Singing an Old-New Song: Worship's Counter-Cultural Shift
Last month I referred to the changes in worship from the turn of the century to the present. "Where Will All the Songs Go?" is an article I recently wrote for Worship Leader (March/April, 2004) that explores these changes.
My thesis is that there are four discernable phases of contemporary song. They are:
- 1960s-70s - Biblical song in a time when secularism emerged
- 1970s-80s - Me-oriented songs that followed the narcissistic culture
- 1980s-90s - Romantic songs that followed the romanticism of the New Age movement
- 1990s-2000s - Ancient-Future worship.
The biblical songs of the first phase constituted a counter-cultural witness during the revolution of the 60s and the rise of secularism. However, the second and third phases tended to follow the curvature of culture in the 80s and 90s, reflecting the culture of narcissism and romanticism.
Now there appears to be another shift. Worship and contemporary songs seem to be returning to the counter-cultural. This is seen, for example, in the increased attention to biblical passages set to music, the greater concentration of biblical imagery, and the restoration of classical hymnody.
This fourth phase exhibits a heightened interest in liturgy in both traditional and contemporary worship. Use of ancient music and the arts (chant, plainsong, icons, etc.) and a new focus on the Eucharist reflect this shift.
This is what I call Ancient-Future worship.
In 2004 and beyond, I'll address the content, structure, and style of this worship. In the meantime, I have these questions to ask you: Have you observed this shift? Are you drawing more from old resources? What are you changing or thinking about doing in the near future? Write me at rwebber@northern.seminary.edu to begin this dialogue.
Bob Webber
Myers Professor of Ministry
Director of M.A. in Worship and Spirituality
Northern Seminary—www.seminary.edu
(See Northern's M.A. in Worship and Spirituality and D.Min. in Worship by clicking on the website.)
