Traditional and Contemporary Worship

Definition and Meaning

Traditional worship and contemporary worship are terms that classify worship according to its form and musical style. Traditional worship follows a fixed order of service and centers on hymns, the choir, and organ accompaniment. Contemporary worship centers on contemporary Christian music (CCM) and gospel songs led by a praise team or worship band, and its order is arranged with relative freedom.

The two terms are relative. In the West, "traditional" often refers to liturgical worship that follows the church year and a service book; liturgy here means a rite of worship conducted according to a prescribed form. In Korea, the term frequently designates a Sunday morning service centered on hymn singing. A service that combines the two forms is sometimes called "blended worship."

Biblical and Historical Background

Advocates of both approaches appeal to worship "in spirit and in truth" in John 4:20–23 and to "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" in Colossians 3:16. They differ, however, in how far they understand Scripture to prescribe the detailed form of worship.

After the Reformation, forms of worship diverged by denomination. Lutherans and Anglicans retained much of the liturgical framework, while the Reformed churches sought to simplify worship to elements grounded in Scripture. Contemporary worship is generally understood to have taken shape as praise in popular music styles entered the church through the Jesus Movement and the charismatic movement in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.

Practice in the Korean Church

• Many churches hold their Sunday morning adult service in the traditional form, while young adult ministry services and evening or Friday gatherings are often held in the contemporary form.
• Praise gatherings of mission organizations such as Youth With A Mission (YWAM), along with the "Praise and Worship" movement, are regarded as having spurred the spread of contemporary worship. From the 1990s onward, some churches also experimented with seeker-oriented "open worship".
• The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea maintain liturgical worship according to the church year and their prayer books and service books.
• Churches of the Korea Assemblies of God, which belong to the Full Gospel tradition, are known to have embraced simultaneous audible prayer (tongsung kido) and dynamic, instrument-accompanied praise from an early date.
• Among Presbyterians and Methodists, differences between individual congregations are greater than differences between denominations. Some pastors and theologians who emphasize the Reformed tradition caution against contemporary worship on the basis of the "regulative principle," which holds that worship should consist only of elements commanded in Scripture.

Discussion

Supporters of traditional worship cite the following strengths:

• Reverence
• The theological depth of its lyrics
• Continuity across generations

Supporters of contemporary worship cite the following strengths:

• It communicates in the cultural language of today.
• The congregation participates more actively.
• It is more effective for evangelizing the next generation.

Each approach also draws criticism. Traditional worship is criticized for lapsing into formalism, while contemporary worship is criticized for becoming performance-oriented or overly emotional. For a detailed treatment of the issues, see Worship Music Controversy.