Television Culture & Worship

Another reply to Attractive Worship:

As usual, S. M. Hutchens focuses very precisely on one of the serious problems that plague evangelical churches in the country today. Our church lost its rather traditional music director a year or so ago, and the new (need I add, young?) director has decided that “attractive worship” is the way to go. That means, of course, an electric guitar and a set of drums that the congregation must now endure week after week. My wife and I sing in the church choir and at least on those Sundays on which we sing (once a month or so), we have a brief respite from this “fatal attraction,” for the choir director is a talented (and traditional) musician. But, oh, those other Sundays!

Mr. Graves’ comments undoubtedly have merit, but I worry about the direction of the American evangelical church: traditionally (and I don’t mean that ironically) it has disdained liturgy, perhaps at times with some legitimate basis. But now the bills are coming due for having no fixed order (or atmosphere) of worship. Evangelical churches have succumbed entirely to a television culture. Can commercials be far behind? Will we fund our new choir robes with emblazoned product endorsements for the latest Bible translation? All that will be left is to give each congregant a remote control when he enters the (anything but a) sanctuary. If so, I may use it to change channels.

Regards,
Bill Reichert