Day 1 - It's Not About the Style

[fmckinnon]

Today's lesson starts Week 7 of the "Pure Praise" study. The overall topic this week is "The Means" - Using our Tools Wisely.

Today's discussion centers on "style" ... and the reality that true worship is not based on musical "style".

Here's a few questions I'd like to ask as we reveal our thoughts on today's lesson:

1 - how does style enhance or detract from your worship
2 - what musical styles to you prefer?
3 - what musical styles to you dislike?
4 - are you capable of moving past the "style"?

Please share your thoughts on today's lesson.

[yod1948]

Today's discussion centers on "style" ... and the reality that true worship is not based on musical "style".



big AMEN to that!

In my opinion, it does seem like the typical christian-youth audience is more concerned with style over substance and their churches are enabling that by giving them what they want instead of what they need.




Here's a few questions I'd like to ask as we reveal our thoughts on today's lesson:

1 - how does style enhance or detract from your worship
2 - what musical styles to you prefer?
3 - what musical styles to you dislike?
4 - are you capable of moving past the "style"?


I shake my head as saints fight each other over hymns vs contemporary. Why can't we submit one to another and have both if there are people being blessed by either? Why can't we celebrate our differences and diversity instead of demanding uniformity of style?

While there is such a thing as appropriate cultural sensitivity in a particular place which may determine what the general style of our individual congregations might be, there should always be room for honoring saints of a different cultural background who might also attend or be visiting.

I have preferences like anyone else but worship isn't about pleasing me so I have never understood why anyone would be excluded by "style"? Will heaven be one "style" of worship music?

[ErikaMichelle]

Hey Everyone. I am sorry I didn't post last week. My husband and I found out we are having a baby :Dand we were swamped with doctor's appointments. But I have been keeping up and the posts have been wonderful and insightful. Anyway, here are my thoughts on today's devotion:


1 - How does style enhance or detract from your worship? Personally, I don't like hard rock music, the kind where you can't understand the words. It is just a personal taste. Being honest, if that were the style of a worship service I attentded, I may have a hard time entering in b/c I don't like the style. HOWEVER, if the hearts of the musicians and the lyrics of the song were all about Jesus, then I probably would enter in. I think Mr. Moore is right on - It's not about style. It is all about the heart!!!

2 - I personally like Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, Israel, Brooklyn Tab, Big Daddy Weave, and Rita Springer to name a few. That is mostly what I listen to. However, I like Steve Fee and Sanctus Real. I try to be eclectic. I just love Praise and Worship music.

3 - Again, I don't like Hard Rock, so I probably wouldn't have any hard rock type worship on my iPod.

4 - I hope that I am capable of moving past "style". We often sing some of the wonderful old hymns and we often jazz up some of the newer praise and worship standards. Flow with the Spirit, go with the flow, keep an open mind, and a pure heart and we will never go wrong in our services.

[yod1948]

My husband and I found out we are having a baby



Mazel tov! (congratulations)



So when did he find out that he was having a baby?

8-)

[Maggievt]

This is a funny one for me, for, when I went to my first Service at the Church I am now a member of, several years ago, I came from a very traditional - choir-in-the-choirloft - kind of thing and thought I was going straight to hell when I saw electric guitars! Then, they played a song that spoke to me and I knew that I was home.

1 - how does style enhance or detract from your worship I try not to let it - I try to sing/pray the lyrics. I must admit to being in the category of finding it hard to pray to God when the lyrics are being yelled at me....but I have been to SoulFest enough to know that there is a huge group of younger people that just LOVE it that way!

2 - what musical styles to you prefer? Paul Baloche, Matt Maher, Matt Redman, Jars of Clay, tobymac, Casting Crowns - tons of stuff

3 - what musical styles to you dislike? stuff that is so loud it hurts my ears

4 - are you capable of moving past the "style"? when it hurts my ears, no - otherwise, I try really hard to go for the words of the song.

this is an area where I am really lucky - while my training is classical, I have sung/played/directed TONS of styles and there aren't many I don't like.

I find it interesting that of all of the means of delivering the musical message of Our God's glory, that style is first. It has made me think of how many times I KNOW style is an issue at my church; How many times has the message been lost due to music we choose - my Pastor, bless him, has really committed us to the path of edgier, newer music, really does not want a blended sound. I have often wondered if we are throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Perhaps, after this study, it may be time to reopen that discussion!
Maggie in freshly snowed Vermont

[ErikaMichelle]

:DVery funny, Yod. You know, he hates when I say "We are pregnant". He's not, I am!!! Thanks for the Mazel!:D

[hisfirewithin]

Today's discussion centers on "style" ... and the reality that true worship is not based on musical "style".

Here's a few questions I'd like to ask as we reveal our thoughts on today's lesson:

1 - how does style enhance or detract from your worship
2 - what musical styles to you prefer?
3 - what musical styles to you dislike?
4 - are you capable of moving past the "style"?

Please share your thoughts on today's lesson.


1. In some ways, the style can kill it for me. I like it when Worship Leaders take a lyric and melody, and take total liberties with arrangements. I struggle to get into it when Worship Leaders don't put the effort into doing a song to re-arrange it. So, style is a part of it for me.

2. I appreciate a pretty wide range of music. I like instrumental rock, Lincoln Brewster, Some country, classic rock, hip-hop, soul, some worship stuff(Israel and New Breed, New Life Worship, Misty Edwards)

3. I think I pretty much dislike most Christian music, and that includes a lot of the worship stuff as well, even though I'm a worship leader. Go figure, eh? I just get frustrated by the lack of art and inspiration on most of the stuff that comes out of Nashville. Not to mention garbage emergent lyrical content.

4. I'm capable of moving past styles, if there's a genuine sense of real inspiration behind them. But if it comes off as contrived in any way, it turns me way off.

[Smitty]

I am most definitely a "contemporary" kind of WL, But I love hymns, and see the value and beauty in them.

I will take substance over style ANY day.

Smitty

[Smitty]

Oh Yeah...Congrats Erika!

Smitty

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

I listened to a CD someone gave me of a very backwoods, Southern country bluegrass group. The harmony was dreadful; the guitar and banjo pickin' was pretty good. The song that stood out the most was a testimony song, "That night old Jack Daniels met John 3:16."
I don't know if the performers were worshipping as they recorded the CD or not. I didn't find much in the lyrics that led me to worship.

Enough for my critique. I have heard Christian RAP, which isn't my style, but the words were right on the money scripturally. And I have listened to lovely choir music that said practically nothing.
I think the point of today's lesson is that God doesn't care what it sounds like; he listens to our heart.

God, no matter what style of song I offer up to you, let me sing it from my heart; not for its musicality, but as an offering to the One I worship and adore.

[Rogenia]

No, it is not about style. God had no respect of person. I am able to receive from any style of music and ministering of God word. Worship flows from God to us, and then from us to God in praise and thanksgiving. “O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise” (Psalm 51:15). God acts first. He looses lips by forgiving sin. He looses lips by giving the words, His Words, by which mouths then shows forth His praise.

The how of worship is important because it reflects what and the why of worship; Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God. Saying back to him what he has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is his name, which he put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are his. The rhythm of our worship is from him to us, and then from us back to him. He gives his gifts, and together we receive and extol them.

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

I think the point that this lesson is leading us to is for us to realize what our motives are in our worship. Why are we there at that time? What is in our heart at that time? At that moment in time, are we praising and worshiping God or are we critiqueing what we hear.

When I go to a worship service where I am not leading worship, I often find myself critiqueing the service - thinking to myself "they could have done this" or " I would have done it like this". This lesson made me realize that when I am in that mode, my heart is not where it should be. I just need to open my heart, mind, soul, ears and eyes and lift everything up to God. The comment was made on page 111 in the book "The people in that congregation weren't the ones who needed to learn something about praise and worship, I was".

As far as listening to a song I don't like - that will be very difficult for me. I pretty much like every style of music - except opera, and I don't have any of that. So, I can't really do that part. But I will give an example. My husband doesn't like some of the songs that the youth listen to. They are christian songs but are rap or rock or whatever they may be. I remember when there were songs they listened to that I didn't like also. But as I listened to the songs more, I did like them. I think that we sometimes do not like a song that is not our style because we are not familiar with it. Listen to the song about 50 times and then decide if you like it or not. You might be surprised that your opinion of the song may change.

I do like the idea in this lesson to listen to the lyrics. I sing solos frequently in church and I love to sing songs that tell a story or have a nice meaning.

So when worshiping or leading worship, remember what your motives are. Place God first in your music whether leading or listening.

[efrisch]

This is so key. As soon as we start worrying about style, we've made style an idol. I've gone to a lot of churches in my few years on this earth, and many of them have struggled with this issue. I'll admit that I've been in services that didn't really hit my style... and that's ok with me. The important thing is that God is worshiped and glorified through worship. As long as that happens, nothing else matters to me.

[hisfirewithin]

Actually, this thread did get going today, just not in the right place:

http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2965

Someone please let Fred know...

[efrisch]

Any particular reason that this thread is in a different spot today?

In any case... several of us have also left comments here in the usual place:

http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2972

[MandoRon]

Here's a few questions I'd like to ask as we reveal our thoughts on today's lesson:

1 - how does style enhance or detract from your worship
2 - what musical styles to you prefer?
3 - what musical styles to you dislike?
4 - are you capable of moving past the "style"?

1 - For the last five years, I've attended a church that is loud and rocks. I find it difficult to attend churches with less energetic music. It's become a strong preference for me. Lack of enthusiasm is a real detractor for me too. If you're going to lead hymns, at least lead them with joy...

2 - Rock, hard rock, acoustic. On a more theoretical level, I prefer music with syncopated beats. Steady 4/4 (bluegrass, for example) gets old for me after a while. I prefer musical groups to singers with bands behind them. Melody and interesting vocals are more important than lyrics.

3 - Country, opera, gangsta rap, metal

4 - Except in the case of opera and country, I can move past the style. Sometimes, I can even move past the style with country. But you gotta execute, and you gotta enjoy what you're doing...

On a side note, my grandmother and I have had some interesting conversations about music over the years (both grandmothers actually). She really prefers orchestral music over anything else. She doesn't like music with a strong beat. She has nothing against rock/blues/country/etc..., she just preferes beatless, orchestral music. My other grandmother however, thinks the hymns and the King James Version are the way church ought to be. A little southern gospel thrown in as a special is okay too.

[MimsiGal]

Yes, I'm late... sorry!

The style issue is one that I just don't get. I think that all contemporary & no hymns is a bad choice - the lyrics of many hymns are so spot on and amazing, and I'm afraid for the generation that is being raised without those hidden in their hearts. That being said, please, by all means, jazz them up a bit!

I have a degree in vocal performance - opera was the emphasis for me - and there isn't much that I don't like... although I do grow very tired of the way that everything coming out of Nashville sounds so much alike. Not the biggest country fan (don't listen to non-christian country EVER) but just about anything else is workable. I would love to see someone put out some christian music in any of the following genres: ethereal, shoegaze, operatic metal (yes, it's coming out of Norway ind it's awesome), punk, darkwave, 4AD-like, etc.

My iTunes is a rather eclectic blend of just about everything, but if I wasn't a worship pastor, I most likely would not have 1/8th as much Christian music on there... it just all sounds the same. I'm currently pushing for more Hillsong United, Delirious?, and things like that - a different sound. It's something that I am struggling with.

As for our church, we pretty much rock out. We do hymns, but 90% of the time they are updated. Even our Christmas carols are jazzed up. Our pastor (in his words) will drag people kicking and screaming if he has to to get them into the 21st century. If it's from the '80's, it's not allowed (unfortunate, but we will continue that discussion until one of us finally gives up!)

I can worship to any song that gives God the glory - although it may take me a bit longer to enter in if the team musically isn't quite there (holdovers from becoming a "trained" musician - kind of a curse!)

Bottom line - lead people to worship in whatever style you choose, but do it with some passion and people will follow - no matter their preference.

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

I found the questions a day late, so I will try to answer them.

1. In my fairly traditional church, there is a small group of seniors who get sour faces when a contemporary song is sung. This sour face has the power to quench the Spirit. We have a good mix of ages, and I do my best to give everyone something they like. (Many of the seniors attend the youth services and clap along with the loud music!)

2. I love the old hymns. I grew up on them, and they have stuck with me. There is so much doctrine built into many of them, that I fear we are throwing out a great treasure when we throw out the hymns. I especailly love the praise and worship songs from the last 3 decades. I can learn to like most of the new songs, if they have substance and are singable. (Many songs are sung by tenors and are too high for most people to sing.) Several songs that have been mentioned on these pages over the past 6 weeks have become songs I love.

3. I dislike RAP and any other "far out" style. (I know that some of the alternative songs have great words, and I'm all for them being used among the target audience.) I live in the South, but didn't grow up on Southern music, (gospel, country, bluegrass, etc.) so I have to stretch myself to appreciate them.

4. I have been patiently biding my time at church until a few things get worked out, so I can start putting more of what I like into the services. After today's lesson, I need to step back and re-evaluate that idea. More about that on Tuesday's page.

[Rogenia]

Erika, I tried to put quote in yours. Still having problem working with this. (smile). Congratulation on the little one. Please keep in touch and let me know what we have here at the worship community; you know we are all family now. Love Rogenia

[RuthABraun]

I'm the one who likes the screaming guitar solos -- you knew there had to be at least one, right? Anyway, my preference for style in worship is whatever style suits the song best. It wouldn't make sense to do "Be Thou My Vision" as a rock song OR as an opera. The style of the music can bring through the emotion and the feeling of the song. We don't do a lot of "left of the dial" stuff simply because we don't have the personnel to pull it off, but we wouldn't be beyond doing something like Matthew West "Next Thing You Know", which is technically a rap song, as a special. We have a classically trained pianist, a Nashville-trained drummer, heavy-metal bass and electric players, and a no-more-than-4-chords-per-song Eagles-inspired acoustic player. That said, our congregation is amazingly open when it comes to style. We worship to music written 1000 years ago and music written yesterday.

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

We do a blended service at our church. We start with a hymn. Then we do a praise set. Before the prayer we then do a praise & worship song. We end with a hymn and then a closing song.

I really like to include songs for different people. I do some songs for the children, some for the youth, some for the adults, etc. In my interludes into the songs I have previously talked to the congregation about not squashing someone else's style of worship. Because of human preference, there is no way to please everyone at the same time. If there is a style you don't like, please be patient and a song of your style will possibly come along in a few minutes. If someone else is being lifted up during that song you don't have a preference for, don't squash that for them. Let them have their moment in time and yours will come along shortly.

The people at my church are very open to whatever I throw into the worship. It is a smaller church but boy can they sing. We sing accapella frequently and I love to hear their voices blend. They all seem to have amazing voices, and they sing in harmony. I love it!!!

I think it doesn't matter what you throw at them, as long as you do it with passion. Pray to God in your decision making when picking the songs. Talk to them about wanting to meet people where they are on different style levels. And ask them to just be open to what they hear and not judgmental. Maybe if we ask them to listen to the words and see what message they can pull out of a song, they might actually get something from a song that they have no preference for at all.

We have older people singing praise songs, upbeat songs, and young people singing hymns. And unless they are complaining behind my back (which I don't think they are - because I can see their passion when we sing), I have not heard any complaints about the different blended styles we use.

I know in some churches this probably won't work to the degree that we do it. But I think throwing in a few songs from a different style is worth a try for every church. I think the other thing also is that you need to know your congregation. And you need to make your additions based on the needs of your church. You may just want to throw in one or two different styles occasionally or you may be able to just readjust your entire style. The amount you do depends on what your congregation is acceptable to.

I agree with those of you who include the hymns. I love the contemporary praise & worship songs, but there is so much to be said for the old hymns too. Some of my hymns I do on the organ. Some I do on the keyboard. It just depends on the style I want to present.

Heavenly Father, continue to guide and direct all of us in the decision-making and presenting of songs to you during worship. Open the eyes and hearts of those we lead that they might lift their lives and grow closer to you. In Jesus Name. Amen