Does it really matter? Do you care what style of Church music you hear? Or do you wish there was simply… uh….
less?
If you’re a church person, you may have just fallen out of your chair. We church people tend to get all worked up over the style of music, but the idea we shouldn’t even HAVE music is not a consideration.
Truth is, however, the newness of the contemporary has worn off, and most unchurched people have never sung a hymn in their life. And isn’t it a little disconcerting how the songs we sing in Church have become a multimillion dollar industry? It prompted Christianity Today to publish an article entitled: “The Profits of Praise.”
We’re a long ways from the early days in America when preachers would pen a new song to go with a sermon that Sunday and a church pianist would put it to music. These days we struggle with background tracks, musicians, flow, and we spend a great deal of money on our equipment and a great deal of time practicing for the show on Sunday.
On the bright side, going to church will help you realize your childhood dream of being in a real band. It did for me, and hey, I’ll admit it. It was/is cool!
Unfortunately, not everyone loves music, or loves the same styles I love.
Even in contemporary churches that are known for their great praise and worship, people intentionally arrive late so they can miss the music. Yes it might be good, but it’s not their style, or they may simply not like music all that much. Don’t believe me? Start asking people questions.
Our church has good praise and worship. Very good, technologically advanced, and contemporary style. We’re singing songs that are currently on the radio.
And there are people who arrive late to miss it. They don’t like the hymns either by the way. Or the old choruses. They simply don’t enjoy music, and especially don’t enjoy singing.
There are also people who don’t attend our church because they don’t like the modern worship songs, and would much rather hear the ones written in 1910. There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite style, but isn’t it a bit worrisome that our “music” drives people away?
Where in the Bible did it tell us to have praise and worship bands and light shows?
Where did it tell us to have “traditional worship” services?
Isn’t the focus the message? The community of believers?
It’s a cultural reality that not every group of people, and not every person gets down with the tunes. Not even the younger generation is attracted to church bands and jammin’ praise songs like they once were. It’s not new anymore.
These days, more and more kids are less and less impressed by the bands, the lights, the concert-like atmosphere they find at Church or at conferences. We recently attended a Christ In Youth Conference with a top notch band, laser lights, fog machines, and professional-quality video production.
The kids were bored.
They enjoyed and really listened to the sermons, but the music…. not so much.
Why? Because it wasn’t their style or they didn’t like singing or standing, and just showing up with a video projector at church does not impress like it used to.
Did I mention it’s not new anymore??
The stuff that still works is Word of God. Preaching and teaching the Bible through a powerful sermon, making people think using drama, or communicating the MESSAGE in any number of creative ways, still works. The Bible, rightly taught, never goes out of style, because it’s the substance of Sunday Morning.
Music goes out of style, but the Bible never runs out of substance.
It’s the same ol thing. Entertainment…
of any kind
is always
a
fad.
But real truths, real discussion, real acceptance, real hope and a real mission in life…
Well that’s always fun. Everyone likes to be inspired.
2 comments
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June 17, 2007 at 10:51 pm
tookshire
Found you through the links on another’s comment site. Just streatching my wordpress legs.
I really enjoyed this article. Whenever I’ve voiced my feelings on the matter people are aghast. My husband and I are ones who do not care for music (or at least aren’t very broad in what we do care for) and we are a family sneaking in late, hoping to miss the singing.
My kids all love music, but are left less than dazzeled by any church we’ve visited (wide variety in musical tastes and performances). They’ve quit youth groups because of music and flashing lights and slick games. They might “feel” bored with straight bible studies (because their generation…and my own) have been taught that X is there for our entertainment. But the kids come home knowing what’s-what and match that standard for what churches and groups offer them in the future. After a while, even sincere music-worship seems gimmicky or like an opening act if you are there for the study and/or community.
I don’t begrudge the ones who want to sing…I can take the Hymns, Taize and contemporary for a few minutes…but past the 8 minute mark I’m typically deep enough in reading my Bible that I miss when the teaching begins.
June 17, 2007 at 11:04 pm
thecrazypastor
Thank you so very much for your comment. What you said is exactly what I’ve been seeing and what I think is a growing trend. Thanks for sharing! In the years ahead, we’re all going to have to rethink and reinvent what we do at church. My opinion anyway. A good book called “Jim and Casper Go to Church” poses a question: “Is this what Jesus called you to do??” It was asked by Casper the friendly atheist when he saw all the light shows and praise bands.