Yesterday I posted on contemporary music as a means to growth. Often connected to contemporary music is generic preaching devoid of who we are. Charles Bradford notes in his book Preaching to the Times that the Adventist church was "preached into existence."
Today, many of us are looking for methods of growth that are not in line with our own unique identity. But in the end, if you want to be heard, you have to say something worth saying.
Let's Have Both
Personally, I would like to have both contemporary and traditional music. If I can have C. D. Brooks, Charles Bradford, E. E. Cleveland, or some of the younger preachers preaching our message, the music will contribute to the atmosphere whether it is a praise team singing contemporary praises to God or whether it is a chorister leading a historic hymn.
James Doggette Preaching the Message
This weekend I had to stay at home during church time. Whenever I do that I look at a number of church services. I turned in to Pastor James Doggette who was preaching about the need for holiness and a coming back to God. It reminded me of the old days when calls for holiness were common. There was contemporary music, and there was a call to holiness.
Carlton Byrd is Preaching Our Message
This weekend, on ChurchPond, I also looked at Pastor Carlton Byrd of Berean Seventh-day Adventist Chruch in Atlanta Ga. He had some contemporary music going, but you know he got up there and preached a message that would have made those who "preached this church into existence" proud. Preaching our message is why his church is growing at a tremendous pace.
The Generic Alternative
Then I turned my browser to another church. Once again contemporary music, but this time I heard another one of those same ole "How to get your blessing" messages. In that case, it didn't matter to me whether the music was "Holy, Holy, Holy" or "I Lift my Hands in the Sanctuary" when generic preaching that makes no call on the life is preached.
Preach the Word and Sing the Songs. Don't try to replace either with the other.