Billy Payne, Man and Music

For most of my life I've been a part of churches that would call themselves "blended." Churches that used to be considered traditional, driven by choir and piano/organ. As times changed, they would add additional instruments from the band/orchestral world such as brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, and also the "rock and roll" realm such as drum set, electric bass, and guitar. The music became more exciting, giving modern worship a "pop" sound. Having the various instruments also allowed you to go to the extremes. Leave out the keyboards and have the guitar and a soloist lead for a more contemporary sound. Leave out the drums for a more traditional sound.

I used to think this one particular style was the best way to go. I have a friend who calls churches that offer multiple services: "schizophrenic; they don't know who they are; offering various services tears up a family from being able to worship together." The church I used to attend made a strong effort at being "blended." That is, they did contemporary music in a traditional way, and they did traditional music in a contemporary way. Everything was in the middle. While most liked it, those on the extreme who like either traditional or contemporary, would go to churches that offered that. It seemed to make sense to me until someone pointed out at even though our corporate worship was one style, we still offered different worship services throughout the week to different age groups.

I'm currently at a church that offers multiple services. If you like traditional, we got that. If you like contemporary, we got that, too. I've been pleasantly surprised with the number of people who attend our traditional service, and actually, a lot of people go back and forth between. Another friend of mine who attends a church similar to ours said, "it depends on what I feel like when I get up. A little rock and roll, or something a little more churchy."

I am now on the "offer whatever you can" side of the argument. Both services bring in families that serve together in other areas of the church. By having both, we able to provide the various different worship experiences described above. I don't think God calls a church building to one particular style. After all, God doesn't build his church out of brick and mortar. God builds his kingdom with people. People who he has called to worship Him. Some of those people prefer to worship in one way over another. That's OK, that's the way God made them!

Are churches called to worship God with one particular style of music?

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Yes, although that style could be anything. One church is called to have traditional worship, while another may be called to worship God with contemporary methods.

No, a particular church should be able to offer multiple services, based on various styles.

 

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