Either/or shouldn't apply to worship

I have had a concern for many years about some terminology that we use in our churches and ministry ideas. Very specifically two words that, by their common use, create segmentation - traditional and contemporary.

The very use of traditional and contemporary today implies a friction and a separation. For goodness sake, if there are to be two styles of worship in a church, don't make them opposed to each other just by the use of a definition. The implication is that nothing in the traditional setting is "contemporary" and has application for today.

The implication of some current uses of the word "traditional" is that anything new does not have the solid theology that is needed. If necessary, change the names you use and make them something that does not take a subtle definition along with it, as in this case.

I truly love a "blended" worship and all that it implies - working together for a reaching-together ministry is important for church strength and growth! I truly disagree with a leader in any church leading our congregations to make a forced decision of "either/or."

Why is it wrong to believe there must be a historical, solid theology base and why is it wrong to make applications today for people where they live and work? We cannot truly minister to the community if we clearly choose to ignore so many in any direction!

I believe in a concept that I know in my heart [what] Jesus would have me do ... that is trying to understand the needs of my congregation, all of the people. Then present a blended worship that speaks to most. We cannot meet everyone's perceived needs but we can avoid telling them to "go away" because they are like the people that Jesus associated with.

The publicans did challenge Him for that. It is possible to extend worship to people in solid theology without compromise and also reach the heart of the "blended" congregation. When we understand that is what Jesus did and He did call us to follow Him as an example, it is an important concept. He did reach out to all different groups and never compromised his theology. We can do it too!