Take a look at this excerpt from an U.S newspaper objecting to the new trends in church music:<\/p>\n
\nThere are several reasons for opposing it.
\nOne, it\u2019s too new.
\nTwo, it\u2019s often worldly, even blasphemous.
\nThe new Christian music is not as pleasant as\u00a0the more established style.
\nBecause there are so many songs, you can\u2019t\u00a0learn them all.
\nIt puts too much emphasis on instrumental\u00a0music rather than Godly lyrics.
\nThis new music creates disturbances making people act indecently and disorderly.
\nThe preceding generation got along without it.
\nIt\u2019s a money making scene and some of these new music upstarts are lewd and loose.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nDoes this sound like some of the \u201cfan\u201d mail you receive the week after you have pushed the envelope in worship with some new worship songs?<\/p>\n
This was written by a pastor in 1723 attacking Isaac Watts, the writer of great hymns like\u00a0When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Joy to the World, <\/em>and O God, Our Help in Ages Past.<\/em><\/p>\n
You see, \u201cworship wars\u201d are nothing new to our decade. As long as we have had organized church and people with personal preferences, there has been conflict. As James 4:1 says,<\/p>\n
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don\u2019t they come from your desires that battle with you?
\n<\/em><\/p>\nYou see, worship wars have been raging at least since around 700 a.d. Here are some highlights outlined by Steve Hamrick of the Illinois Baptist State Convention:<\/p>\n
\n
- When the Gregorian Chant became the official music of the church, it was characterized by a single monophonic unaccompanied melody sung only by men.\u00a0 Later young boys with unchanged voices started singing with the men but their voices were displaced by an octave.\u00a0 There were many who objected.\u00a0 Later harmony was added to the music of the church but many were against it.<\/li>\n
- When Luther started writing hymns for the church in 1517 there was a great revolt.<\/li>\n
- In 1540 Calvin stated that only the Old Testament Psalms sung in a metrical rhythm were appropriate for worship (The Genevan Psalter).\u00a0 This caused great division among the church between Calvin\u2019s followers and Luther\u2019s.<\/li>\n
- Near 1750 the Wesley brothers wrote hymns that taught theology and doctrine.\u00a0 It again caused great struggle among church leaders.<\/li>\n
- The music of the 1880\u2032s Sunday School Era was looked down on by many because the hymns and testimony songs being written were subjective (personal) and not objective (directed toward God).\u00a0 Many thought there was no room for music like that in the church.<\/li>\n
- Jazz influences of the early twentieth century brought out an edict from the Pope that the piano was forbidden in the Catholic church, because of its worldly influences.<\/li>\n
- Soon after came the Jesus movement with drums, bass, guitars, and other instruments. Choruses and praise songs were following close behind and all of it was hotly debated in the church.<\/li>\n
- Over the years, there have been church and denominational splits, personal strife, and relationships broken causing those in the church to bitterly quarrel and those outside the church to look at the church with contempt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The list can go on and on describing conflict over the years.<\/p>\n
In the next few posts on the topic of Worship Wars, we are going to dive head on into a discussion of styles of worship. Won\u2019t you join me?<\/p>\n
Kenny Lamm,\u00a0senior consultant for worship and music for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina<\/a>, is a frequent worship conference leader with a strong focus on equipping leaders in North Carolina (USA) and Southeast Asia. His blog, Renewing Worship<\/a>,\u00a0features posts that\u00a0explore ways to renew–impart new life and vigor to–the worship in the local church.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Other posts you might like:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Top ten do\u2019s and don\u2019ts \u2013 worship leaders<\/a><\/p>\n
How to move a church from traditional to contemporary worship styles<\/a><\/p>\n
Graham Kendrick\u2019s guide to Psalm surfing<\/a><\/p>\n
Ask the expert \u2013 warring musicians and choice of keys for worship songs<\/a><\/p>\n
What on earth is contemporary worship anyway?<\/a><\/p>\n
Has modern worship become corrupt? Guest post by Kim Gentes<\/a><\/p>\n
A theology of worship \u2013 stumbling toward mystery<\/a><\/p>\n