There is a modern-day proverb, "If you ask the wrong question, you will get the wrong answer." That is to say that the right question is far more important than the answer. I learned early in life that asking, "Should I throw a snowball at a passing car or play with matches on the railroad?" leads to a poor outcome regardless of the decision-making process.
Many churches over the past five decades have been asking the wrong question. That question is, "Should we have traditional music or should we have contemporary music in church?" The question has severe flaws from the start. First, it is framed in a way that pits people and presents a false dilemma. It unnecessarily divides and even fractures a congregation. Second, the question's primary focus is on preferences, rather than God. Sincere debates will say God is in the center of our worship, but the drive usually is fueled by our preferences, no matter how theological or biblical we frame our arguments. So is there a healthier approach to the question of worship styles for a specific congregation?
In our denomination's Book of Order, there is a rich theology and rationale for Christian worship. "Christian worship gives all glory and honor, praise and thanksgiving to the holy, triune God. We are gathered in worship to glorify the God who is present and active among us—particularly through the gifts of Word and Sacrament. We are sent out in service to glorify the same God who is present and active in the world." (W-1.0101 Glory to God, Book of Order) Music, liturgy, and prayer are vitally important, but at the heart of Reformed worship are the ministries of Word and Sacrament. If that is the theological basis of Christian worship, how do we reconcile worship preferences? We must ask better questions.
First question: How do we plan worship that will allow all those gathered to glorify the triune God at RBCPC? This question keeps God at the center while considering how worshipers, ranging from teenagers to senior adults, might leave the service with a deeper sense of God's greatness and a stronger sense of belonging within the body of Christ. Youth Sunday a few weeks ago gave us a glimpse that worship can be done in a way that all who are gathered can connect and praise God.
Second question: What is our church context? If a congregation is primarily composed of teenagers and young adults, its musical expression will likely lean more contemporary. If it is largely composed of seniors, traditional hymns may better express the congregation's prayers, faith, and praise. In a previous church I pastored, young families were actually drawn to the hymns and the rich liturgy. Over time, as the younger generation grew, we adjusted our song selections.
The primary goal is to lead the congregation in worship so that our focus is directed away from ourselves and toward God. In worship, we present ourselves to the Lord rather than expect the worship service to appeal to us. I have worshiped in completely foreign languages such as Chinese, Spanish, Indonesian, and now Arabic languages. Even when I could not understand every word, I was still able to join God's people in prayer, praise, and adoration. The key to worship is not whether the music reflects my preferences, but whether my heart is focused on glorifying God. As Psalm 29:2 admonishes us, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness." Worship is fundamentally about God.
Pastor Jason