Take part in the poll to the left and then post your reasoning here in the comment section.
I'm very interested to hear what you THINK about this!
10
comments:
Doug
said...
Kind of an open question. How does it impact each individual church? I think that depends on how the church allows the 'industry' inside the doors.
How has it impacted the 'church' as a whole body? Different impact. There has been some good in that it has potentially helped expose more people to 'Worship music' (I know, I'm not crazy about that term, but I'll leave it there). But, once large sums of money start getting involved, eventually the 'money changers' enter in. Then the worst thing happens in that the heart of worship is lost in pursuit of the next 'catchy tune'. What makes 'Worship music' actual worship is not the tune, or the lyrics, but the heart that beats within. And the heart is something that God knows.
Hopefully it's a hole that not too many fall into.
I will add that it seems the Worship Industry is somewhat good, but I would say that it has also effected the creativity of our worship pastors who should be writing tunes from their own hearts to lead the people God has entrusted to them. They have a unique calling to thier particular fellowship, and singing Chris Tomlin songs or whomever seems to cheapen that calling and their giftedness...
(PS Nothing against Chris Tomlin, I love his stuff)
There is something about the whole industry that sits very uncomfortably in my soul. I need to admit that I have been a "worship music" junkie in the past. That said, I have noticed something disheartening about my own personal worship. With the inundation of "worship music" the adage "familiarity breeds contempt" sets in. I find myself singing along and not even paying attention to what I'm singing - that's okay when it's Paralyzer by Finger Eleven, but not good when I'm singing to Father about who He is and what He has done. Sometimes I am tempted to go back to hymns, just because I don't hear them all the time...okay, maybe not that far.
Also, I'm not sure about the whole worship leader/rock star thing that's going on right now, but I'll save that for another comment!
Thanks for the podcasts and keep it up, you big Loser!
Well, again I'll say that it's the heart of the matter that is the heart of the matter. It's not the music that makes the worship, it's the worship that makes the music.
I remember one time in group we had someone tell a story of a dramatic episode in their life and how God was made evident in it. He'd been severely injured and toward the end the only thing he lamented was that he wouldn't be able to realize an ambition to learn music so he could play worship music on the keyboards. I told him "MUSIC? Your life is a song of worship that not even angels can sing!" And truly it was, given the tears of joy that moved that evening. The point of all this is that worship isn't in music, it's found whenever we get a glimpse of the love, power, majesty, and holiness of an infinite God who reaches across eternity to embrace fallen creatures such as ourselves.
But if worship is something that comes from a heart, the 'worship industry' cannot touch that. If we allow ourselves to think that the product (music) IS worship, we're going down a path that will allow an industry to impact our relationship with our heavenly Father. Worship should be in who we are and what we do, not in what we sing. The singing is an outpouring of our hearts and, for those who are so gifted, the exercise of the gifts He has given us in order to build the body of worship.
Thanks for posting your comments guys! This is all good stuff. I would like to clarify the question a bit.
I think that we would all agree that worship is WAY more than music - and this is made evident by your posts so far; however, i think that we would be kidding ourselves to not acknowledge the fact that an entire industry has grown up around "WORSHIP MUSIC" - music that is marketed as WORSHIP MUSIC to the Church.
So I would like to see what you THINK about the effect that thatindustry has had on the Church - positive, negative, or doesn't really matter.
Great thoughts from all of you so far! I appreciate you taking part in this.
Yes. You're right but the two issues are connected in a way. Guess I'm having a hard time engaging the brain to explain.
But, just as some say that "If I do good things I'll go to heaven", we can get a wrong perspective on worship. If we allow ourselves to become convinced that worship = music, then I believe the door opens for an industry to do harm. It's inevitable once the 'money changers' enter in. If we keep a proper perspective on worship, the potential for damage is far less likely. Just like we need to remember the true source of our salvation, we need to keep a proper perspective on the nature of worship.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the "money-changers" entered in LONG AGO. If they hadn't already entered in, there would be no "industry." Cause last I checked, the cost of worship "music" is the same as any other kind of music.
We correlate worship with music because that's the way we're "bred" to see it. For instance...look at the Acts29 lineup and schedule for the upcoming Houston bootcamp. 10:10a.m=Worship, chandler at 10:30 a.m. My guess is a band will walk on the stage at 10:10 and play music. but it's titled Worship.
I guess what I'm getting at is, I think we all know that worship is the heart, our lives, and the way we live it and glorify the Father every second of every day. But let's face it, the western world will always correlate worship with music. Sad maybe, but I think this may be a semantics argument that can never be won...
I feel like I've confused myself.
I started all this to say, that the industry has been bad for the church. The vast majority of western christianity idolizes their favorite "worship" leaders...sad but true. Therefore, "Worship Music" is absolutely an industry...an industry that has bred millions of acoustic guitar players.
War, learning the acoustic guitar in '09. War, music that is labeled Worship. War, drums.
Worship: A song that, when sung, causes one to think about God (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to the extent of moving one’s heart to worship Him.
The key words are to Worship Him not the singer and not the song
Without a doubt the marriage of these two words “Worship” and “Industry” screams volumes of potential danger in my ears and rest with an unusual taste on the tip of my tongue. I can’t quite put my finger on it, at first there is a sweet sensation and some familiar comfort that baits the commercial hook that pulls me in and leaves me craving more like Pavlov’s Dogs but the final aftertaste is ripe with greed and offers nothing more than emptiness in my stomach. Is it even possible that such a thing could be good for the church? I would like to jump to offer a final answer of “NO”, however, I can’t stop thinking how God uses all things to his good and I resend my first flesh driven response. Please bear with me as I try to explain why I feel this Worship Industry is good for our church and how we should try to relate to it. I celebrate that my church and my Worship Leaders have already detected the potential for failure within the corruption that drive this Industry and are initiating discussion addressing the endless ways we could be led astray down the wrong path if we allow ourselves not to question where we stand regarding this matter. We must keep our minds as well as our eyes open wide and pray for Gods wisdom to discern what is good and what is bad regarding all things in our lives as well as our church and Christian walk, if we close our eyes and let others think for us we will surely be led astray. Let us test all things according to Gods word.
The Modern Worship Industry is “HUGE” I can’t imagine the tremendous amount of money that is made each year from this industry. I can only hope and pray that what is made is placed within the hands of good righteous upstanding stewards of God to be used by the church to further spread the good news of God and help the poor and needy. I realize that I would be completely naïve to believe that this is the actual reality of the Worship Industry which is in question. Still I can’t help believe that even with the problems that have attached theirselve to cause, the road that has led us up to this point in question continues to rests strong on a solid gospel Christ Based foundation built with the honest intensions and the God given talents, love and gifts of some of the best Worship Leaders of our Times.
Today it seems like there is so much required from the Modern Worship Leaders, not only are they driven by the congregation to stay on top and up to date with the latest Industry driven must play to keep your congregation happy list of the month or day but also they are required to author and write their own praise compositions to lead their church into worship, man what a herculean task.
I am a musician and song writer myself or so I try my best to be, so it should go without saying that the link between my worship and music has very powerful bonds. For years I was as far from God as you could hope to be and in the end it was my love of music that God used (via the Worship Industry) to lead me from the dark where I had wandered for most of my life. God has written the songs of my life good and bad upon my heart of flesh and I do my best to use them to speak of his glory and grace. Sometimes the only word I have to offer is the word THANKS, just thanks for the verses, thanks for the chorus, thanks for the bridge, the tag, thanks for the note of grace and most of all just thanks for being my God and using every trick up your sleve to get me back to you.
I have rambled on far too long, this subject really made me stop and think a lot about worship and music and the line between them good and bad.
I think it's been a good thing. I go to a church where we've been outside the "norm" of the everyday church for about 10 years now. But I think it has had a positive impact on The Church as a whole, because you see Baptist, Presbyterian, etc. churches integrating more worship songs than just the same old hymns every Sunday. Don't get me wrong, I love hymns and the words in them, but let's be honest, are we really going to reach the lost, unchurched with this type of music? No. I know it's more than just the song, it's about Worship, but we have to adjust to change in our society. If the worship music is one of the keys that gets hell bounders in the door and see the church in a different light, I think that's a good thing. If Christ is lifted up, I don't think there is any right or wrong way to present worship. The Message should never change, but the method should constantly change.
Well Brad, if you've confused yourself do I at least get credited with an assist?
Yes, the 'money changers' have entered in. And some people have come to 'worship' only via a product they've been fed by an industry group that worships the dollar, not the creator. Does that mean those who listen to music that has been defiled by the demon dollar are lost? Well, first, it's not my place to say. But also, it just means those in that situation are on a different part of the path than I'm on (or that you're on). So can the 'industry' do damage? Sure. They can be some of those birds who pluck up the seed that the sower has scattered. But some of that seed will find purchase in good soil as well.
I just wish that churches would: a: Quit referring to the musical portion of their services as 'worship'. If the entire service isn't worship then we should leave once the music ends. b: Realize that there are more Christian song writers other than Chris Tomlin and David Crowder.
Oh, and Chris uses an electic guitar a lot. So it's not just the unplugged guys either. Jarad keeps trying to get me to pick up an acoustic, but I guess I'm just liking the light strings.
10 comments:
Kind of an open question. How does it impact each individual church? I think that depends on how the church allows the 'industry' inside the doors.
How has it impacted the 'church' as a whole body? Different impact. There has been some good in that it has potentially helped expose more people to 'Worship music' (I know, I'm not crazy about that term, but I'll leave it there). But, once large sums of money start getting involved, eventually the 'money changers' enter in. Then the worst thing happens in that the heart of worship is lost in pursuit of the next 'catchy tune'. What makes 'Worship music' actual worship is not the tune, or the lyrics, but the heart that beats within. And the heart is something that God knows.
Hopefully it's a hole that not too many fall into.
Agree with Doug..
I will add that it seems the Worship Industry is somewhat good, but I would say that it has also effected the creativity of our worship pastors who should be writing tunes from their own hearts to lead the people God has entrusted to them. They have a unique calling to thier particular fellowship, and singing Chris Tomlin songs or whomever seems to cheapen that calling and their giftedness...
(PS Nothing against Chris Tomlin, I love his stuff)
There is something about the whole industry that sits very uncomfortably in my soul. I need to admit that I have been a "worship music" junkie in the past. That said, I have noticed something disheartening about my own personal worship. With the inundation of "worship music" the adage "familiarity breeds contempt" sets in. I find myself singing along and not even paying attention to what I'm singing - that's okay when it's Paralyzer by Finger Eleven, but not good when I'm singing to Father about who He is and what He has done. Sometimes I am tempted to go back to hymns, just because I don't hear them all the time...okay, maybe not that far.
Also, I'm not sure about the whole worship leader/rock star thing that's going on right now, but I'll save that for another comment!
Thanks for the podcasts and keep it up, you big Loser!
Well, again I'll say that it's the heart of the matter that is the heart of the matter. It's not the music that makes the worship, it's the worship that makes the music.
I remember one time in group we had someone tell a story of a dramatic episode in their life and how God was made evident in it. He'd been severely injured and toward the end the only thing he lamented was that he wouldn't be able to realize an ambition to learn music so he could play worship music on the keyboards. I told him "MUSIC? Your life is a song of worship that not even angels can sing!" And truly it was, given the tears of joy that moved that evening. The point of all this is that worship isn't in music, it's found whenever we get a glimpse of the love, power, majesty, and holiness of an infinite God who reaches across eternity to embrace fallen creatures such as ourselves.
But if worship is something that comes from a heart, the 'worship industry' cannot touch that. If we allow ourselves to think that the product (music) IS worship, we're going down a path that will allow an industry to impact our relationship with our heavenly Father. Worship should be in who we are and what we do, not in what we sing. The singing is an outpouring of our hearts and, for those who are so gifted, the exercise of the gifts He has given us in order to build the body of worship.
Thanks for posting your comments guys! This is all good stuff. I would like to clarify the question a bit.
I think that we would all agree that worship is WAY more than music - and this is made evident by your posts so far; however, i think that we would be kidding ourselves to not acknowledge the fact that an entire industry has grown up around "WORSHIP MUSIC" - music that is marketed as WORSHIP MUSIC to the Church.
So I would like to see what you THINK about the effect that thatindustry has had on the Church - positive, negative, or doesn't really matter.
Great thoughts from all of you so far! I appreciate you taking part in this.
Yes. You're right but the two issues are connected in a way. Guess I'm having a hard time engaging the brain to explain.
But, just as some say that "If I do good things I'll go to heaven", we can get a wrong perspective on worship. If we allow ourselves to become convinced that worship = music, then I believe the door opens for an industry to do harm. It's inevitable once the 'money changers' enter in. If we keep a proper perspective on worship, the potential for damage is far less likely. Just like we need to remember the true source of our salvation, we need to keep a proper perspective on the nature of worship.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the "money-changers" entered in LONG AGO. If they hadn't already entered in, there would be no "industry." Cause last I checked, the cost of worship "music" is the same as any other kind of music.
We correlate worship with music because that's the way we're "bred" to see it. For instance...look at the Acts29 lineup and schedule for the upcoming Houston bootcamp. 10:10a.m=Worship, chandler at 10:30 a.m. My guess is a band will walk on the stage at 10:10 and play music. but it's titled Worship.
I guess what I'm getting at is, I think we all know that worship is the heart, our lives, and the way we live it and glorify the Father every second of every day. But let's face it, the western world will always correlate worship with music. Sad maybe, but I think this may be a semantics argument that can never be won...
I feel like I've confused myself.
I started all this to say, that the industry has been bad for the church. The vast majority of western christianity idolizes their favorite "worship" leaders...sad but true. Therefore, "Worship Music" is absolutely an industry...an industry that has bred millions of acoustic guitar players.
War, learning the acoustic guitar in '09. War, music that is labeled Worship. War, drums.
WALK DAT WALK, WALK DAT WALK
Seacrest, Out
Worship: A song that, when sung, causes one to think about God (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to the extent of moving one’s heart to worship Him.
The key words are to Worship Him not the singer and not the song
Without a doubt the marriage of these two words “Worship” and “Industry” screams volumes of potential danger in my ears and rest with an unusual taste on the tip of my tongue. I can’t quite put my finger on it, at first there is a sweet sensation and some familiar comfort that baits the commercial hook that pulls me in and leaves me craving more like Pavlov’s Dogs but the final aftertaste is ripe with greed and offers nothing more than emptiness in my stomach. Is it even possible that such a thing could be good for the church? I would like to jump to offer a final answer of “NO”, however, I can’t stop thinking how God uses all things to his good and I resend my first flesh driven response. Please bear with me as I try to explain why I feel this Worship Industry is good for our church and how we should try to relate to it. I celebrate that my church and my Worship Leaders have already detected the potential for failure within the corruption that drive this Industry and are initiating discussion addressing the endless ways we could be led astray down the wrong path if we allow ourselves not to question where we stand regarding this matter. We must keep our minds as well as our eyes open wide and pray for Gods wisdom to discern what is good and what is bad regarding all things in our lives as well as our church and Christian walk, if we close our eyes and let others think for us we will surely be led astray. Let us test all things according to Gods word.
The Modern Worship Industry is “HUGE” I can’t imagine the tremendous amount of money that is made each year from this industry. I can only hope and pray that what is made is placed within the hands of good righteous upstanding stewards of God to be used by the church to further spread the good news of God and help the poor and needy. I realize that I would be completely naïve to believe that this is the actual reality of the Worship Industry which is in question. Still I can’t help believe that even with the problems that have attached theirselve to cause, the road that has led us up to this point in question continues to rests strong on a solid gospel Christ Based foundation built with the honest intensions and the God given talents, love and gifts of some of the best Worship Leaders of our Times.
Today it seems like there is so much required from the Modern Worship Leaders, not only are they driven by the congregation to stay on top and up to date with the latest Industry driven must play to keep your congregation happy list of the month or day but also they are required to author and write their own praise compositions to lead their church into worship, man what a herculean task.
I am a musician and song writer myself or so I try my best to be, so it should go without saying that the link between my worship and music has very powerful bonds. For years I was as far from God as you could hope to be and in the end it was my love of music that God used (via the Worship Industry) to lead me from the dark where I had wandered for most of my life. God has written the songs of my life good and bad upon my heart of flesh and I do my best to use them to speak of his glory and grace. Sometimes the only word I have to offer is the word THANKS, just thanks for the verses, thanks for the chorus, thanks for the bridge, the tag, thanks for the note of grace and most of all just thanks for being my God and using every trick up your sleve to get me back to you.
I have rambled on far too long, this subject really made me stop and think a lot about worship and music and the line between them good and bad.
God bless
Joseph C
I think it's been a good thing. I go to a church where we've been outside the "norm" of the everyday church for about 10 years now. But I think it has had a positive impact on The Church as a whole, because you see Baptist, Presbyterian, etc. churches integrating more worship songs than just the same old hymns every Sunday. Don't get me wrong, I love hymns and the words in them, but let's be honest, are we really going to reach the lost, unchurched with this type of music? No. I know it's more than just the song, it's about Worship, but we have to adjust to change in our society. If the worship music is one of the keys that gets hell bounders in the door and see the church in a different light, I think that's a good thing. If Christ is lifted up, I don't think there is any right or wrong way to present worship. The Message should never change, but the method should constantly change.
Mark Brown
Charlotte, NC
Well Brad, if you've confused yourself do I at least get credited with an assist?
Yes, the 'money changers' have entered in. And some people have come to 'worship' only via a product they've been fed by an industry group that worships the dollar, not the creator. Does that mean those who listen to music that has been defiled by the demon dollar are lost? Well, first, it's not my place to say. But also, it just means those in that situation are on a different part of the path than I'm on (or that you're on). So can the 'industry' do damage? Sure. They can be some of those birds who pluck up the seed that the sower has scattered. But some of that seed will find purchase in good soil as well.
I just wish that churches would:
a: Quit referring to the musical portion of their services as 'worship'. If the entire service isn't worship then we should leave once the music ends.
b: Realize that there are more Christian song writers other than Chris Tomlin and David Crowder.
Oh, and Chris uses an electic guitar a lot. So it's not just the unplugged guys either. Jarad keeps trying to get me to pick up an acoustic, but I guess I'm just liking the light strings.
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