I do not care a whit for music style, that is a matter of taste. But I like you have a sense of unease in my soul when worship time is more like a concert at a civic center than before the throne of God!
This is it right here. It is actually not so much the music (although that can be a part of it) as it is the PEOPLE PLAYING AND SINGING IT, and this is really the key. Some churches are even hiring professional
unsaved musicians to serve on their worship teams. Why? Because it is not about the anointing. They want the best musicians they can get because they are sold out to the megachurch model of church growth: Entertainment, in both the preaching style and the worship. I know this because my wife had some Muslim friends, and one of their sons ended up on the worship team at a faith and prosperity church.
Is he good? Yes. Is he Christian? No. He's still Muslim, and was sent by his parents on trips to Palestine to reinforce his faith in Allah, specifically that he NOT be influenced by the Christian church he was making a living from.
I recently visited a non denominational church. It was not a large church, maybe 100 in attendance. Not a lavish building mostly simple except the stage behind the pulpit. The music was contemporary with Colored lights, fog or mist machine. Minus the lyrics you would certainly think you were in a secular music concert. The body language was that of secular artist.
I was not blessed. It was not edifying. I didn't enjoy it. In fact I disliked it. It's not what I expect in worship. Maybe I'm old school. Actually I am old school. Gospel music is going the way of the world.
Why would any Christian artist wish to emulate secular music artist?
Ever read the book
Snakes In The Lobby? It's an extended vision given to a contemporary Christian artist back a decade or so ago, and how God opened his eyes spiritually through a vision at a convention to see just how many demonic spirits had infiltrated into the Christian music industry by that point, and this extends to how worship is still being produced and conducted today.
I once visited a church recommended by a friend, and when I got there it was much the same thing: The "worship" service was really just a performance for the most part. There was very little participation from the congregation; they just sort of watched, with a few of them singing along. And the thing was, the song was good, and the team was playing it well, but they were no more into it than the congregation was. It was a Chris Tomlin song - one I was playing and singing myself at the time - and while some may not like him, the man genuinely loves God and this comes through in his music. When people are leading worship who genuinely love God, that's what makes the difference. They lead people in WORSHIP, they don't just sing and go through the motions. My wife says to this day that many of the people she sees on worship teams look dead, because she was used to seeing me. I was even singing some stuff in churches that was secular but had been converted over by Christians to become worship songs, and I remember singing one of them that would reduce people to tears during worship they were so moved. I cried during worship as well. Some times it messed me up so bad that I couldn't lead for a little bit.
It's not just about the songs or the music. It's about the focus, and that means it is about who is leading the worship, and why.
