Contemporary Church Music: Some Suggestions

It all started when my wife had a family obligation in another city. Our family of two was suddenly cut by 50%. It is already a law that certain age groups are not be left home alone. I think there were a couple movies made about that. Well, there oughta be a law about folks from, say, 65 on, too. Thought processes get all warped when some seniors are left to fend and think for themselves for excessive periods of time. At least that’s been my experience. No offense or generalization intended.

So, what to do, what to do? I just retired, and am re-inventing myself, you understand. It’s not exactly a finished work yet. So after some obligatory house-cleaning, yard work, shopping, watering the grass, I begin to reach out. Maybe a friend knows something I can do, some church event going on that I can go and profit from.

Now, my friend must be somewhere near the age category that I have attained. The activity he offers, well, I am caught a little off-guard. So I will use the lonely days, and his extravagant suggestion, and my surprise, all as excuses for my unheard of response, men and women of the jury.

He lets me in on what seems to him to be a delightful piece of knowledge. This very day, in a city not far from where we stand, a gazillion different bands have congregated and are scheduled to hold a concert to end all concerts that evening.

I know he means well. He suggests that praise and worship is the desired end of their meeting, and that surely I must be interested in that. He is right of course. But something else rises up within me. I say the most awful thing.

“I’m really not into rock music.”

“Nah, it’s just contemporary.”

“I’m really not into contemporary music. I’m the old fashioned kind.”

We then go into a discussion of our ages, and I politely excuse myself. But the damage has been done. I have become a self-acclaimed heretic if ever there was one.

To think that I, after all these years of following and seeking the Lord. Of ministry in and for the local and international church. With all the articles, books, and videos. All the youth ministry. The mission trips. The training. I am now to be locked out of the church by the music department.

For, yes, to admit to the modern crowd that young-sounding music is not the only gig going is to say a lot of other things, in their ears: You are not filled with the Spirit. You are a part of a dead religion. You are a Pharisee and a hypocrite. Of course, you are old. You are not moving with the flow of things. You poor man.

From a child I have not liked “contemporary” music. Whether in the church or not, the sounds made by twisting bodies and way-too-loud instruments were annoying to me. The damage done to my ears, the awfulness of the messages, the predominance of sound over content and beauty were all enough to say, Stay Away!

Many of my fellow believers from the beginning were into rock in the world and had no problem accepting it in the church. Today’s youth simply will not show up if such music is not allowed. The words have been changed of course, but in my mind the associations are still too strong to allow me joy and peace in a contemporary setting.

Not too long ago I would have tried to wrap up such an article right here. I’ve made my case. Get rid of rock, back to the good stuff, don’t look for me if the world is all you want. Judgment. Criticism. I win.

Can’t do that now. (Don’t leave, fellow oldsters). I read of some raucous, very loud musical instruments in the Book of Psalms. I know of some rocking young people today who have already done in their lives more than I shall ever do in mine, for the Lord. Their fire is real, their hearts are centered on Jesus. Dead churches will never, and should never, entice them.

So I must simply offer the word of correction to whomever will listen.

I feel that something needs to be said to youth who believe that their zeal and noise gives them the right to overthrow all. I honor those few who have seen the value of the fathers of church music, from classical, to the majestic hymns, to Gaither-like personal testimony songs. I hear those songs in their concerts from time to time. It is refreshing. I belong to a very old and very big church. Let me know that every time we worship together.

Also to those youth and their leaders, this notion. You have criticized the “old” church of being traditional, of doing the same thing week after week. But when you take control, you ignore the hundreds of thousands of songs available to the church of God, and focus on about 25 choruses in an endless cycle week after week.

Something needs to be said to music ministers who feature 95% contemporary in wild abandon, then tell everyone to sit down and grab a hymnbook, while they in the most boring way possible sing number 235, stanzas 1, 2, and 4. How we old guys cringe when we feel we are being thrown a bone.

Occasionally, it is good to repeat a chorus a couple of times. Sometimes the Spirit is trying to get a message across to the congregation, and the message bears repeating. Sometimes. But something needs to be said to those who feel “led” constantly to spend 15 or 20 minutes on one song, while so many other songs are crying out to be used.

 

Something needs to be said about the new tradition of having one guitar, one keyboard, and one set of drums, maybe one bass, as the only way of doing church music, while criticizing those who opted for one piano and one organ not too many years ago. Where’s the innovative musician in our day, one who doesn’t have to follow the pack, one who has his own musical mind and will stand up and use it?

Who knows? That person, and persons like him, might even help the church music pendulum swing back to majestic, or beautiful, or melodious, or gentle, or quiet. There are many ways to be lost in praise, don’t you think?

Somehow, someone needs to speak. Without being labeled a heretic. Or an unbeliever. Or a Pharisee. For, a musical priesthood has taken over the church. We love their zeal, we honor their youth. They know their Creator.

But we ask that they step back just a bit and see if there is room for the huge panorama of the entity called “music” among us. Such a huge Body of Christ we are. Is there not room for all of us in the leading of worship?

I look forward to the day when “contemporary” is just one of hundreds of styles that are offered to delight the Father and His people.