Particular styles of music never bothered me. However, there are 2 current trends that make my spirit uncomfortable. One are the focus put on “praise groups” standing on stage and becoming the center. The other are the “Jesus is my boyfriend” types of choruses. Am I being overly sensitive?
I don’t care for the “Jesus is my Boyfriend” stuff either.
I prefer the old hymns to the new “rock mass” songs that came in somewhere after the 1960s cultural revolt.
In the church of Christ we don’t have instruments. I have been to churches that have what you are talking about.. seems like the focus is on those on the “stage” versus on worship, but that is totally my opinion..
Amen!
I prefer traditional hymns and gospel songs, accompanied by an organ, piano or orchestra. I have no use for "praise" music. As far as I'm concerned, guitars are for singing cowboys and drums are for parades. Unfortunately, the electric guitar has driven the organ and the choir out of many, and perhaps most churches.
If I were put in charge of editing the Methodist hymnal, I would throw out everything written after 1939 and replace all of those insipid and lifeless "modern" hymns with songs by great Methodist hymn writers such as Lelia Morris, Charles H. Gabriel and William Kirkpatrick who have been neglected in recent decades.
Those pretty much irritate me also.
On the other hand, when I was younger, there were 2 gentlemen who led worship in my church. Both were about the same age.
One was a very quiet person. Very "traditional". Everything he led seemed slooooooow. I remember one time, closing the hymnal and not singing, as the song we were singing seemed almost like a funeral dirge. There was no life or excitement to the song. The song...
Joy To The World.
The other man only led worship occasionally. But when he did, everything was different. First, he seemed to always be smiling. He greeted people with an ear to ear smile, a enrgetic "hello" or "how ya doin'", with a hearty handshake.
On stage, leading worship, he always seemed to pick the uplifting songs (either that, or he made them all uplifting songs). He'd stand on stage with that big smile, joyful announce the song to be sung, the music would start and when the people were to sing, he'd wave both his arms to lead. If IRC he made a triangle motion, but on the up swing he'd rise up on his toes for a little added affect.
To this day, when I'm in a good mood, or feeling particularly thankful, or out of the clear blue, the hymn "In My Heart There RINGS A Melody" pops in. A smile crosses my heart and face and I think of Dick Cooper.
There is a place for contemporary styles of worship music. But the emphasis needs to be on WORSHIP not on people, or music or style of music. Even old songs can be appealing to young people.
Both strains creep me out. “Praise group” repetive chanting reminds me of the Hitler Youth rallies, and the “love songs to my new girlfiend, Jesus,” just creep me out, period. No majesty, no reverence, just creepy cloying almost homoerotic emoting.
Truth be told I do not like to sing myself, preferring to listen to good music. Worship sans music is just fine with me. That is why I prefer house-based Bible studies rather than corporate gatherings.
I’m guessing you are in my age group because this has bothered me also. Many churches have resorted to professional style concerts meant to entertain in lieu of the stuffy old hymnal, with a lead singer who is too energetic on stage, ostensibly showing us old folks how we should be praising The Lord.
. Usually they have at least one talented and gifted musician who writes his own music thereby teaching the congregation a brand new song, each week it seems. I barely learned the last one and now, with just an overhead projector, I am to learn another one. Ok. I’m too old to learn songs like I did as a teenager.
This has spawned a church on literally every corner in our town. And they each wonder why they are losing people.
Being a “Praise Leader” for many years I have to agree with you about the Praise Team being on stage and becoming the center of attention. I like the old Catholic churches with a choir loft where the musicians are above and behind the congregation out of sight.
Too many folks, with good intentions, come forward to heap praise on the musicians, and I believe that is dangerous. We tried to let folks know it was kind to say how they enjoyed the music, but how our focus should be on the worship of the LORD instead of the musicians. It would be very easy to bask in their compliments.