Faith

Swedish Church Holds Techno Mass to Attract Hard-Core Dance Fans and New Parishioners

Techno Mass at Swedish Church

The rhythm and melodies of hymns and songs at church services have certainly evolved over the years. Is dance-oriented Techno and House music the next step in this progression? ITN News reports that those who attend the All Saints Church in Stockholm may believe so:

The Church of All Saints in Stockholm is a Lutheran Church, and the congregation’s “techno Mass”  accompanied by ultraviolet lighting is conducted Friday nights.

AP reports that the Mass is the church’s latest attempt at attracting young congregations in a country where attendance at services has been dwindling for decades. Priest Olle Idestrom organizes the Mass and says that the feedback has been mainly been positive.

“There is already a hip hop Mass, there is a rock Mass and a jazz Mass,” the 28-year-old priest told AP. “But it is mainly club music that we listen to and that we like dancing to, so it felt like a natural choice.”

Idestrom told AP that he had to turn away worshippers at the first techno Mass in April:

“The service started with organ music and choir singing but soon broke into powerful techno beats to loud approving claps, shouts and cheers. People jumped up and danced at their seats while disco lights swirled over the ornamented wooden ceilings.

‘It was superfun, it was really kicking, I didn’t think it would be this good before I came,’ said Ella Schwarz, 15. ‘The church isn’t really my kind of thing, but after this it seems like it is great,’ she said.

Over the past 10 years, membership in Sweden’s Lutheran church has fallen 13 percent and attendance at regular Sunday services plunged 50 percent to 4.6 million visits last year.

Comments (52)

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  • RRCmdrBennett
    Posted on December 19, 2011 at 9:41am

    The bible says, “If I be lifted up (Jesus) I will draw all men unto me” no need to conform to draw in crowds lift him up. Even if you draw in youth to church during a technomass they can’t stay there the other six days of the week. Just being in church doesn’t save you.

    Report Post »  
  • jedi.kep
    Posted on December 19, 2011 at 8:45am

    Oh dear God. Another excuse for the Christian community to have a freak out session over music.

    Opinion. Church is rockin it doing what they can to present the gospel message to people in their own ‘language.’ I wish the church all the success they can get as long as they share the truth along with their musical style.

    Report Post » jedi.kep  
  • foobear
    Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:24am

    Sounds like fun.

    What’s the problem here?

    Report Post » foobear  
  • freekoffhisleash
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 2:47pm

    I find it sad that churches like this never mention sin, or blood, or sacrifice, or repentance, or any of those “offensive” words. All they care about is the music. Dont get me wrong – I love some good tunage, but I also love TRUTH, and these folks are not being told the truth. Jesus could care less about their raves, but gave his life on the cross in order to change their eternal destination.

    Report Post »  
    • Amos37
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 3:10pm

      leave them alone. they are just trying to stay out of purgatory. you know, like their jesus taught.

      Report Post »  
    • rpp
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 4:46pm

      Worship is not entertainment. Prayer is not a casual pastime. I do not recall entertainment as part of the Old Testament or New Testament teachings. While psalms were sung and music was played, it was not intended to put people in a trance-like state for the purpose of worship. Such expression rarely, if eve, teach authentic Christian teachings, morals or ethics. This cannot be compared to Christ dining with public “sinners” as that was uplifting for the “sinners” (we are all sinners). Rather this would be more like Christ joining these public sinners in their sinful activity, which, of course is not possible.

      Report Post » rpp  
    • pennswoods
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:01pm

      The new theology of the former Swedish State Lutheran Church, which 95% of Swedes used to belong to until it was disestablished a few years ago, is apparently sex, drugs, and rock n roll. Meanwhile, the Muslim immigrants in their mosques in Stockholm, Malmo, Goteborg, and other large Swedish cities laugh at all of this “infidel” debauchery and nonsense now in happening in the churches as proof that Christianity is dead in Scandinavia and they dream of the day they will be the majority within 75 years and make Islamic Law of Sharia the law of Sweden.

      Report Post »  
    • Panhead49
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:41pm

      I love how “christians” just hate on each other …. fingerpointing, belittling, envy, and claiming to “know” the doctrine of evey church they have never sat in …LOL
      Is Jesus real? …. not if you read any of these replys.

      I guess the whole “love one another” is not enough TRUTH for them…John 15:12 was a waste of time

      Report Post »  
    • scarebear83
      Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:23am

      “While psalms were sung and music was played…” I don’t recall music being played in New Testament worship? I do however remember verses that tell us to sing, but nothing about playing music.

      Mark 14:26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

      Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

      Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

      Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

      When one opens up the gate for mechanical instruments being used in worship, why be surprised when someone takes it a step further for even more entertainment purposes? Because that’s all it is, entertainment for man’s ears and not true worship to God. Guitars, pianos, trumpets, flutes soloists etc. were all added because man deviated from the Bible and had his own itching ear on what he thought best for worship, not what was commanded by God for worship.

      Report Post » scarebear83  
    • RRCmdrBennett
      Posted on December 19, 2011 at 9:38am

      David played a harp to soothe King Saul. To name a few instruments in the bible harp, lyre, reed, pipe, organ, cymbals, flute, rattles, shakers, ugav, melodic, drum, timbrel, tambourine, melodic, shofar, trumpet, etc. Instrumentals were used throughout the Psalms which is the Bible’s largest compilation of songs and hymns.

      The biggest issue with the techno besides its style is more importantly the culture of that music genre. The culture of those who participate in this kind of music and dancing includes sex and drugs. How does the church teach kids to resist those temptations if they are allowed to enter those environments? Is the dancing and singing in the technomass just an emotional high for the youth or done out of a pure and genuine desire to worship God?

      Its not going to be long before the customs of the techno crowd find their way into the church. It was that way with Christ Mass or now called Christmas when Catholics introduced this new mass to draw in the pagan crowds. The pagan crowds brought their old traditions of holly, trees, mistletoe, and gift-giving into Christ mass. Today the traditions of Christmas which were really pagan are so entrenched in Christianity that even Ph.D in theology will say its a Christmas tree not a holiday tree. Actually, it is a pagan holiday tree before it was ever a Christmas tree. The same will occur with the technomass as well.

      Report Post »  
    • scarebear83
      Posted on December 19, 2011 at 4:15pm

      RRCmdrBennett But we don’t worship using Old Testament worship practices. If that were the case you’d have to bring back animal sacrifices, incense etc. There is no example in the Bible of 1st century Christians using mechanical instruments.

      As far as Christmas, as a Christian, I don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious day, just a day to be around family and exchange presents. The only day I regard religiously is the day we are commanded to, which is every 1st day of the week, the Lord’s day. These people are wanting to be just like the rest of the world and bring worldly practices into a worship setting. Nadab and Abihu are perfect examples showing us that God does not want anyone to add to or change the way He told us worship.

      Report Post » scarebear83  
    • AmericanPatriot1986
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:38pm

      I understand what you are talking about, but not all churches that have a contemporary style of worship lack a traditional Christ centered core. Regardless of expression, its the message and gospel that is preached that determines the credibility and validity of truth held by a church.

      Report Post »  
  • Vanquisher
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 2:17pm

    Techno/Trance is HUGE in Europe. Not so much here in most of the U.S, cept for some larger cities.
    I am glad to see any avenue that will reach these people for Christ. I love trance music and I find it some of the most uplifting, beautiful music I have ever heard. The churches in Europe have been nearly dead for so long, that I wondered if there ever could be any kind of spiritual awakening there.
    I take my hat off to the youth minister that has the courage to reach people through this medium.

    Report Post »  
  • bigpapa
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:50pm

    This is nothing new. I was a part of a “techno” ministry back in 1998 and 1999. We were reaching out to the young people who were in the rave scene. We all had come out of that scene and wanted to reach those who we were close to. We saw many come to Christ. This is a good thing.

    Report Post »  
  • sabaii
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:27am

    Techno and ecstacy is heavenly. Turn up the music and pass the goodies. Holy moly! Put a little Caribbean flava in there with some splifs mon.

    Report Post »  
  • Seraphim0517
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:43am

    About a year ago my congregation had a worship dj from Britain as a guest. I have to say it was a deeply moving and focused worship time. We also have a dj in our congregation that mixes with the band sometimes. There is also an all drum group called Triibe that leads our worship services on occasion. And that is a very unique worship experience. I know from spending time with these people that it isn’t a “gimmick” or lame ploy to bring in more young people. It’s simply using their God-given talents to worship the God who gave those talents. I honestly don’t see that as a problem. I think we should all glorify God with our talents and in the individual ways he’s given us.

    Report Post »  
    • scarebear83
      Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:37am

      So if a person wanted to get up on stage and fix a car for worship, they could do so? Or how about sewing and knitting in front of an audience, they could do that too? What if I wanted to get up on stage and sing but I couldn’t carry a tune, would I be denied simply because I didn’t have the talent? Worshiping God is not about showing off one’s talents, it’s about worshiping Him the way He told us to do and part of that is to sing. Nothing more. I have yet to find a New Testament example of any of the 1st century Christians using instruments or anything else for entertainment purposes for their own ears. The Bible tells us exactly how we are to conduct ourselves when it comes to the musical aspect of worship (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16). If we are commanded to sing then that leaves out all others. For example, I told you to bring me an apple, well you wouldn‘t bring me an orange based on the fact I didn’t say not to bring me an orange. When God commands something He doesn’t have to say “you shouldn’t do this or this either.“ Using musical instruments and all forms of entertainment simply because ”God didn’t say” is adding to His word. I hope you’ll consider that. Worship is not for showing off our abilities, it’s to praise and worship the Lord.

      scarebear83  
  • jaylew
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:54am

    I hope no one who finds this otherwise decent church story upsetting….are among the folks and I am one who finds Islam a bit weird due to it’s literal refusal to get itself out of the middle aged tar pits. I mean if you live in Italy fine speak Latin but the only place modern society that uses Latin in a remotely communicative way are pharmacies and on the illegible scribble that doctors scratch out on prescription pads. I would submit to each and every detractor of this story here that the Jesus described in any bible would NOT object to the fact that kids are being brought into a house of worship and if that is what it takes to trigger their own personal spiritual walks with him well then so be it. Show me one single scripture where it is required that pipe organs and tambourines are the only Jesus or God approved musical instruments. Let me reiterate…if you find Islam disturbing because it is stuck in the year 700 A.D. then before you get too critical on this thread….make sure you are not stuck doing the same thing. If it takes some different or newer music to draw kids into church….your legitimate disapproval or argument against that is just exactly what? Would you rather have them some place other than church? Or would you just force perhaps your own tired and exhausted music and rituals on them? I submit you folks should be somewhat pleased that the kids are in church instead of say a NASCAR race or watching a football game on Sundays instead.

    Report Post » jaylew  
    • pennswoods
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:04pm

      Sorry, at least 60% of the words in the English language have Latin roots.

      Report Post »  
  • holy ghostbuster
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:54am

    It’s all about entertainment and $$$

    Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • louise
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:40am

    Amos 8:11,12

    Report Post » louise  
  • rollthebones
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:22am

    The power of Christ compels you… to dance!!

    Report Post »  
  • 4xeverything
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:44am

    I really don’t understand the problem. You’d be pretty hard up to find a church in my area that still says mass in Latin. Is the fact that over the past 50 years they’ve changed to English a gimmick? When I was a kid, they had an organ only in our church, now they have a band with percussion, guitars, violins, flutes, and clarinets that are played by kids. Is that a gimmick?

    If the message doesn’t change, what is the problem? I have never found that bringing anyone closer to God with His own message to be a problem or a bad thing. Just because I don‘t like the music doesn’t mean that it’s wrong.

    Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 1:34am

    The real question is how is a Church Who’s foundation is Self Control going to play with todays youth
    that were weaned on the idea that what ever you want is good and Righteous.

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • jaylew
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:30am

      It is far more efficient to do… and much more likely to occur when kids are IN church instead of AT home playing video games or watching MTV. One of the things that used to bug me about my parents generation ( I am 57) is that I felt that they spent way too much time and effort railing about how their generation did things this way and that this “new” generation does things “not their way” and was therefore somehow wrong or not sincere. Yes tradition is important…but the way tradition is almost always best honored is to not dishonor the very people you are trying to endear or at a minimum are expecting and asking to maintain that which means the most to you. I have to catch myself many times every day because the same natural “grouchiness” is occurring in me with respect to “this generation” of kids…..but the bottom line is that..we will all be dead and gone someday and if we expect kids to keep and hold dear that which we keep and hold dear…..then we cannot disrespect or shun todays kids simply because they do things a bit differently than we do or did. I am quite sure no one here of any age….did things EXACTLY the way their own parents did. This is not to say that “if it feels good do it”……not at all…as that is merely a definition of liberalism….but the tradition of honor is a two way street. Once you make it a one way street….you are in danger of losing half your traffic. There is a big difference between honor and traffic control.

      Report Post » jaylew  
  • MammalOne
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 1:22am

    Unfortunately for mythology, no amount of techno music can replace logic in people’s minds.

    Report Post » MammalOne  
  • 1bambam
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 1:07am

    what church is that ? The church of Baal? I know the Jesus of the Holy Bible wouldn‘t use gimmicks to attract disciples he was who he was follow him or don’t follow him…..

    Report Post » 1bambam  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:24am

      I do agree with you that gimmicks just don’t seem right, but I know that I slept through most masses as a teen, not because I was a direspectful brat, but because it was like going to a funeral every Sunday. In most cases I was truely unable to keep my eyes open. When I found a youth group in my area I was in heaven. They didn’t talk to us about God like they did at mass. We weren’t bored into an early bedtime. Jesus said “let them come to me,” to the children and when they got there, I don’t believe he lectured at them.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • Marsh626
    Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:48am

    Welp, I always liked electronic music because you can play it anywhere. Very rarely does it have cursing and vulgar language. And some of my favorite elontric music artists are Christians like Andy Hunter.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VviEXK5a_k

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  • macpappy
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 11:51pm

    Sure why not, Churches have become monkey dance barns anyway.

    Report Post » macpappy  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:05am

      Hmm….ravin’ for Jesus…..I guess the hits of ecstasy give you a religious experience? With everyone lowering the standards on everything these days, I suppose doing it in the church should also be expected……Merry Christmas!!…I say it, while I still can…..

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • Mikev5
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 9:21pm

    You should never lower the standards of the church just to win over new members when you do you lose yourself in the process and lower your standards.

    Report Post » Mikev5  
    • RossPoldark
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:35am

      As if Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and to give us the possibility of eternal life is not enough to humble and entice people to be drawn to church.

      Report Post »  
    • MammalOne
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 1:12am

      @ROSSPOLDARK – Actually, that‘s exactly what’s happening. Fewer and few people are willing to blindly accept mythology in the face of alternative perspectives that take a more logical approach. If the church wants to know why more people aren’t showing up, it’s not because our morals have failed us, it’s the arcane vision of the world the church provides that turns the younger generations off.
      No amount of techno music will change that.

      Report Post » MammalOne  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:45pm

      Mammalone – you leftists have a messed up view of the world.

      Report Post »  
  • BannedByHuffpo
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 7:27pm

    Jeez… call me old fashioned but I always thought “guitar” masses sucked. Especially compared to a the old Roman Catholic Latin High Mass back in the 1950s and 60s. Oh for the good old days when worship was something truly beautiful, elegant and uplifting.

    Report Post » BannedByHuffpo  
    • RossPoldark
      Posted on December 18, 2011 at 12:37am

      Sadly, many Christian churches are more concerned about the quantity of congregants than the quality.

      Report Post »  
  • THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 7:12pm

    Yes…what was that HE said..The blind follow the blind…

    Report Post » THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE  
  • alwayshappy
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 7:01pm

    If ‘let me entertain you’ is necessary in order to bring folks to church, then please count me out! I thought we went to church to give glory, honor, and praise to God…not to be entertained! That‘s what’s wrong with so many of our churches in the U.S. Folks go to be entertained! I find this unacceptable!

    Report Post »  
  • Endstatism
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:38pm

    I dont see any problem with using a modern format to get younger people into church and hearing the gospel long as they dont water down the teachings of the Bible. There are some well known dance music DJs in Europe who are practicing Christians. DJs Phase, Andy Hunter, Tresice and the Eurodance band G Powered are well known in Europe.

    Report Post » Endstatism  
    • Modawg734Blue
      Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:57pm

      After all, This is how we got Christmas. The church allowed pagan holidays, in order to gain non-christian converts. Read history people,

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:19pm

    .
    It must have been something like Moses saw when he came down the mountain, and they were getting their freak on with the golden calf………………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • lukerw
    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 6:07pm

    I would say… Religion should be about Knowledge & Reason… and anything else is a side show!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on December 17, 2011 at 7:24pm

      If you “reason” with your own mind, then your “knowledge” is probably flawed and your “religion” a no-show.

      Report Post »  
    • NYHuguenot
      Posted on December 17, 2011 at 9:43pm

      notitias, asensus and fiducious. Knowledge and reasoning will lead to trust. People who use their emotions are Finneyists. Emotions can be and are manipulated by the false preachers out there appealing to them. Paul said to renew your mind.

      Report Post »  
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