Oak Hill Baptist Church © 2008-2009

Fads are always a part of our culture. The truly ugly clothes of the sixties (bell bottom pants, tie-dyed colors, and leisure suits) are no longer fashionable. Fads are likewise always a part of the church. Nothing is necessarily wrong with this. In non-essentials we are to “use the world as though we are not making full use of it” (1 Corinthians 7:31), and we are to “become all things to all men” (9:22).

 

 Contemporary worship is one of these fads.

 

Contemporary worship began in the early 80s. The trend started as an attempt to reengage people who had dropped out of church or had never been touched by the traditional practice of Christianity. Worship and buildings were designed for “unchurched Harry and Mary.” Theater seating, up-to-date electronics, simplified messages, professional quality presentations, and an element of entertainment were all put together to get people in the doors. How could we expect to win a hearing with amateurish worship services featuring organ, piano, and a book many people see as irrelevant?

This last point, relevance, guided a lot of the thinking about contemporary worship. Not unlike missionaries to an unreached tribal group, Christian leaders wanted to communicate in an easy to understand way to people with little knowledge of Christian principles or history. Long sermon series were out. Topics that touched on today’s issues were in. Marriage, work, children, depression, sexuality, and other hot topics drove the Sunday morning or Saturday evening talks.

 

The problem with contemporary worship showed up fairly quickly. Relevance is short lived and does not connect with history. People started to trickle away from contemporary churches to join Lutheran, Episcopal, and other denominations with ancient liturgies. They liked the sense of stability communicated in creeds and prayers that have been recited by Christians for many centuries in the face of all types of troubles in countries around the world.

 

The younger generation, children of baby boomers, seem to want something more solid. Our postmodern culture has made them nervous about life. What is real? What is true? They rightly see huge consequences to their thoughts and choices, so they long for truth that has stood the test of time, proven in the lives of others who lived triumphantly. “They want to invest their lives in something worth dying for, not some here-today-gone tomorrow fad” (Tullian Tchividjian grandson of Billy Graham in his book Unfashionable).

 

Some contemporary worship trends are being kept, such as praise songs (selectively) and different instruments. But a lot of it is being remade. Expository sermons through a book are back as are older hymns sung in a slow, contemplative way. Theology and church history are seen as ways to bridge the gaps in faddish culture. This younger crew doesn’t spend a lot of time convincing people of the relevance of the Bible but assumes the power of God’s word to speak to today’s situation. They also are less interested in churches involved in politics and prefer a mixed generation congregation.

 

The shift is understandable. God’s eternal message of grace through His Son supersedes all cultures. Every generation must think about how to communicate that truth in a way that resonates with their peers without losing core truth. As one theologian has observed, “If you marry the spirit of your own generation, you will be a widow in the next.”