Why does worship music often feel lacking compared to secular music?

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Permalink Reply by Samantha Martin on October 20, 2009 at 8:21pm

i think most christian music is mostly just trying to based on God cause thats what the artist wants I believe. I think most the time people turn to secular music just cause its whats in now. Sometimes the enemy uses it to stray from God but most the time it can get a bit tiring praising Him. sometimes I find myself needing to take a break from him but never going to far. Thats why church helps us focus only on Him. not that you need to be there, but when in there you can keep your focus on him so much better than anywhere else cause there are things that can get distracting. God knows we can only take as much as we can handle. but wants us to give our time as much as possible. As long as you spend more time praising him than other things I believe He knows you love him more enough.

As for the music seeming like the same old praise and worship. I think people can be afraid to talk about things cause it doesnt praise him. But I feel that songs about struggle can be quite inspiring. I remember when I was real mentally sick there was this somg called "Less Like Scars". It really got to me and became my personal struggle song. I would too like to hear more about what people have gone through and with the Lord helping along the way. It would make me love Him more to know whenever times are tough He is always there.

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Permalink Reply by Marc Proctor on October 22, 2009 at 3:55pm

I agree! For me personally, there are so many times songs of worship fly right over my head. Its like I can't own all the phraseology that is commonly used today. Honestly I often have more questions than answers, doubts than faith, and struggles than victories. I don't always feel happy, jumpy, filled with joy, filled with peace etc. (though it does occur, but its not as some songs indicate). Reconciling these realities seems to find a more honest place in secular music than church music.

If I could wish, I'd wish for more honesty on Sunday and in our praise. We're human... it would be nice to let the masks down a bit and engage our humanity in honest terms with God. Yes He's great, yes He gives peace, yes His love is unfathomable, yes He is all we need... but its not as easy as that.

It makes me wonder, is secular music and worship music really something at odds with eachother? Some of the passages in the bible, particularly Psalms, feel very "secular" at times. I wonder if it is that honestly that we've lost touch with while trying to engage God.

Samantha Martin said:

i think most christian music is mostly just trying to based on God cause thats what the artist wants I believe. I think most the time people turn to secular music just cause its whats in now. Sometimes the enemy uses it to stray from God but most the time it can get a bit tiring praising Him. sometimes I find myself needing to take a break from him but never going to far. Thats why church helps us focus only on Him. not that you need to be there, but when in there you can keep your focus on him so much better than anywhere else cause there are things that can get distracting. God knows we can only take as much as we can handle. but wants us to give our time as much as possible. As long as you spend more time praising him than other things I believe He knows you love him more enough.

As for the music seeming like the same old praise and worship. I think people can be afraid to talk about things cause it doesnt praise him. But I feel that songs about struggle can be quite inspiring. I remember when I was real mentally sick there was this somg called "Less Like Scars". It really got to me and became my personal struggle song. I would too like to hear more about what people have gone through and with the Lord helping along the way. It would make me love Him more to know whenever times are tough He is always there.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Lytle on October 23, 2009 at 7:23am

I think it comes from a wrong focus and poor training.

As for poor training -- you look at who was writing the songs of the Bible and the hymns of old, and you'll find the theologians there. Most of what we know about God comes from the Psalms. But the people writing today are not theologians. They write vague emotionalism with some platitudes about Jesus, and that's it.

While I am not a hymn guy (I'm definitely a Rocker), I cannot listen to most praise and worship, simply because its depth is paper thin. Our song writers are not trained in theology, and so the songs say nothing about God. "Breathe" is a good example of a song that has absolutely no Christian meaning, that could be easily sung by a Muslim without a single lyric change, and frankly has pagan overtones. It's not a Christian song, but half the churches in America have played it over and over again.

As for the wrong focus -- when is the last time you heard a praise and worship song that extolled the majesty, righteousness, and awesome power of God? It's been a while, right? What we get most of the time is songs about "my boyfriend Jesus." Where is the fire that the Bible tells us to have when singing to the Lord? Where is the "joyful noise"? It's not there. Instead, we're all swaying with our eyes closed and singing about how Jesus makes me feel pretty.

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Permalink Reply by Praise Warrior on October 25, 2009 at 9:57pm

Here is one of the daily devotionals I am publishing this week on my website, which sort of covers this. But I think what it boils down to is that we worship the worshippers (musicians and bands)j ust as much or more then the One we should be woprhipping (Jesus).

Rev 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."




I love Christian music because it draws me into the presence of the Lord so I can worship Him.
But some people take Christian music to far and treat it like the world’s music.
How? By worshipping the worshipper instead of God.

People will by posters, T-shirts and anything they can get their hands on that is related to their favorite Christian group. When they do this, in a sense they are making that group an idol and are worshipping them instead of God.

“But they are so good and they bring me joy.”
Don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to Christian musicians, being one myself. But I am totally against the way we as Christians have put them on a pedestal making them greater then others or ourselves.

“But we need to reach the lost and the T-shirts and posters help do that.”
I’m sorry, I thought it was the Holy Spirit, and not man who changes people’s hearts.
Musicians are only a tool used by God to reach others. God doesn’t use their looks or sound to draw others to Him, but rather God uses His word as it is sung out.

• Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
• So go ahead and worship along with your favorite Christian band, just don’t worship them just as the angel said to John in today’s verse.
  
  But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

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Permalink Reply by Mash Cody Kakrah on November 13, 2009 at 2:51pm

I that in worship songs skills are something lacking caus much attention is always on the lyrics that the playing of instruments. But God demands skills, that's one.

Another point is that God demands that our songs be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. This makes worship music inpiring and touching. I think worship musicians should be prayerful and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Me thinks, if worship musicians are filled with the Holy spirit He is also able to give skills if we seek his direction. Not withstanding hard training.

I also think there is no ispiring words that those in the book of psalms. We can find better lyrics from the the bible especiall the book of psalms. These gives us better lyrics far better than secular musics can contain.

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Permalink Reply by Godbeat.tv on December 29, 2009 at 4:10pm

Being in the Christian music business gives me a unique perspective on this. First off, while many of the writers are not Bible scholars, most are VERY versed in what they are writing about. Tomlin, Crowder, Smith all write extremely well, in depth, based on their relationship with Christ. One does not have to be a Bible scholar to pool from the vast love Christ has for us and the Grace He shows us everyday. Some of the most powerful hymms of old were written by simple people, out of great events or tragic events. "It Is Well' for example was written by a man, on a ship that lost his entire family when the boat they were on, sunk, killing his wife and children, yet, in the hour of his greatest need, he pinned the words to "It Is Well". I work with these writers and artist everyday. I know their heart. While not every song is going to be gripping, they are not meant to be, but they do minister to others. Just know that not every song is written just for you. :)

God can be glorified in music, any type of music really, with the exception of music that seeks to mock Him or go against Biblical teaching. God is just as glorified when i sing a secular love song to my wife as he is if I sing and Christian song. There is no curse in secular music, unless the lyrics would convict you or tear you or others down. Like anything, God created music and it can either be used for good or evil. What you will find however is that the Church wants to brand anything that isnt "Christian" as "evil". That is nonsense.

Good topic!

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Permalink Reply by Marc Proctor on January 27, 2010 at 12:25pm

Good thoughts and well put everyone. Personally, like many people, I listen to alot of secular music. I went to concert by The Fray and Jacks Mannequin, for some reason it felt like church. So I do believe that God is found outside of the constructs we sometimes get frustrated with, i.e. church music etc. All that to say, I do see merit in not limiting God to one type of genre or style. Anyway, I do wonder about alot of current worship music though. I know alot of it has depth, and I wouldn't place any overarching criticism on the church since there are many people doing well, but generally... I still find alot of music lacking that, uh... soul I guess... its ok to know what you're supposed to write about, (i.e. jesus, grace, peace etc.) but its another to feel it. I wonder if some of the reason alot of music feels weak is because much of Western culture offers so many comfortable alternatives to Jesus, even for Christians. When we take those alternatives, say.... shopping therapy instead of seeking God for peace... for example only... we loose the experience of God's peace and thus when we try to write songs about Gods peace it is lacking that soul that we would have had.

Does that make sense? It's convicting for me to think about. Not that I'm about to go hypo crazy-go-nuts and swear off everything in Western culture... just, maybe try to be honest about how I engage it.

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