Pretty low day in attendance yesterday, typical for a sunny July weekend I suppose. I’m going to be a little more transparent than usual with this post so hold onto your hat. This is actually going to be a confessional.
Over the last five years in my current place of service, we’ve been working on a slow shift towards a more “contemporary” offering in our services. During the last few months, I’ve grown more and more certain that the shift is not working, and is not likely to work in the future no matter how much time and energy are thrown at it.
Regular long-time readers know a few things about me. I appreciate a wide variety of styles of music, and will likely never, ever remove hymns from my regular rotation when planning set lists. That said, I do think music in the church needs to stay fresh so that we do not become robots during our musical expressions in worship, and we must speak to the changing culture around us (both churched and unchurched). I’ve also said before that I have a “ten year plan” for the transformation of music in our worship.
I’m not sure now that 10 years is going to be enough. I’m not sure that, five years down the road of this process, that any progress has been made. In fact, I think the divide between acceptance and rejection is now wider than it was 5 years ago. I’m tired and worn out and not sure where to go from here. Some of my thoughts and feelings are not just about music, but about how church, in general, is done. I see great and mighty opportunity all around, and not a whole lot being done with it.
Not saying I’m getting ready to pack up and abandon ship, I’m just saying I’m pretty much adrift with no map. I have no clue what to do next. I don’t know what the next steps to take should be. Have we gone too far too quickly? Not quickly enough? Has my approach been completely flawed and is in need of reworking? I just don’t know. Maybe I just need a vacation to clear my head and refocus (which will happen next week).
Well, take that rant with a grain of salt. Here’s yesterday’s set-list:
- Let Everything that Has Breath // Matt Redman
- I Want to Know You // Andy Park
- Sweet Hour of Prayer // Walford & Bradbury
- Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us // Thrupp & Bradbury
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Not to say anything you don’t already know, but here it goes:
1. Don’t grow weary in doing good. I’m sorry it’s such a tough transition for you. No visionary every had it easy, it’s always been a fight to make the kind of transitions you’re doing now. You’re in good company with many who came before you.
2. You can’t make this transition, at least not alone. I don’t know how involved your pastor is in this transition, but he’s the ultimate worship leader in any room he walks in. That’s how it works. He’s got to teach around the transition, he’s got to be on the front row embracing the music and setting the tone in the room for how things will continue to go.
3. Transitions like this, unfortunately, result in people leaving. If the transition is slow so that people won’t leave, forget it. You’re trying to change centuries of tradition in one decade. Acceptance can’t be the goal, honoring the Lord through the transition is the only goal.
I’ll be praying for more wisdom than you’ve ever had before in your life!
Brother, I am praying for you.
Oh how I am praying for you.
My heart is nothing but worship and I have an intense desire to lead worship. So when I hear of things like this, I have to pray.
I’ll be transparent with you…
You’re right. The shift is not working. But is the shift the issue?
Our congregation is very “comfortable” in their routines. Just try sitting in someone else’s pew one Sunday and watch the reaction.
I think the shift that needs to happen at NH is much deeper than any one part of the Sunday morning service. Its deeper than any building project, program or musical change can solve.
Its a matter of the heart and the complacency within our church family.
I was saved at NH and am not going anywhere, whether we go Christian Rock or all hymns a capella. This is my family.
NH needs to be challenged with a swift kick in the spiritual rear. I floated a bit of a challenge in SS yesterday to get out of the same old-same old and got equal parts nodding heads and glaring glances. So what. The glares came from those that were convicted.
The passion for Christ at NH is true, but is simmering as coals, when it should be a roaring bonfire in the community. But…that would require us actually going into the community, instead of sitting in our building wishing more people would come in auto-magically.
The problem is not you or the music.
Hope that makes sense
Kevin
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@Matthew: Thanks. Yeah, I know all that stuff, but it is always and encouragement and help to hear it over and over again.
@Joe: Thanks, I appreciate it. I know you’re a prayer warrior.
@Kevin: I find myself in complete agreement, and you said many things that I would say but don’t feel like I have the freedom to do so in a public forum. You’re absolutely correct in identifying and quantifying the necessary change. The change is going to have to start in the pews in the hearts of the people.
Where two or three are gathered…
I can relate to a lot of what you’re expressing as we’re dealing with similar things.
Praying for you & your church!
Jeffro,
I’m reading a book right now called, “Guiding Your Church Through a Worship Transition” by Tom Kraeuter.
Tom says what Kevin said, Worship is not about the music. Worship is about the heart. If our heart relationship is right with Him, it doesn’t matter what style of music the church does. The members will accept the change easily.
Check out Tom’s website: http://www.training-resources.org/
Oh yeah, I’m praying for you as you consider what your next step is.
JSK
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Hey Jeff,
I know what you are talking about as well. We take things a bit slower here, because being in a military town, we have instruments on an often sporadic timetable. Our steadies are…piano, clavinova and drums. I, like you, will never remove the hymns, because they have such a doctrinal impact on our worship. As another reader stated, the pastor MUST be behind any change made in worship. Just know that you have a friend in SW OK that’s praying for you and you can call anytime!!!
Craig
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