I think that one reason alot of people have stopped attending church is that the music mixes shallow Christianity with a worldly beat. Then they amplify it so the neighbors a half mile away can hear it. Then there is the 7-11 music: seven word lyrics sung eleven times.
"Then there is the 7-11 music: seven word lyrics sung eleven times"
That is so true! Sometimes I feel like the heathen that the Bible describes repeating their prayers. It seems we often repeat phrases in songs over and over again waiting for that worshipful "feeling" or whatever the goal is that a songs repetition is suppose to bring. Usually this seems to be done with the song just before the Sunday morning sermon to get us in the "right mood". A good chorus of Blessed Assurance would do better for me.
I'm not saying this to down music with a beat (I love music from Steve Taylor to Switchfoot) but some of the churches out there need to stop trying so hard to manipulate emotions with repetative praise verses Sunday morning. IMHO, It goes from praise to what the Bible was talking about when heathen repeat their words. If we are not to do it when we pray, then I don't think we should when we sing for worship either.
I don't think a whole lot of churches are playing Third Day in their worship service (though if you're going to rock out anyway, you could do worse than copying their cover of "Creed". Apostle's Creed, electric guitar). Anyway, I certainly prefer hymns in church, but music like Third Day or Caedmon's Call is great for in the car or at work.
And then there are people like Andrew Peterson, who's not precisely rock, but writes just the best songs. His Christmas album, "Behold the Lamb of God", just replaced Michael Card's "The Promise" as my favorite theological Christmas album.
Just because it's new, just because it has electric guitar, doens't mean it doesn't praise the Lord!