Traditional Versus Contemporary

            One of the big questions of our day is about worship. Should our worship services cater to the ones that prefer a traditional service or the ones who prefer a more contemporary service? It seems that many of the older crowd grew up with things such as hymnals, pews, a reverent style service, and even a certain style of preaching. There is certainly nothing wrong with this type of worship.

            It also appears that those of younger generations prefer a more upbeat, visual stimulating, technology-filled style of worship. They tend to like songs that you might hear on contemporary Christian radio with little to no silence during the service. They tend to like their song lyrics projected on big screens instead of having them in printed form. There is certainly nothing wrong with this type of worship either.

            Yet there seems to be a growing chasm between the two types of service. Unfortunately this same chasm can develop among the people as well. So what is to be done about the vast differences in worship preference? Are we to split our services, have different times for each? Will this not also split the smaller congregations, making two really small congregations out of one small one? If your church is over 1,000 members, you will most likely be running multiple services anyway, and this will not be as big of an issue as in a smaller one. If you are not ready to run multiple services due to sheer numbers, perhaps the following suggestions might provide some help in blending the two:

 

1. Open the lines of communication. It is important to keep your people informed and dialoging. Perhaps have several who prefer each style of worship form a committee and discuss this issue. What does worship look like for each style? What things are important for each group to instill a desire to participate fully in worship? In what ways can these two styles work together? Define the things that seem essential.

2. Cross pollination is a must. A healthy congregation needs members from all generations. There are things that each generation brings to the table that the other generations do not. The older generations have that invaluable wisdom and experience from which others may benefit greatly. The younger generation has the energy for service and has lots of creativity and the imagination to lead the church into the future. When these two generations work together and help each other the entire congregation benefits. It may be the older generation mentoring the younger generation on marriage, or it may be the younger generation helping the older one learn to use technology. This type of cooperation is a must for a strong faith to be passed down from generation to generation.

3. Compromise is acceptable when it is a preference. When we are talking about Scriptural truths, compromise is never acceptable. When we are talking about which song to sing on a giving Sunday, a blend of contemporary and traditional songs and hymns will work well. There are also many apps for electronic devices that can be used to aid worship. A printed bulletin may be a must for some while an electronic “event” with additional content in the YouVersion app may be desirable for others. In the scheme of things, preferences should not be divisive things. A variation in the order of worship should not cause great distress. Clear communication beforehand works well to alleviate a lot of heartburn. Always sell the benefits of a change or variation before it happens.

4. How fast should we go? There are also small things that can be done to compromise. My daughter who is 12 had a nice insight. She said, “I don’t mind singing the old hymns but I don’t want to sing them like I am at a funeral. Please don’t sing Gloryland Way to the cadence of Just As I Am. I end up wanting to fall asleep and not participate.” Is it acceptable to pick up the pace a bit and still sing some of the great old hymns? Absolutely! You may find new life in your song service.

5. Unity building events can cement relationships. There are things that you can do that both generations enjoy. You can have board game nights, movie nights, football watching parties, shopping, book clubs, “Chick flicks”, jewelry or craft making circles, etc. These types of events and social gatherings help members from every generation bond as a community and build lasting friendships.

            Perhaps trying some of these things will help if your congregation is experiencing the separation in generations. Be flexible and remember the most important thing is an open an honest dialog about the issue.