Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 04:39AM 
Have We Lost The Heart of Modern Worship, Are Things as Pure as They Once Where? or Has "Modern Worship" Become Corrupt?
In the early days of praise and worship growing up in the church, it was popular for "defenders of the faith" (those who preferred the established style of music at the time) to attack the new style because they said it lacked substance, and pandered to the culture. Over the years, this criticism actually helped make modern worship songs become better theological representations of Christian teaching. The arguments about style eventually waned and died when clear-headed adults realized that musical style has almost no relevance in a theological instrument. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord", at least that is what David said. What was David's point? Simply this- no matter the instrument, the sound, the form or even person, the call remains the same "praise the Lord". Simply review Psalms 148-150 and you begin to see that God is calling us to praise Him regardless of our place in life (Psalm 148:11,12), regardless of the art form (dance or music - Psalm 149:3), regardless of the instrument (Psalm 149:3-5), even regardless of whether you are a human, angelic being or just a part of creation (Psalm 148:1-12). So while the "worship wars" may have happened in our churches for the last 30 years, it became obvious that David probably had won the argument about format a good 3000 years before we started discussing it in the 20th century- Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord!
But no sooner had the "old" vs "new" fight subsided, than we began to hear rumblings about the "corruption" of modern worship. After 30 years of infancy, its growth into adolescence was met by some amount of disdain by a good group of its progenitors. The original "guard" that was around when praise and worship burst on the church was now becoming vocal about the ongoing change that continued to propel the stylistic growth of the music. But more than just that, there was a "we told you so" attitude developing that began to expound the idea that the community of practitioners was now becoming enamored with the commercialization of the musical genre that had grown up around the music. In other words you could hear this said in a thousand different ways from some people- "this modern worship isn't as pure and humble as the original stuff". Also there is the idea that "worship leaders are just trying to become artists with record deals".
You could tack on a hundred variations to those two previous statements, but most often they boil down to those ideas.
So, let's talk about it. Is "modern worship" corrupt?
I'll answer that with another question. Is Christianity corrupt?
I think the truth is that you have to say both no and yes. For the most part, honest followers of Jesus are not bent on corruption of their faith or others. Also within the community of honest followers of Jesus, there are those who are (to varying degrees) corrupted by painful, sad choices and poor character. And finally, there are those who are actually apostates- people who willfully seek false doctrines for their own selfish motivations. Christians- the community of those who declare themselves to be honest followers of Jesus- I believe are not largely corrupt. They are instead, redeemed, and indeed, being more redeemed as they apply their lives to His guidance and instruction. Yet, they are still humans living on earth and are subject to brokenness. So there will always (until He returns) be a schismed vision of the Body of Christ- one which portrays a Bride to which Christ will return. And yet still, one that is in need of His continuing and ongoing work of purification, renewal and mercy. We are redeemed, but in daily need of a tethered existence to His faithful mercy for our lives.
So if this is the place we find ourselves with our existence as a Christian community, what can we say about "modern worship"?
Personally, I don't think "modern worship" is any more tragically perverted than anything else in "Christiandom". And the same arguments that I applied above apply to those involved in worship ministry today. On the whole, I believe we have a worship community within Christiandom that is sincerely devoted to Christ and seeks Godly goals in their work within the community of bringing forth praise and worship.
Often times I hear people getting negative as though they are hoping for some "good old days" of worship. It seems people love to jump on the bandwagon of bashing worship these days because they perceive its gone so commercial. Is there a misconception and excess now that has grown up with the creation of an "industry"? Sure there is! But frankly, that has existed in Christian preaching and leadership for years. The same is true of CCM (contemporary Christian music), television personalities, and healing/deliverance ministries. Did we throw them out as wholly "abhorrent"? No! Instead, we learned to weed out the good from bad.
To me, it comes down to each person, each church, each song and each worshiper. As we talk, look, listen and encounter them one at a time, we find a whole different story. When I look at each person and situation, and stop generalizing, and talk to individuals and churches (or investigate specific songs), I find something surprising. The devotion, the heart, the desire and the humility far outweigh the excess. And the devotional pulse of the local congregations is more, not less, participative in the gathered worship times than it has been in decades. Only 30 years ago the gathered church sang songs that almost NEVER spoke intimately with God, now its normative. Wow. That alone is a significant change.
Is it perfect? Is it the ultimate? By no means. Do we need more authenticity and more foundational return to cultivating Biblical consistency mixed with relevant language in our song vocabulary? Absolutely! Can we keep working on humbly following God in all this, without mixed agendas? No doubt.
Should we worry about our young leaders pursuing "music careers" because an industry has grown up around "worship" that has provided a few people with occupations? How sad if we fixate on that.
First, as far as an "industry", we don't have to worry there. The Christian (and worship) music "industry is practically vaporised. Today, whether you have a real ministry from God in worship, or an imagined one from vanity, your chances of "making it" are about 0.000833%. Seriously. Because of the 120 million people who claim to be Christians in the US (and that is being very generous, since we know that many people don't actually go to church!), only a few hundred of those actually make their living as bonafide, full-time, Christian musicians and artists who work in the "music industry". The point is this- the industry is not just small, it is minuscule. Additionally, it is shrinking at an alarming rate in due no small part to the collapse of the commercial music model at the hands of the internet age. No one is making a living in music these days unless they are providing something real-- like the ability to actually perform live music, a gifting to truly minister in a local church, a heart to genuinely care for people. For all intents and purposes, selling "product" is dead. CDs don't sell, and only 1 in 20 downloads of music are legal. Illegal stealing of music (Christians included) has destroyed the music industry. What remains are simply people and God's gifts on them. If that is not a return to reality I don't know what is.
Should we teach young leaders to not fixate and seek a musical career of "glory" at the expense of a contrite devotional heart? Obviously we should teach them. But to judge "modern worship" as corrupt is as short sighted as the praise and worship naysayers 30 years ago because it lays on the heads of every Christian, musician and worshiper a judgement that really only applies to a very, very small minority of hurting people who are looking inappropriately to follow a misguided sense of ministry by relying on a worship industry to make them famous as they "serve God".
Is there a place for talented young musicians, writers and leaders? Yes there is! Because while there are a tiny number of "jobs" in the Christian music industry, there are literally tens of thousands of jobs for good musicians, leaders and songwriters. "Where?", you ask. We call them music ministers, worship leaders and choir directors. They are needed and employable in a place called the local church. Should their gifting and exceptional songwriting prove encouraging to their local church, other churches may benefit from it. Should other churches be built up by it and tell others, then eventually that gifting may open up invitation and opportunity for that person to minister in an ever widening scope of local churches. At some point that gifting will carry that person into an industry where they may, for a time, bless an entire nation through God's blessing on their lives in music. Do we look down on the ones who come and go through an "industry" because it suits our need to criticize? Or do we disdain them because it wasn't us? Are there some that have tainted motives? Do we have tainted motives? I think we all know that there will always be something of a mixture in anything we seek to do that is virtuous. But as we surrender to God, He is faithful and just to work on our hearts in it all.
And while we will do well to surrender our hearts to his cleansing, purifying work of the Holy Spirit, why don't we also trust that He will do His work in the hearts of those others we are concerned about, who happen to be the current artists, worship leaders and songwriters of "modern worship"?
Perhaps the challenge is all of ours then, to be open hearts instead of pointing fingers.
In Christ,
Kim Anthony Gentes
CCM, Kim Gentes, corruption, honesty, integrity, modern worship, music, worship in Blog, CCM, Community, Music, Worship 
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Reader Comments (10)
There's a lot to digest here, Kim...and, in my opinion, it comes down to what I've been saying for years: Local solutions for local situations. The longer I have served in local church ministry, the more I'm convinced that each church has their "own song"...but many, if not most, decide to take an easier road by buying "product" that crosses their path. From worship music to congregational vision, leadership can be seduced by "success" "over there" and think that it is exactly reproducible "over here." I believe that the way that those "over there" got to that "success" is by serving their congregation where the congregation's and community's needs were.
It is a little like much theory. The "style rules" are only apparent after the fact, and...in my opinion, by the time the rules are codified, the culture has moved on in any event.
Thanks for your writing. I hope it helps others to think as much as it did for me.
Very good point Vern. You brought out the exact part that needs to be highlighted more- local service in local churches. thanks for pointing that out more clearly.
Kim
Kim,
I've think you've got some great things to say here.
In my own quest of worship - in my personal, one on one time - I have noticed that the newer music has left me a little "wanting." I have been trying to find out why that is (am I becoming an old man who has become too old for the modern contemporary worship of this day and age?).
I have noticed that in the early years of the Vineyard, there was a tendency more toward intimacy in the songs. In many ways they were simpler in structure - both in words and in melody - to draw a person's heart more in prayer and intimacy with our Heavenly Father in this moment.
That is why I think some of the Chris Tomlin stuff rocketed like it did (and why I also find it "easier" to enter into a place of worship and prayer in my heart, as I participate with it). Of course, there are several other artists today, who do this for me as well ... but in the general whole of Christian recorded music on the air, I find there is this place of disconnect in intimacy.
I've been praying God for new songs that can capture this heart again for me. For I remember - and I realize I am dating myself here - during those early Vineyard years we saw the Holy Spirit move so powerfully as we allowed these songs to not be at the forefront, but bring our Heavenly Father in the forefront of our intimacy moments in the service.
Of course, I am also trying to make sure that I am not trying to re-live "the good old days" ... but I'm trying to honestly evaluate what it was that brought our services to such a place of swimming in God's presence and seeing God do wonders in our midst.
It's not that the other songs of today aren't good. But personally, I would categorize them more as praise - and the high praises of our lips. Praise is wonderful ... but my goal as I'm ministering His Word or in worship, is to draw more to this place of intimacy with the Father. (Entering His courts with praise ... but ultimately going to the Holy of Holies place of intimacy before the Father.) And I don't know if we (maybe I should say "I" here, if no one else is sensing this ... which, is why I began this by calling it "my quest") are doing that as well today.
Then again, maybe what I'm feeling is the normal spiritual hunger for wanting even more of Him and more of His Kingdom presence and work in my life.
My two cents.
Tom,
very well articulated. I agree with what you have said. We definitely have seen a "drawing away" from songs that just intend on intimate communication between us and the Father. I think there is generally more of it than before that broke open in the 80's, but it has waned in content of new material. I think partly it is not as clear since many churches hold on to songs that were brought forward in the 80s and 90's that contained more of that.. but as new music pervades, the percentage continues to decline..
again, good points.. thanks for making them..
Kim
Thanks for your article Kim and to all that have posted comments in response. I would like to share some of my testimony and appologise if this is not the forum for doing so, but it does directly relate to your article and the follow up replies.
At 50 I'm getting a bit long in the tooth now, but throughout my Christian journey music/worship/praise have had different effects on me. As a child I found traditional hymns could rouse and excite me, anthemic hymns like 'Onward Christian Soldiers' and 'Stand up, Stand Up For Jesus' would engage me, and others like 'Dear Lord And father Of Mankind' would reach/touch me in a different way. As a teen I fell away from the church being more in tune with 'pop' culture and rock music, of which there was nothing even remotely similar in any of the churches I attended.
That was an age when 'Holy Ghost' was used almost exclusively. Ghost has negative connotations, whereas Spirit has eternal, living implications. I never heard it preached that Jesus is alive, and certainly never that we could come into God's presence and have a personal relationship with our Saviour. This resulted in me seeking true meaning in life elsewhere, I knew I was an incomplete being in need of God in my life. I had no problems believing in God the creator and in Jesus our Saviour, the virgin birth or the resurection. But it seemd to me that the established church had lost it's way and was only of historical relevance. I needed something to be 'in tune' with and the 'Church' didn't seem to fit the bill.
I researched other world religions, even the occult, eventually I became a 'Mormon', but that's a whole diffent chapter in my testimony that's not really relevant to this thread so I'll leave most of it out and only mention the reason why I fell for their lies. They were essentially good people, their churches were warm and welcoming, they talked about angels and personal revelations 'today'. I guess I was 'low level brainwashed' by months of study, and fellowship with them. A process of encouragement, suggestion, and reinforcement leading to heightened anticipation and expectation, when the time comes to ask of God if this is the truth, your mind creates some kind of emotional experience that you take to be your own personal revelation. From then on you can only believe and be obedient.
I broke free from them within a year but remained in spiritual and emotional bondage to the lies for about 10 years, believing that I had no future after this life because I was condemned to eternal hell for turning my back on the 'truth' and therefore had committed the 'unforgiveable sin' of 'blasphemy of the spirit'.
Through an encounter with a street evangelist, my eyes were opened to the real truth and soon after I was delivered from the bondage 'Mormonism' and gave my life to Christ. The church I attended was a modern structure, not like a traditional church and there were a lot of younger people in the congretation. For the first time I heard and experienced what was then modern and charismatic worship. These songs and choruses of 30 or so years ago were a revelation in themselves and for the first time I was open to the Spirit and could experience some kind of 'rapture' that was communion with the Holy Spirit. Worship took on a whole new dimension, and whilst the occasional hymn that was a childhood favourite could still touch me, it was the modern songs and choruses that would uplift me and minister to me. I got used to the songs of the day, developing almost a resentment of the old hymns as they seemed only to interrupt worship and would not lift me to a higher level like the new songs would.
Working within youth ministry only confirmed for me the need for church music to move with the times and continually update, otherwise outreach to younger generations was severely hampered. In my experience that still stands true today.
When the next wave of contemporary worship started to appear I didn't immediately warm to it, preferring the familliarity of the first wave songs. I found them lacking in scriptural content but worse was that they didn't seem very sacred, there seemed no sense of holiness or reverence to them. However after experiencing them in a different worship format to the traditional 'hymn sandwich' i.e. in periods of sustained worship, they opened up a new dimension in worship for me.
On to the present, I'm now a member of 2 churches, my local eccumenical (multi denominational community church) and a new non denominational church, which meet in the afternoon. I am part of the worship team for both, and each is very different. My local church maintains a more traditional 'hymn sandwich' approach and are moving away from lively worship towards more traditional styles. That's not to say that they're ditching their song books in favour of a return to hymn books, rather that they carefully select from the new material that which is simmilar to older styles of praise. There is a variety which incorporates styles such as Taize, Iona, vocal (choir like arrangements) Wesley, Getty, and Townend. Whilst I admit that I enjoy some singing in all these styles (I play guitar too but not to all and find that playing guitar can compromise my singing), they do not really hit the spot when it comes to becoming emotionally and spiritually charged in worship, but for many, it's just the ticket.
My second church open in prayer and follow with a prolonged period of Hillsongs style worship which leads naturally into prayer, by which time we are all uplifted and open to the Spirit, ready for the word and the message. In this group I concentrate on guitar and find my singing compromises my guitar playing. I find this style much more to my liking despite being 50.
Interestingly, whilst I love the worship experience in the second church, it has a very definite feel good factor, in the first church whilst the worship doesn't connect in the same way it is here that I am more often moved to tears.
In summary I guess, as we say in England, 'it's horses for courses'. Meaning each to their own. We are blessed with a rich diversity of music in Christian worship, all styles are capable of ministering to the needs of different people, and each Christian will probably gravitate towards a fellowship whose style and choice of music hit's the spot for them.
Our children are the church of tomorrow and we need encompass and embrace the music that speaks to them or risk losing them. There will always be detractors, but argument does not change relevance and we need to be relevant to the young or risk becoming irrelevant.
May God continue to bless you as you keep up the good work
Rob,
thanks for your sharing your story. Your summary was very apt- "each to their own".. that is a great point that I think your personal testimony attests to.
thanks again
Kim
In our own setting, churches around our place tend to compete in using the latest music much like people wearing the latest fashion apparels, or owning a unit of the most sophisticated electronic hand gadgets (cellphones, MP’s, i-pods, etc.) there is in the market today. Music teams in most churches I have observed have compromised their roles as ushers of God’s presence for the sake of not being identified as outdated in their music style yet to the detriment of the local church, in general.
I agree one hundred percent with all your conclusions that the local need of the congregation must be placed over and above the tempting short-sighted and selfish objective of the worship team to be in line with the fad. There is nothing wrong against these new songs being introduced in the local church although careful selection and spiritual discernment must still be upheld especially for their theological soundness. I, for one, find from time to time some latest songs that I feel can effectively draw people to worship the Lord. What I really find wrong is the one that I just mentioned, the tendency of the music team to use the latest music for improper motivations. Whenever I discern this negative attitude in a music team, I knew that that is the reason why the presence of God did not manifest after a song service and people (not only me as one sounding so critical) did not really get a taste of genuine worship experience but rather a kind of shallow worldly entertainment that never witnessed blessing to the heart.
In summary, I must infer that if the team finds a new song, not for its modernity and popularity among the circles of other local churches, but for its being fitted to meet the need and drive the revelations of God for the local assembly, then I think the motivation would be just right. In the same way, it would be as wrong as to use older songs if the motivation is based only on judgmental notions and biases against newer forms of music genre’ and if it is a total disregard to the present and most fitting need of the local church more so if it evades the terms of worship expression of the younger generation.
Matt,
I very much appreciate that you would comment and leave your thoughts. The idea of "gadgetry" and musical modernism being a problematic focus is a good honest critique that must be considered, as well as the reverse element (which you also mentioned). Thanks for joining in with your voice.
Kim
This is a great post & comment string. Thanks for the effort in writing and responding.
My thought on this today is probably a bit simplistic. I'm thinking that in almost any era of the church there have been expressions of worship that were sincere at their core, but had a corrupt 'slippery slope' on their backside. The path to idolatry is -- and has always been -- just a few tiny steps away from sincere, God-centered worship. That's why the second commandment is what it is. I'm not quick to cast judgement on what's happening around the newest expressions of worship coming out of the church; if there IS a core of sincere, God- honoring worship, the danger of corruption is going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with it. We are humans and this is our greatest struggle: keeping God at the center of our adoration, and everything else NOT there.
Very, very well said Kim! Thanks for your note.
kg