pros and cons of hymn singing vs contemporary music

Just a few thoughts I wrote down during class that relate to some of our discussions...

Even before this was brought up, I found it interesting that our discussions seem a little one-sided. This is coming from someone who is very moderate in just about everything. Not "neutral"... I am very opinionated, I just get very turned off by people who argue extreme things. I just feel that people who argue "extremes" may have a valid point, but they just outdo themselves and lose some of the truth to it, if that makes sense. So this is my attempt to find some sort of middle ground in the class discussions.

Contemporary music
Cons:
I don't have the list we went over in class, but this is the modified version I jotted down in my notes, that reflects some of what we discussed, as well:
** It doesn't require the congregation to sing
** Discarded quickly
** Words less important
** Becomes more of a source of entertainment, which can potentially lead to idolatry

As far as not requiring the congregation to sing, I agree. BUT, I don't necessarily think that this is a bad thing, or something that is exclusive to contemporary music. When music is led by a lead singer or a group of singers, people aren't required to sing, people have the ability to sit back and listen rather than fully engaging in the music. While there is definitely something unifying in having a congregation sing, without microphones, I have found it just as powerful to sit back and listen. In fact, I have found it almost easier to feel like I am truly engaging in the music when I stop singing and I listen to the words. It becomes less about me singing and less about the music, and more about what the music is saying. If its about the music, and about the words, and about what it means, it shouldn't matter who is singing it and how many people are singing it, as much as the hearts of the people who are engaging in it.

As far as music being discarded quickly, I, again, don't view this as much of a problem. This is coming from a newer generation who is used to contemporary music and I can't fully understand what was lost... I can't really miss something that I never was a part of. However, while we are losing some valuable music, I can't agree that the music we have gained is inadequate. We lost something valuable, but what we have I think is valuable too... just in different ways. There is something valuable in adding new music and new ideas and new songs. Its refreshing and I feel like it helps me to be honest and think about what I'm singing rather than just going through the motions. And, at the same time, I think that a lot of the songs that stick are just as valuable... having a song that you have sung so much that you know everyone will know it and everyone will sing it. While there are definitely songs today that are sung and quickly discarded and replaced with new songs, I think that there are definitely still songs that stick. And, even though I don't have a handful of songs that I have sung every year of my life, I can still recall songs that I sang years ago, as well as songs I have learned within the last year or so, with words that help me in whatever situation I may be in. For instance, a lot of the new songs my worship leader has recently introduced us to have helped me through some hard times lately. But I also recall and sing some songs I learned in elementary school such as "have I not commanded you be strong and courageous." Even though a lot of songs have come and gone in our church services, there are still plenty of songs that have stuck.

As far as the words becoming less important, that is also untrue. Maybe less complex.. maybe... but not less important.

One point that really rang true for me, however, was the problem of music becoming more of a means of entertainment than worship. And this is something I have struggled with more than anything else, especially as a worship leader. There have been times when I have loved the attention. And there have been times when I have been extremely annoyed that people are complementing me and how I'm singing when I should have nothing to do with anything. And when people applaud after a song, something inside of me cringes. While I can see the necessity of having a "leader" to help the congregation sing the song, it seems very easy for it to become more about me and less about God.

So there are definite problems with contemporary music. However, I believe there are similarly problems with older music, as well, and not just racism and sexism that have already been dealt with.

For instance, as we already discussed, older music had the potential to become a performance as well... not as much for the singer as for the organist, or the pianist.

In addition to this, the biggest problem I found in hymn singing, was that when people sing the same songs over and over again, the begin to go through the motions. While repeating a song can really ingrain the words into your memory, it can just as easily take the life out of the song, especially if it was a song that didn't mean much to you in the first place. And while the congregation isn't required to sing in contemporary music, no one is really required to sing in hymn singing. There will be the few people that sing loudly, but, from my experience, there are also the people who mouth the words, stop paying attention or sing half-heartedly. Regardless of the method, there are going to be people who are engaged and people who are not engaged. I have seen just as many people who could care less about worshipping in a contemporary service as in a hymn singing service, and I have seen just as many people sing their hearts out at a hymn sing as a contemporary service. The problem is not the method, the problem is the people who are using the method.

The moderate response to this debate is, both sides have valid points. There are problems with contemporary music, there are problems with older music. But the problem is not the song or the music itself... the problem is the people who sing the music. And while the problems may not be the same, there are going to be problems... and there are also going to be good things about each method. And I believe that there are going to be people who have an easier time worshipping in one method than another, and not just because it is something they are used to. But I also believe that those people are capable of worshipping either way. The biggest problem is people shutting themselves off to a method and missing the point-- which is to worship God, regardless of whether not they enjoy the music or how people are singing it. I think it is just as disrespectful and wrong to refuse to participate in a hymn sing as it is to refuse to participate in a contemporary worship service. My friend started skipping worship services because he didn't like the style of music, it wasn't contemporary enough for him. There is just something inside of me that cringes at this. And older people walking out when someone pulls out a guitar makes me cringe just as much. People are missing the point. Even if we are dancing different dances, we are all still dancing. Even if people are singing different songs, they are singing to the same person who enjoys all of it. But I don't think there's anything wrong with using the method that makes it easier for you to focus on God, its just wrong to refuse to have anything to do with the other method...