Contemporary vs. Traditional: What Do We Really Mean?

By the Rev. John Dreyer

We may ask what is happening to our worship today? Some of us go to church, but only to witness an ongoing change from how we traditionally had worshiped on a Sunday morning. We drive along and see church signs, maybe even our own church sign, that advertise both traditional and contemporary worship times. What is this new "distinction" that we see in our day? Do we really know what we mean by traditional and contemporary? As I travel from church to church and speak with pastors and parishioners from many different orientations on this matter, all agree that these terms are not clear.

Today the church is experiencing a huge influence of "contemporary worship" that is, in its own way, radically changing the culture of our church and our Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Are we clear on what this transformation is all about and what direction we are headed? Many say it is for the sake of the Gospel, and perhaps that direction would be "just getting the Gospel out to the people in a meaningful way." If this is the answer, it sounds good to me, but it still does not answer many of the questions at hand regarding our worship.

My proposal is that we rid ourselves of these unclear terms of traditional and contemporary worship and as Lutherans ask ourselves what is true worship. One might begin the conversation knowing that worship does not begin with us but with God and His divine action toward us that characterizes worship. Thus worship becomes corporate and catholic (universal), because it finds its expression characterized in a certain unity in communion with the true God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Historically, the doctrine of the Trinity was first a question of the Gospel, that is, how does God come to me that I may know that I have life eternal? In a simple way it is God's coming that characterizes our worship. One may argue that today we find conversation centered more upon the people and culture, rather than upon a distinctive God and His divine activity that shapes and defines us as His people.

I believe these terms "traditional" and "contemporary" are unclear terms and divisive to the church. When I studied philosophy, I learned a fundamental principle, "Everything is a matter of definition." When "definition" is unclear, so is the conversation. Though many clearly know where I stand in regard to this issue, it is so important that we get back to a productive conversation of what true worship is lest we continue to find an ever-dividing church both in her culture and confession

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (ESV Psalm 115:1)

The Rev. John Dreyer is an Admission Couselor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.