Some thoughts on contemporary worship

In response to my August 20th posting, “To change or not to change,” a friend in St. Petersburg wrote via e-mail to remind me of the 7-last words of the church: “We have never done it that way!” Then he went on to share that when he and his wife moved into their home in Gulfport they began searching for a new church home. In their search they found a wide range of “contemporary” worship services, everything from the pastor not wearing a robe to using a piano instead of an organ to a rock concert, etc.

William’s findings support my observations as I have taken the opportunity in retirement to visit several different churches. What I’ve discovered, painfully, is that there are a lot of churches that are attempting to do “contemporary” worship, but are doing it badly. I think I remember an individual from Willow Creek church addressing a seminar on the subject of “contemporary” worship. He said something to the fact that whatever you offer under the heading of “contemporary” worship just make sure that it is done well. “People today are looking for quality” was something that he said repeatedly. Yet, quality is not what is being offered, at least by the churches that I have visited.

I also remember a conversation I had with my niece Amy after her husband and family moved into a new community in Michigan. They visited one particular church that was highly recommended. The sermon was excellent and the music was great, but the congregation simply stood around and wasn’t engaged … “they weren’t participates, but just observers … I’m not there to be entertained … I want to be involved!” She was right on in her observation and desire.

If my research is correct contemporary is not simply singing a few praise type songs to guitars, drums and a keyboard with everybody standing and clapping, and the pastor not wearing a robe or a suit and tie. There is more to it than that. It would be better to label the service “non-traditional” then contemporary, but even that belies the truth. Most worship services that are being called contemporary are simply watered down traditional styled services. It really takes more effort to bring it off … remember quality.

The other thing that I remember the staff member from Willow Creek sharing was this: “If what you are offering on Sunday morning is a duplicate of what you offered 3 to 6 months ago then I can guarantee you that what you are doing is not contemporary.” The contemporary worship scene is constantly changing because people’s ideas and interests are changing … and technology is moving at a faster pace than we can assimilate into our understanding and use.

So what does contemporary worship look like:
1) It is fast paced … no “down time” between various items in worship – think in 30 second to 1 minute segments
2) There are smooth transitions from one thing to the next – “seamless” is the word that I’ve heard
3) There are a wide variety of stimuli – drama, video clips, etc. – everything backing up the particular theme for the service
4) Any announcements, if any, are short and presented in a manner that is more than simply a reading of a list of activities
5) The sermon is 10 to 12 minutes and addresses the main issues of Christianity … think Christianity 101
6) It is preferred that an offering not be taken up during the service, but placed in boxes or plates as people gather for worship or as they leave – just remember “down time” and the 5 to 8 minutes taken up to “receive” the offering is down time. If the desire is to take up the offering during worship then use the time wisely by showing video clips or present the drama for the morning … do something rather than just sit there listening to the piano or choir sing
7) Now choirs are another issue … contemporary worship normally would use ensembles
8) Worship should engage the people … getting them moving, participating, energized, and interacting with one another
9) And as mentioned earlier … the three words for success are: quality, quality, quality!

In re-reading my list and trying to understanding the modern scene of today’s church … maybe what was once being sold as “contemporary” worship is what some are now calling “seeker” services … and what we use to call “praise” worship is what pastors are calling “contemporary” now … I don’t know, it all simply gets confusing sometimes.

The other interesting bit of information comes from my youngest daughter who is in her thirties and I believe that she is a good thermostat for the general young adults of today. She prefers the traditional music and worship than what is called “contemporary”. I think she shared once, “Those churches are just trying to be something that they are not.” Ouch!

Anyway … these are the thoughts of this old preacher who really cares about the future of the church. I just hope that we have a future to embrace when it arrives and not just empty buildings that use to have a purpose ... museum pieces standing as a testimony of what once was.

Quote for today: After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time at church today--but I wish you had been there!" Source Unknown