fed and grow.

That is that our teen can find fellowship and encouragment, our elementary schooler can recieve solid biblical teaching. My husband can meet with men and be challenged by the word and sharpened in his walk and we can all serve as a family.
I do prefer contemporary music but that is only a tiny part of our finding a new church home. I'd appreciate your prayers.

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I pray that the Lutheran churches that you visit will be places that you feel welcomed and fed.

DaRev said:

There is a Latin phrase that is often used when speaking about CW, "lex orandi, lex credendi". It basically means "how we worship is how we believe". Our worship practices must line up with what we hold, teach, and confess as a church body.
Contemporary worship styles have their origins in non-denom traditions that focus more on the believer than on the One in whom we believe. They are done mostly for sensation and stirring up emotion. Traditional liturgical worship, on the otherhand, is fully Christ-centered, where we are called by the Spirit to come before God with broken and contrite hearts in a spirit of humility as unworthy sinners and God gives to us His gifts of mercy, forgiveness, faith and life through the means of grace of word and sacrament. The liturgy is the vehicle by which the means of grace are delivered to us.

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QFT

Had to post this somewhere.

Jesus is a Friend of Mine - Liturgical Edition.mp3

Our church offers a contemporary service and it is still liturgical and all of the songs are Christ-centered. We enjoy it very much.

I don't know if this is any help, but one of the things I LOVE about the Liturgy is that the words from the Divine Service come back to me during the week (because I have said them so often) and provide comfort and one way of praying ceaselessly as they flow through my mind. I find this book helpful in understanding the Divine Service.

MichelleNoel said:

I don't know if this is any help, but one of the things I LOVE about the Liturgy is that the words from the Divine Service come back to me during the week (because I have said them so often) and provide comfort and one way of praying ceaselessly as they flow through my mind. I find this book helpful in understanding the Divine Service.

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Hi Michelle, and welcome to our Lutheran Forum and to Christian Forums.

I'm Mark, one of the Admins here and a member of Lutheran Chruch Canada. I have never read that book but I do agree with every word that you have posted; the Liturgies teach us how to live in prayer!

Might I also suggest this book?: https://www.cph.org/p-454-heaven-on-earth-the-gifts-of-christ-in-the-divine-service.aspx

Thanks, Mark!