Dostoevsky's "Idiot" says "beauty will save the world". I thought about that. God is a God of Beauty. What is coming from the mouths of our modern musicians in church these days is not so beautiful.
I heard a pastor tell his congregation to "get over it", when some started to complain about the modern contemporary beat for worship and the noise. Even the video clips shown in worship services have rock music. It's in your face. Now, what is bothersome to me is these people don't mind pushing their rock style 'worship' music down peoples' throats, calling it "worship" and offending many. How "christian" and "charitable" is this? Add to this the sheer loudness of it which is rather disconcerting. The whole scene is offensive and those who push it are very uncharitable. I don't think any church can be saved from this - it's rampant. But it draws people in. Yes, it does. But what do they come to? Does it inspire Godly living? Will it prepare them to live in a world that hates Christ? The world doesn't mind hearing rock style music sung with evangelical speak - it knows its source. The world is familiar with it. Where is beauty? Where is the inspired creativity that only God can give? I'll admit, I love classical music; they call it classical for a reason - the songs 'composed' for worship today will not be remembered tomorrow. They have the life span of milk and most are gaudy and rather giddy. Can anyone in this culture compose something of beauty? I seriously doubt it. I hear this music all the time in my church and just sigh in exasperation. Even church vocalists style their voices after rock stars. Their coarse, scratchy, guttural utterances, I suppose mean they're more 'spiritual'. I've heard some say that trained vocalists aren't so spiritual - well niether are untrained vocalists necessarily so spiritual. But it is pleasant to hear the trained voice. Again, where's the beauty?
Just my $0.02
Your post is quite perceptive. Have you read the earlier book by Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Church"? The chapter devoted to "Music" is what really tipped me off about this movement being in a wrong spirit. He tells pastors that if people don't like the music, they should be told to go elsewhere. These days, there are no other churches where these people can go! The attitude of "Take it or leave it!" is neither loving nor charitable, regardless of music tastes (or the lack of it).