I’m finding that we (evangelical churches) have sent a strong message by focusing so much on developing a certain look and feel (primarily though the worship band) and have down-played the essential elements and purposes of the gathered church. We try to create a musical feel that we think the unchurched will connect with. I believe we usually guess wrong, create a very man-centered approach to what we call worship, set ourselves up for disunity, and turn off those we intended to try to reach. Scripture says that the by-product of our gospel-centered song (not our musical style) will be that the lost will turn to God (Psalm 40). You can find an approach to musical style that is relevant to the greatest part of the body of Christ in your church and that enables them to engage in worship and respond to God. Convincing your lead pastor (or maybe yourself) that he is the primary worship leader as he opens the Word of God is huge in the process. Substantive lyrics usually helps people to be more tolerable of a style that is outside their box.

As a worship pastor I believe and we’ve seen that as we communicate through teaching and example (and especially song choice) that we are passionate about the glory of God, the Son of God, and the gospel of God (and that those issues unite us, not musical style) musical preference and technology take a back seat and serve the role they were meant to serve. It’s unfortunately always an issue to some, but doesn’t have to be primary to most.

I would highly recommend Bob Kauflin’s book Worship Matters. I feel it hits at the center of these issues and points in the right direction.

Sorry for being so long-winded; I love this subject!