Why do some Christians not agree with contempory Worship music?

Question

Im a Christian Worship leader and ive found that many people just wont budge even the slightest from their old organs and hymns. Why can we not just have a mixture of both??

The thing is, there are so many youth at this church and at the moment they are not getting anything spiritually out of the worship, surely we should accomodate all age groups??

No where did i say rock and roll!!
Contempory music is not limited to rock and roll.
You might want to listen to some of these: Tim Hughes
Matt Redman
Chris Tomlin

Psalm 68:4
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.

Psalm 150:1
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.


Some things for you there 'repent'

How can we rejoice if the church is one sided? I just want everyone to praise God in their own way without others feeling left out!

Answer 1

One of the reasons we changed churches was so our children could be more involved. Our church now has a mix of old and contemporary, at all services. We also have a youth night one Sunday a month. The message is aimed at the youth. the music is from their collection. It actually is an awesome experience. It's hard to get people to change. Try suggesting a youth service on a regular basis instead of only yearly like some churches. Maybe small doses would be best to start. the youth are the church of today if they don't get involved there will be no church tomorrow. The method of delivery can change as long as the message stays the same. Good luck, you'll be on my prayer list.

Answer 2

The "generation gap," bro. There are those who honestly believe that what they grew up hearing is the "only" acceptable music. So that's piano, organ, and hymn tunes that actually come from classical works or little tinkling piano tunes taken from etudes for 18th-19th century young ladies. And then in countries with a strong Catholic history, Evangelical ministers will reject classical music because many of the composers were Catholic!
Then there are those who believe in no music at all, just a capella singing, which is fine if you have some good vocalists but certainly gives new meaning to the phrase "make a joyful *noise*" if not.
People like what they're used to. Innovation, especially in church where people want to feel "safe", is intimidating to many, especially as they get older. They want something safe, solid, and always-been-this-way.
As a friend of mine says, remember that Lucifer was a fallen praise leader! The praise and worship team is always where our old human nature surfaces most. Lots of egos involved, and change is threatening to those who have marked out "turf." Also, perhaps because biblically speaking, praise is important in spiritual warfare, such as the battle in Chronicles where they sent the singers and musicians out in front of the army praising God, and they won the battle.
It can't be easy for you but if you have the approval of the leadership, hang tough. Jesus is on the job.

Answer 3

I hear you brother. I don't know where you live, but I've found that if you start on the west coast and move east that churches go from fairly laid back about stuff like that to extremely conservative.
Having said that. I go to a church on the east coast where there are great worship songs with drums and the whole nine. We usually have a hymn or 2 at the end and we close the service with a hymn. Everyone's happy.

It can be done.

Answer 4

Pastor Billy says: this type of music is good for a Christian concert but not for worship. The central focus should be Jesus Christ not how good the singers are showcasing their talent. You lose something when individuality of choir or band members is the focal point, loud drums, lead singer etc etc...

solemnness of the celebration is lost sometimes when the music becomes the focal point and entertainment the goal.
Christian worship is not about being entertained. Excitement does not necessarily bring the Holy Spirit amongst us. Normally it is the feeling of peace in which we recognise the presence of the Holy Spirit. Basically revival music should be left to the revival for those swaying from the truth and not used during practises of Christian worship. When I hear the term contemporary joined to worship I feel oops here comes another novelty because someone feels we have to entertain the crowd. That is not what Christian worship is about.

addition: Kyle you miss the obvious worship of God is not something of personal choice or opinions, God has a pretty precise instruction on how we are to worship him and guess what it's in the bible.

Answer 5

Believe it our not Most people want some sort of "Holy" feeling when they attend worship service.

There is a BIG difference in "Praise" and "Worship".

When it is time to "Praise" give me a Guitar, banjo, tambourine, bass and some good old "Southern Gospel or Blue Grass Gospel"!!!!

When it is time for "Worship" let us show respect to our Creator to the meeting place whether it be a building, home, park or what ever.

Let it be a time to think about our creator to hear a "Worship Sermon", to be silent in prayer.

Have you tried having seperate service? Worship service on Sunday or Saturday morning, potluck and then Praise Service after lunch?

This works great for many and gives those who want "worship" a chance to eat with the younger crowd and even hang around for the Praise Service.

It sometimes takes time but it can and does happen.

I would like to add this now: How can one get board when you are giving thanks to God and our Savior. If so you are there for the wrong reason. (I mean no disrespect but it is true).

Answer 6

I love gospel music but the Catholic church doesn't really like it. They prefer solemn serious hymns. Some priests are great and allow religious folk groups to play at mass but on Sunday at the main mass it's always the nuns, the old people and the organ. People wouldn't be so bored at mass if the music was a bit better. A bit more rejoiceful!

Answer 7

The church i attend in Uk embraced new music and our youth are happy and growing in numbers. so too is the church who often have to put out more chairs.
People are happy to come and worship, sing their praises to God, sometimes we sing the psalms...but the music is important, it brings energy and a vibrancy into the church.

The important thing is to bring people to Jesus and the Lord, we are in a battle.....dont forget...
Our churches were almost empty, christianity is not taught in our schools anymore, assemblies have stopped, we were on a slippery slope.
We can have a mixture of both, but remember the congregation votes with its feet which church to attend and sometimes people will leave in order to make way for many more to come in. If your numbers are thriving then leave well alone, if not you have nothing to lose.

Answer 8

Why do some not agree? It's usually because many are set in their ways, or just tend to follow tradition. Some even go as far as to believe that if they're not hymns, then those songs are just no spiritual. To answer your other question, yes, you can have a mix. You just have to know how to do it. We used to do it at my last church. But understand that there will always be those who refuse to accept change.

Answer 9

perhaps you should start a youth outreach program that plays this kind of music. many ppl of the elder generation are just more comfortable with the older hymns.

im 28 yrs old...i think some of the older hymns are beautiful...but i also love the newer stuff too. so i guess im in the middle. lol

Answer 10

It's different for every church. Music is a very intimate and personal thing. You might changing churches if you cannot handle the organs and hymns.