If a church had a single service and included both kinds of music it would help those with a preference for one kind to better understand those whose taste in music is different and many could reach a point where they appreciate both kinds of music.
That certainly would be nice. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way, and sometimes it's to the point where people are so set in their ways that they are closed-minded to any other point of view. This doesn't only go for music issues, but other similar issues we may encounter, as well.
As for me, I've reached a point where I am tuned in to a variety of styles. I have prided myself for a long time of being pretty versatile in music. However, there was a time in my teens (yes, that's when peer pressure was at its peak and rearing its ugly head in my direction) when this wasn't exactly the case - well, at least not like it is now. I would mainly listen to the bubblegum music of the '80s/early '90s (which I thought was the most popular among those of my age at the time) and listen to snippets of oldies (basically what I considered to be retro "Top-40") and other things. But from my mid-teens to mid-20s, I absolutely could not bring myself to accept Southern Gospel or anything with the slightest country flavor. Yes, even the more progressive, pop-oriented end of the genre, as it was just that word "southern" that bugged me for some really stupid reason, and I thought I would be considered "nerdy" for listening to it. It wasn't until about the late '90s somewhere that I would grow to appreciate (and even enjoy) Southern gospel and just what a versatile, creative art it is within itself, and now I am listening to it along with everything else I listen to, and am happy to be myself when it comes to that. I could be listening to Randy Travis or the like one minute, Jaci Velasquez and Michael W. Smith (and other CCM fare) another, and some oldie of the big band/swing era then next - and of course, the list goes on. Now when I'm listening to music, I actually prefer it mixed.
But, I do realize that there are others who just aren't that versatile. Some are strictly pop/contemporary while others are strictly traditional when it comes to their music tastes. People will listen to music that speaks to them, and it seems to work best if they can actually enjoy what they hear. At the same time, they should try to understand another person whose personal taste in music may not be the same, even while keeping their own personal music preferences.
Now that I have bored everyone to death....
