Does God Enjoy Our Trendy Worship Services?

I know, it’s almost scandalous to ask that question … does God enjoy our trendy worship experiences?  Think about it.  We’re talking about God, Creator of all, Master of the Universe, and doesn’t charge us for his awesomeness.  Why do we focus so much on being hip and trendy when we sing to Him?

Remember the garden? In the beginning it was only a man in the buff (Adam) and God. They’d meet daily, take walks in the garden, and I’m sure they just hung out and talked about animals, mountains, weather, and the million-dollar question of why God made mosquitoes. The rhythm was meet daily, walk, and talk.  How funny would it be when one day God showed up for the walk and it all changed?  As He came around the corner he saw Adam with a full band, there were trendy scented candles spread around, perfectly tattered sofas, a coffee bar on one side, a non-offensive Cold Play song in the background, iconic images projected up on the screen, and the overall mood was stylish, hip, uber cool because how can we see and hang out with God unless we’re the same?

It’s kind of funny when you put it like that. Even many churches who’ve applied the missional label are still as driven to be hip and trendy to their generation as the seeker churches of the Boomers they try to run from and explain how they’re not like them.  That begs the question.  Who are we being hip and trendy to?  For God? Hoping like crazy an actual non-Christian may wander in, or is it really for ourselves?  Then what?

To be fair we know that throughout the ages where there’s movements and revivals music always played a central role.  Even in church planting movement material having “indigenous music” is one of the key points because people long to worship God in their “heart language.”  If you asked me what music stirs my heart language it indeed would sound like Cold Play, The Fray, Snow Patrol, John Mayer, and electronic-techno. There’s something incredibly powerful singing like King David did in a language that resonates with my heart.

Have I come full circle? Yes. Do I think singing to God using the latest styles of culture is wrong?  Absolutely not.  Maybe this stirs up questions like. Are we striving to be hip and trendy because that’s what the cool churches do?  Do we do it because we Christians are more consumer-drive in that regards than non-Christians and its for us to feel cool and hip to show God is cool and hip? Do we do it because our hearts long to worship God and we’re simply using the language and means of culture and it simply makes sense? Personally I still look forward to a time where I can worship God with techno music.