Unprecedented Shifts of Music in the Church
Church leaders gone through a monumental shift of style in our lifetime, which has never happened before. If you were living between 1860 and 1890, you didn’t have the option of choosing between three generations of churches. But think about the remarkable shift that took place from 1960 to 1990.
My main concern is that the current patterns may not be sustainable.
Would it be possible to have four or five generations of styles at one time? In our generation, formality and traditionalism is shifting out of general church practice. According to research from a few years ago, churches were moving to contemporary (verses traditional) at an 11-1 ratio.
I love traditional church. I love contemporary church. I love all kinds of church. But the shift is happening around us. Music in the church has always been at the center of such shifts, and often brought controversy.
The church has not been immune. Isaac Watts, writer of some of Christianity’s most revered hymns was criticized. John and Charles Wesley were criticized. Luther was criticized, as was Calvin. The tunes of the Jesus Movement were criticized even as Larry Norman complained that the devil had all the good music.
Looking Around
Every generation tends to dislike the music of the next generation. But the current shift is unprecedented historically. So what can the larger church learn from the churches that are growing?
Contemporary church leaders has done a great job of recognizing shifts and patterns in culture. They have stylistically engaged culture in relatable forms. Unbelievers aren’t required to navigate or appreciate an unfamiliar musical style before they grasp the words. And the culture is responding positively to this effort.
I don’t believe modern music in the church (necessarily) “dumbs down” the music, but makes it makes it more accessible to those unfamiliar with church, church music and maybe with God.
Our church has a campus that meets in a movie theater and one in an established church building we renovated. We have a more contemporary style that’s not perfect, but it is where we are. Our style would bother some people in your church and maybe some of you reading this.
But we actually have senior adults who come. Senior adults in our church come because they love being around young families and children. Of those that attend most Sundays, almost half are children, students or youth workers.
Focusing on What Matters Most
Most churches are going to make the transition to feel more contemporary than traditional. I think the third category will grow as well. I’m not saying churchleaders should. I’m not saying it’s the only way. And, I am not even saying it’s the best way.
But, most churches are changing.
The camp revival era birthed much of the music in my denomination. So it was a lot of “Victory in Jesus” and “Have a Little Talk With Jesus” styled music. Few places in culture sing in that style any more.
People often say, “We’ve got to teach them the value of the hymns,” which they tend to associate with a traditional style of music in the church. If by learning the value of hymns, you mean having a more robust theology in lyrics, I agree. If you mean that we need (as a measure of discipleship) to teach them an old musical style—I want churchleaders to hear this, so I’ll say it very clearly: that’s missing the point.
