The Postmodern Dilemma

    As time goes on, Christians have had to try to find ways to make church services and evangelizing relevant to the general public. This becomes quite a chore when you have to adapt your worship services without changing the Bible or what the Bible teaches. In the last century, the question prevalent has been whether Christians can hold Postmodern church services, and if so, how many postmodern ideas and ways of thinking can be incorporated into our daily lives without compromising our beliefs? My answer to this question is simple: the Church can have postmodern church services without succumbing to the beliefs that are associated with postmodernism.

    First, we need to define what would constitute being called a postmodern worship service. A postmodern worship service would focus heavily on emotion and conviction, using modern music and lot’s of items to stimulate and move the human mind to an urge to live for Christ; “This openness to personal feelings and experience is a point of contact with postmodernism, which has gone on to exaggerate the role of subjectivity beyond anything that a ‘hot gospeler’ of the nineteenth century would ever recognize.” (Veith 212)

    I would like you to picture a typical Church service. Generally, you go into a church, talk to all your friends and find out about Naomi’s cat dying, and then sit down for worship. After 2-4 songs consisting of a mix between newer Christian music and hymns, you’ll have some prayer time, then go directly into the pastor's sermon. This pastor isn’t usually wearing something over-the-top. He might be wearing a suit, or he might be in a turtleneck or jeans. The point that I’m trying to make with this daydream is that postmodern aspects have already found their way into the typical church service. The loose dress code, the modern worship music, the structure of the service; these are all things that have been adapted to modern standards, and by default, a postmodern way of thinking. And this adaptation to modern structures isn’t something that the Church has just started doing in recent years, either. Since the establishment of the Church, it has adapted to the cultural standards of the various time periods to appeal to the audiences of said age. While hymns are now generally referred to as older music, these songs that we’ve come to know and love were once modern music in a modern, at least at the time, style. 

    What we do have to look out for in adapting to modern culture is not compromising our beliefs. Romans 12:2 (English Standard Version) says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Another translation of the phrase “do not be conformed to this world” that the Bible offers is “do not be conformed to this age”; we need to stay strong in our beliefs and not succumb to the whims of the beliefs of our modern age. 

    So what postmodern ideas should we incorporate into our worship services? This is where we get into muddy water. What was described as a postmodern service earlier in the essay is also what we would call the typical service of a “megachurch”; “The temptation, though, is to change the character and the teaching of the church in order to be more popular with potential members. The desire to be a ‘megachurch’ often leads to ‘megashift’ theology.” (Veith 228) The overstimulation of the brain in these churches is built to give an emotional movement, but in the end it actually results in distracting the congregation (especially towards younger members who are prone to not be as focused). Instead of finding a congregation moved by the gospel and unified in Christ, you find a group of people staring at the strobe lights. This is a proper dilemma. Like any proper dilemma, there is a proper solution.

    The solution to this dilemma is a church that purposefully does not rely on flashing lights and computers to try to move a person to Christ, but rather uses the Gospel to lead sinners to Christ. A Church service doesn’t need to be completely without such things, but there’s a fine line between what amount is distracting to the congregation and what isn’t. Used rightfully, some of these tools can be incredibly useful in a worship service. However, like any good thing, too much of it can have disastrous results. 

    Now the question becomes whether we can incorporate modern worship music into our services. Applying what was said earlier to similar dilemmas, as long as these songs are communicating the unfiltered Gospel of Christ, then they’re acceptable within the bounds of the Church. God is what can harden and pierce our hearts, not lights or fog machines; “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” (Rom. 9:18)

    In Romans 12, Paul gives the church in Rome a good description of how we, as Christians, should act towards one another. These principles also give us a structure for how our churches should operate. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Rom. 12:9-18)