Question concerning a certain type of music in church?

Question

This may have been asked before....but I'll ask it anyway:

Do you agree with using contemporary Christian music during a worship service?

Call me old fashioned (I'm only 37) but.....I'm a hymn person.
I love the Gaithers and I love Michael W Smith (and a few others). But isn't it true that certain types of so-called Christian music that's out there should have no place on the platform in church?

Just curious.

Great answers so far.....very diversified. Our church does offer both contemporary & traditional services. Of course, my wife and I go to the latter.

Answer 1

My church does mostly contemporary music. If I didn't listen to K-love radio during the week I wouldn't know the songs. I think it is important for keeping the younger generations but at the same time without the older songs, you'll loose the older crowd. You need a balance.

I do miss the hymns. Sometimes my mother plays them on her piano and I know her and my dad (both pastors) use them in their church as well as some modern songs.

But did you notice Chris Thomlin did an updated version of Amazing Grace? (It came out with the movie.) He did it in a very respectful way and you don't feel like he's destroyed a great hymn.

Dallas Holm is also one of the GREAT Christian musicians of our time. He's best known for the song "Rise Again"

Answer 2

I once attended a church where all of the music had to be produced in the service. That meant piano and organ and the musicians had to work out the time to practice and it just would have been a whole lot easier if they would have used a tape to accompany the singer(s). For me it was a way for that preacher to control things. He didn't like steel guitars in church and drums were a no no. He thought that all rock music was from the devil or the jungle and discouraged anyone from listening to any of it. He also discouraged the youth of the church from listening to contemporary Christian music because he lumped it under the category of "how can anything evil(rock music) be good?"

All this did was for him to lose any kind of influence with the youth and since all rock music was equally evil why not listen to Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, LIta Ford, and Black Sabbath. There was no distinction coming from the pulpit.

I moved away and have attended different types of services since then. I don't believe that Christian music of any kind is destructive to a believer. The Holy Spirit will guide the believer to the type of music that will best lift them up. For me it may be The Happy Goodman Family for you it may be Mercy Me or DC Talk or Jars of Clay. All of these types of music can contribute to the worship service.

The idea that only hymns are a valid expression of faith worthy of a church service limits the creative voices of todays worshippers. We don't listen to hymns outside of church and so why should we be so completely bound to them inside a church. The unknown truth behind many hymns is that they were first drinking songs brought from the pubs and taverns and converted into high church music.

This fight over music in the church has been going on for years and if the fights over doctrine prove anything, they certainly won't end soon.

Answer 3

Another question that I will really try to be sensitive answering. I am a musician- I play the violin and sing on worship team and in choir at church. I do have preferences to certain styles however if the words glorify Jesus had could it be wrong? Even hymns and songs by Michael W. Smith would have been considered to much for church before they were written. Did you know that the melody to Amazing Grace was once a bar song? And I would guess that you think it is ok to have that song sung in a church. So we have to be very careful that we don't take music more seriously then worship. Granted we have to be VERY careful that all the words in the songs do not compromise truth in scripture, however the Psalmist even says, "Sing a new song, unto the Lord".

Answer 4

I attended a church for a while that went completely to Praise & Worship music. And, although I enjoy some of the newer music I really did miss just the good ole' hymns.

I have found a nice little church where the hymn books are used every Sunday and some Praise & Worship mixed in here and there. . .but the main focus on the hymns.

I am a music lover, I love all kinds of it. But, I have to say there is a true power in those hymns, maybe it is because they have been sung by generations before us.

Answer 5

To me, ANY song that a praise team raises up during a service should: 1) inspire the singer and listeners to praise God; and 2) reflect sound, Biblical doctrine.

As some answerers have written, the old Gospel hymns did both perfectly. And while there are some good songs in contemporary Christian music today, all of them don't adequately or accurately reflect the Gospel. So, as always, much discernment is necessary.

Answer 6

I used to be our church's song leader, and I mixed traditional hymns and choruses, especially old Gaithers choruses like "Because He Lives".

We had an old pastor lleave our Assembly, and a young former youth pastor with young children took over. He forced me to learn all the new choruses, and cut out many of my old favourites.

He only uses hymns once a month, during communion, the first week of every month.

To me, although I LOVE HYMNS, that's the one time I would NOT go to a hymn, for fear the hymnal may get in the way of what we are trying to do.

Both old standards and the newest choruses are great, but balance is needed, so we don't turn off our young folks while keeping the older church leaders happy.

Answer 7

Absolutely. What is happening is big business. The recording industry is going to "invest" and push whatever they think will bring them a good return. Like so many things going on now inside the church, the music has become very much "like the world". As long as Jesus is mentioned or some other thing that can tag it as Christian, it is labeled Christian, and marketed for all it's worth.
What I see, and from a musician's point of view, is too many pulpits are becoming stages, too many egos are getting inflated, and there is increasingly less reverence shown towards God. I have heard radio promotions of concerts billed as being a worship experience. That's not worship...it's a money-making concert, period.
I do not think we can return to the days of just a few years ago...the cat's out of the bag, and people would never believe there could be anything wrong with it. It strikes me as having been popularized by the slick television shows that had performers on. People want a show! They don't want to hear a sermon, or worship, they want a show.

Answer 8

Chorals and hymns were once not allowed in church. Putting the bible to music was considered by some to be "ungodly" and others considered "modern" music too secular.

Later, many composers of "classical" pieces were inspired by the bible or specifically wrote for their local church. Though the young folk enjoyed church more with contemporary music in it, many other churches considered the music too lighthearted and not solemn enough. Many churches banned all contemporary pieces but still allow chanting.

Almost all modern "Christmas" songs were banned from the church and strongly spoken out against by church leaders. "New" stories based on the bible were not allowed, only direct quotations from specific translations, and secular music was not appropriate.
Christmas was NOT a time for celebrating it was a time for solemn prayer. Anyone raising merry was lush and possibly a Pagan trying to bring back the Saturnalia celebrations that Christians had worked so hard to stamp out.

Answer 9

I think you are right in many cases, but you might also consider, when hymns where first wrote, they where probably criticized by the "Church" for not following traditional music patterns, like the chants etc. I would say, what is the purpose of the song. Is it glorifying God, or not. Can you and the others understand the words? if not you certainly cant worship with it. Also, what may not be "right" for a worship service, might be fine for a youth service. it is touchy, good luck.

Answer 10

No I don't believe that at all. Because the word says "sing unto the Lord a new song"....

The Lord is not stuck on tradition...or any form of tradition in the church. He's actually very much against it. He came to destroy tradition. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with the old hymns...(because I believe the Lord loves them all)
He, in this day and age has resurrected millions of awesome musicians from so many different backgrounds...whom He's blessed with the gift of music...or the gift of song.
All of those gifts come from God. And there are a variety of different and skillful musicians out there who have the gift of playing/using their instrument skillfully according to His word, and all in praise and worship for Him. Praise and worship is warfare...and there are many different ways people worship Him. He is not a God who confines everyone to a certain type of music, but rather He gives musicians their respective gifts to praise him. As long as the music is led of the Holy Spirit, there's nothing wrong with the way it's played, or sang or whatever.
Because all music is supposed to be for Him, and conducted by him.
He gives the anointing for a song. Even when it comes down to composing music. He doesn't limit it to just one type of song....or one kind of song with a specific sound. He's not that kind of God.

Respectfully,
Your sister in Christ
BLI