Image via WikipediaWe have had some ongoing dialogue at Girdwood Chapel this year about worship style.  This is because we have some folks who would really prefer some more contemporary music--music which may be unfamiliar and of a far more different style than some of our more traditional folks are used to.  I, frankly appreciate a wide range of music styles.  Our limiting factor has usually been instrumentation.  We just don't have musicians who can handle contemporary Christian music at the level which is needed.  If you're going to go contemporary, it has to be done well.

This brought about good conversation of music style and worship and congregants "getting something out of worship."  I understand...I really do...that attending a "high church" worship service when you're a "low church" kind of person can make it hard to experience God fully in that place.  I understand that.  I also understand that, if you're a "high church" kind of person some contemporary Christian music, the latest by Steven Curtis Chapman or Third Day or Michael W. Smith or Chris Tomlin, can seem less theological and too "touchy feely."  It can seem shallow.  I understand that.

But, theologically speaking, isn't worship about God and not "what you GET" out of it?  Isn't God worthy to be praised, and, whether that's in a language or style that's comfortable to you, the act of worship is more important than how your spiritual batteries feel charged from that experience?  By catering to every experiential need of persons churches have turned the focus of worship to the individual worshiper and away from the God who should be at the center of the worship.  We have churches who are beginning worship design by asking what the churched or unchurched persons in their communities want, rather than beginning with the assumption that, no matter how it's done, it is a right an good thing to offer praise to our most Holy and awesome God.  It also forces smaller churches to try to keep up with the customer satisfaction of their bigger church neighbors, which may be completely impossible for them given limitations.

Mark Altrogge over at Blazing Center had and interesting article yesterday, about how we turn Scripture and religion on its head, making it all about us.  I'd never say out loud what he says about worship.  But I can remember a time when the thought may have crossed my mind.

Ever heard someone say, “Worship didn’t do much for me this morning.”  Awww, we’re sorry your majesty wasn’t entertained and enthralled today.  Maybe we should get Paul McCartney to lead worship next Sunday.  Sorry the smoke machines didn’t fill the room and a few of the explosions were softer than normal.  Maybe we should ask Jesus if he got anything out of our worship this morning.

And, this is not a critique of EITHER contemporary or traditional worship, a least from where I'm coming from.  The same words could apply either way. I think it merely gets to the backwards way we sometimes think of worship, beginning with US and not GOD.  It's all about MEEEE !

Well, here's what we're doing at Girdwood Chapel.  We are using more contemporary music.  And, yes,  it's the Third Day, Casting Crowns, and Steven Curtis Chapman variety.  But, in order to have pretty high quality music, we're using worship videos from YouTube that have already been designed by others.  The videos yesterday were for these two songs:



and




The Third Day song was to lead us into our discussion about prayer.  "I Will Follow," by Chris Tomlin is being sung each week as our sermon series theme is about following Jesus...and our folks seem to be appreciating the song.

For the 8:30 AM (older, smaller crowd) worship we use more traditional hymns in their place.  And at 10 AM we use the contemporary. 

I've enjoyed it.  I know I get something out of both styles and everything in between and I know that there will always be persons who don't like this or that song...this or that style...this or that prayer....  I merely hope that the change is helping our folk praise God, who should always be at the center of our worship.

It's not about us.