Style vs. Substance

When I first started using a screen and power point in worship, I was criticized for more about style than substance. Since I am more inclined towards both and vs. either or, I do not like pitting one against the other especially as it relates to worship. I would like to think that in a worship service, style and substance would work hand in hand in order to empower worshipers to encounter the fullness of God. However, after being in the ministry for over 33 years, the word pipe dream is more of a reality. It seems to me that worship is more about style than substance. We categorize worship services according to style or styles. There are the traditional vs. contemporary, the complex liturgy vs. simple liturgy, the choir and organ driven style vs. the band driven style, not to mention those who attempt to combine various styles into at least a style for a particular service. Add all of this to different time slots and the market now drives service attendance, according to of course the style being offered in a particular time slot. It all sounds more like efforts to increase network TV ratings rather than doing or being church.

Style trumps substance. If you do not believe me, change or mix various styles in a worship service and see what happens. If the word appreciation comes to mind, think again. People with long histories of service and sacrifice in a congregation will walk out the door if the so called style changes. Suddenly they feel out of place, or ignored, or even abused as one person told me. I can think of a lot more significant, painful, and life altering ways abuse can happen at church. Perhaps the church needs to have support groups for members who have been abused by hymn singing and organ playing or those who have been abused by praise and worship songs and guitars and drums.

I would like to think that worship is about more than notes on a page, and what instrument is used to accompany those notes. Once more I am mistaken. Worship is all about personal style or preferences. Do not attempt to bring what God may want or where scripture speaks into the discussion. Ultimately it all comes down to what I like, or what I do not like to hear or say or do, what makes me comfortable, and reinforces my preconceptions of God and the church. It is a shame that 1Corinthians still falls on so many deaf ears. The segmentation of the church into stylistic categories or camps complete with subcategories seems so normative that no one questions it. All of this of course is done in the exalted name of targeting population segments, and style preferences for evangelistic or missional or church growth efforts.

Jesus once promised that where ever two or more are gathered in his name that he would be there. If all who are gathered together prefer the same style of worship,(usually musically based upon age considerations) doesn't that mean that only one aspect of Jesus shows up, the one that fits in our preferences, our age group, and our musical taste? I would like to think that encountering Jesus in the diversity of people and styles would be the healthiest for me, but I hear they have a really great worship band at the church down the street. I think I'll go there and check'em out.