It seems these days that a lot of churches are having trouble with the battle of Contemporary and Traditional music during the service.

What is the take on it here?
Do you prefer one or the other, or a mixture?

A mixture has been the try for our church recently and as I look into the crowd, I see folded arms and no smiling faces.
It's like the older folks are upset because there is "contemporary" music with drums and guitars. (I was basically told my electric guitar settings made my guitar sound too electric the other Sunday, but thats another story) And it seem s the younger crowd is bored to tears when the organ cranks up.
Worship should be joyful and it seems like people are coming just to check it off the list for Sunday.

What does the church you go to do?

I prefer 99% contemporary. I.e. Hillsong, Bethel, Highlands, Elevation, Jesus Culture, Passion, Vertical Church Band, etc.

I love when hymns are giving a more contemporary feeling as well.

My church mirrors my musical preference.

I don't go to be entertained.

^^^ This

The songs are supposed to be praise and worship based with the focus on God, not us. If your focus is on worshipping him you should be able to do that in either style. Too many churches are tripping over things that don't matter like the color of the carpet or the song set list instead of putting the focus where it is supposed to be. Sometimes , the preaching that follows the singing is just as geared toward pleasing the congregation as the song choices.

Personally, I prefer traditional. It seems to put me more in the mood for what I'm there for. My wife prefers contemporary. The church we belong to has two services. One traditional and one contemporary. They both seem to have about the same attendance.

I like a mixture, but all my history even from my childhood was in small churches where you have to make an effort to provide something for every age. At least, you have to try if you want to grow and reach more people.

Music is the main reason that new churches in general have much faster growth than established churches. A new church can develop a vision of what it wants to be and stick with that style without a lot of controversy. It's very difficult for an established church to change it's approach without making a lot of folks mad and losing them.

I used to prefer the traditional style church, particularly methodist church. for the last couple of years though, we've been going to Christ Harbor UMC in Northport and love it.

It's kind of a mix of the two. The music/worship part of the service is contemporary. We have a band (and a very good one at that) that plays contemporary stuff or contemporary versions of traditional hymns. But the preaching itself is pretty traditional. No "prosperity gospel" or stuff like that. All very scripture-based. Our preacher has even mentioned before that he himself prefers traditional methodist services, but that churches have to be willing to adapt in order to reach new people (as long as that adaptation is not against Biblical teachings, of course).

If anyone in the Tuscaloosa/Northport area is interested in checking it out, we'd love to have you.

I'm really trying, really I am, to understand that people in these praise 'bands' or whatever they're called are passionate and are making their joyful noise to the Lord.

But I really, really hate the music for many reasons. I could go into those reasons but it's not worth it.

Last Sunday the church we attended had 30 minutes of music including two traditional hymns. My first thought was "Doggone, this is great. FINALLY, a mix of old and new."

And then after the second verse of one of the songs, there was a lull and crescendo and the rock'n'roll jamfest resumed. IMO it's more of a performance and less of a praise in song, more of a "Look at us, let's JAM! and whoohoo!" on stage in front of everyone.

So I, like a lot of others I see in there - because I'm looking around - stand there not singing. Most are men, some are women. Age doesn't matter, either. So it's pretty clear to me the music isn't something "the old folks" hate and "the new young folks" like. It's across the board.

We like the preacher, or whatever they're called now. We're trying with this church but I'm unsure if it'll work out.


To be honest, also, I've had this same issue with music and church ever since I was a teenager in my home Baptist church. Our music director was a really fine guy but sometimes on the fourth verse of a song we'd have the slllloooowwwww organ buildup to The Very Big Slow Booming Finish! final verse sung in the slower half speed.

Why? Performance? Praise? Both, I guess.


I just wish there was a happy medium of the traditional music and maybe contemporary, without going full-blown loud lightshow Jamfest For Jesus every Sunday.

Very traditional and I love it that way, as it has been said, not there to be entertained. Also, the preaching is traditional, I know where I stand before God when I leave. I appreciate the church the way church used to be.

I'm not picking on you, so please don't take it that way......we actually addressed that exact sentiment one sunday in church.

Part of Jesus' teaching was that we are to go out and spread the word, bring people to Jesus. The Church's job isn't to pacify the people already coming every sunday, it's to reach the people that don't already know Christ. If changing "traditional" aspects of the service attracts even 1 unsaved person and causes them to consider a relationship with Jesus, then it's worth it. I heard a preacher once define "Love" as putting others' needs ahead of your own, and doing what is best for them, not yourself. And that translates to a worship service, just like anything else. As a regular attender, we all probably have certain things that we like "the way they are" and don't want them changed, but if that change (as long as it doesn't go against Biblical teachings) can potentially attract new people to Christ, then as Christians, we should consider putting that ahead of our own unwillingness to change. And for those of us who already know Jesus and have a relationship with Him, if changing an aspect of the service is enough to "push us away", then we have a bigger problem than the service itself.

There are aspects of our service that I don't particularly like, but it doesn't affect my faith. And if there's a chance that it could attract someone else to Jesus, then by all means, have at it.

Ultimately, a church needs to look at the community around it and determine what is the best way to bring the most people to Christ. If a traditional service will better accomplish that than a contemporary one, then that is the direction it should go, or vice versa.

But churches (both individual, and the church as a whole) need to be willing to adapt certain parts of their services if doing so will help them reach more people and give them the opportunity to hear the Gospel.

I'm Church of Christ. It's all acapella.
Had a relative get baptized at one of those storefront churches. Building was nice but I kinda felt like I'd been to a club. Rock music. Ladies had on short cut offs, boots and tank tops. Mighta even been some smoke.
I'm not going to throw off on it, but it wasn't for me and was definitely a shock coming from where I come from.
But if it helps someone who otherwise might not learn about The Lord, who am I to say a thing?
The place was packed and they were on their feet for most of the service.

Exactly the way it should be.
No one should go to be entertained.
It should be about your spiritual food.
I would rather go to a banquet than hor d'oeuvres.

Our pastor is as good as they come and I would rather everyone be excited and smiling and primed for the sermon by worshiping with the music. But it just doesn't feel like that is the case.

It's too much not wanting to hurt anybody's feelings and putting a leash on Jesus is what it feels like.

I don't think there's much difference, it's all intended for one purpose. Contemporary worship is closer to what we all listen to on the radio and it allows you to get more people involved: guitar player, bassist, drummer, electric guitar player, singers, etc. With traditional, all you've got is a singer and a pianist/organist.

Of all the instruments talked about in the Bible, the organ and piano are probably the oddest ones Biblically. It talks about cymbals, horns, stringed instruments, etc but not an air-powered pipe instrument.

I think the music in Heaven will be loud and exciting....

That was a direct hit to the nail head.

Yep. If your church is unwilling to adapt to incorporate newer music, it will most likely be gone in a few decades. I've seen many churches close their doors or the congregation dwindle due to not reaching millennials. A large majority of us like contemporary worship music.

To those of you who believe that instruments aren't worship, the worship in the Bible was clearly described as both musical and verbal. David wrote in Psalms 150 "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with high sounding cymbals!"

It says above that loud cymbals are considered praising the Lord, and as a drummer that plays in contemporary worship services, I would agree. I feel that God has given me a musical ability, and that using it in worship is one of the most sincere forms of praise.

I like both and a healthy church will sing both. It's about praise not preference.

Eph 5 / 19

"speaking to one another with psalms hymns and spiritual songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord."

As I am thinking more on the entertainment aspect, How do you invite someone to a service that seems so boring.
Don't you want the person you invite to experience God and in a mighty way?
How does that happen when the service is fully of grouchy people?
It needs to be exciting whether traditional or contemporary.

Watched some video of Jack Coe from 1950's and agree with what he said. " if the Lord is in it, it doesn't matter what is said or sung his purpose will be accomplished. He caused a rooster to crow and it caused a wayward Apostle to repent. He opened the mouth of a jackass and straightened out a misled prophet."

I personally prefer the contemporary music. I grew in Southern Baptist church and those old hymns are etched in my mine. But like the old hymns, someone had to write them as some point in time and the new contemporary music I think is designed to reach a younger crowd who might not be so inclined to listen to the more traditional music. Our church offers both traditional and contemporary services, so to each his own.