History of the modern worship song, and some questions

[MarkSnyder]

This is a senior thesis at Liberty (Baptist) University by a student there (Travis Doucette) - Historical Development of the Modern Worship Song

http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=honors

One interesting point he makes - when talking about congregational worship (as opposed to revivals, youth musicals, etc) vertical, very personal lyrics are a relatively new development.

So some questions for discussion:

1) How much of modern 'worship wars' revolve around this change in lyrical style this author cites, and how much revolves around musical style?

2) Is the 'neo-hymn' movement that marries traditional styles with new lyrics (coming from songwriters like Keith Getty, Stuart Townend, etc) the way forward as this author would conclude?

3) Is the problem that musicians are writing the songs, and not pastors or theologians? If so how do we remedy this, as songwriters or worship leaders?

4) Why is it rare to find large church organizations like Sovereign Grace that seem committed to growing their own theologically rich songs? In reading this history, many of the worship song 'movements' that have changed things have been oriented around church movements (Vineyard, Calvary Chapel, etc). It is obviously easier to grab the latest Tomlin, Baloche, or Hillsong output and use that, however are we leaving theological principals untaught that we should be teaching on the table when we do so?

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

Mark, Travis is a member of TWC. I thought I recognized the name.

[MarkSnyder]

Mark, Travis is a member of TWC. I thought I recognized the name.

Well Travis, if you read this, I really enjoyed your thesis, and I hope we can have a good discussion of it here!

[mikeymo1741]

I disagree with the premise that the purpose of worship music is to teach theological truths. The purpose of worship music is to facilitate worship. In the context of the church, that means whatever best connects on an emotional level to the people in the room is what works best. There is no universal "right" or "wrong."


There's also the take of taking traditional hymn lyrics and marrying them to new music. Which, by the way, is the way many hymns came to be in the first place. The poem and the song were often written by different people, years apart, and often the same tune was used for many hymn, or vice versa.

Travis also neglects urban gospel, which is very distinct from southern (Bill Gaither) and Black gospel (Fred Hammond) styles. Artists like Mali Music, Tye Tribbett and others bring an entirely new thing to the party.

[MarkSnyder]

Do worship wars revolve around lyrics or musical style?
I would say both, but primarily I would say lyrical content. Many objections to modern styles seem to be around the fact that lyrics are repeated too much, the congregation is singing the same thing too many times, or that the sentiments or truths being sung are shallow. In my group (which actually crosses both 'traditional' and 'contemporary' at a church that features both types of worship service), Lyrics are more important than style.

Is the 'neo-hymn' movement the way forward?
It is a way forward. Mostly this is because the writers have committed themselves to theological truth while at the same time managing to become very well known, with the consequent big platform for their songs.

Should Pastors or Theologians write?
This is difficult. Absent a commitment from a church to grow songs from within (ala Sovereign Grace, Hillsong), Most songs will not gain traction unless they are popularized by artists, who have a natural propensity to sing their own songs. Or, of course, if they come from one of a few established writers. Therefore songwriting as an art (separate from recording and performing) seems to be a hard road, however there are probably many more people trying today that before due to the ease of getting your work out there on the internet. So this may balance out. Pastors and Theologians write a lot already, so I believe the onus is on songwriters to avail themselves of great written stuff and use it. Of course, it will help a lot if songwriters and artists are avid bible students themselves, constantly enriching themselves in the Word and learning doctrine they can apply.

Why so few churches growing songs?
Here I have run into a multitude of opinions. Many 'music people' in churches have the opinion that homegrown songs are inferior. It seems like more of a coincidence thing (where a worship leader at a big church also happens to be a good songwriter) that drives church's adoption of songs. I personally am working at the grass roots level in my church to try to kindle a songwriting group there (there are 4 or 5 writers I know about), and am battling some people's perception that the church probably does not have songwriters within it capable of creating songs that will be useful to a larger group. I think that getting commitment from church leaders (pastors) to be involved and maybe even guide the process is important. Songwriting is not a 'lightning strike' kind of thing, it is a process. One can follow the process and improve upon it to grow good songs. But those who don't write probably don't understand that.

To weigh in on what Mike said on emotional connection - I think we should strive to do all of the above - emotionally connect and teach/sing truth. Music is a great vehicle for planting things inside a person's head. If we just look for an 'emotional connection' I think we may miss the opportunity to reinforce truths that we could. Maybe that's part of the problem - the belief that emotional connection should be the primary driver for worship. I would submit its definitely a part of the 'worship war' phenomenon.

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

Do worship wars revolve around lyrics or musical style?
Mark answered this question very well. Some will argue that "the world's" music has no place in God's house. "Rock and Roll is the devil's music."
But the complaint I have heard voiced the most is that contemporary music is 7-11: 7 words sung 11 times. I personally am not a fan of too many loops. Does God enjoy it more when we tell him "You are worth it" 16 times than when we tell him 4 times?

Is the 'neo-hymn' movement the way forward?
In my church, there is a very luke-warm response to many of the contemporary songs, but the contemporary hymns, like "In Christ Alone" are very well received. I think this is in large part that the songs look and feel familiar to those who grew up on hymns.
And hymns, by their structure, lend themselves to teaching doctrinal truths, while focusing us on God; thus, worship arises from singing them.
(There is no song that I sing that moves me so deeply as "In Christ Alone.")

Should Pastors or Theologians write?
Certainly, if that is part of how God made them. But most of those God called to be pastors don't have the gift of songwriting; their gift lies in their calling.

So, worship songs will be written by those to whom God has given the gift of songwriting. Whether we write theologically rich songs, or shallow ones, depends on how deeply we immerse ourselves in God's word and prayer.
And much practice results in better skills.

Why so few churches growing songs?
I posted one of my songs on FaceBook awhile back, and my cousin in another state commented on how much he liked it. I suggested he pass it on to his worship leader. He replied that, per the pastor, they only use CCLI top 100 songs at their church.
I think the mindset of the church leadership has a lot to do with whose songs will be used. There are several churches whose worship leaders write songs and post them here on TWC, and use their songs in their worship services, and the response is most always positive. There can be a sense of ownership among the people when their own members write the songs they sing.
In our highly technical world, it is possible to write, orchestrate, and publicize a song, all from your own computer. So maybe, in time, more of our songs will find their way into our churches.

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As to whether our music should evoke emotion, or teach theology, there is room for both. I personally don't believe that emotion and spirituality are the same thing. I can worship God without being affected emotionally. I can also get caught up in my emotions without worshiping at all.
There is danger in looking for an emotional high every time we come to worship. We will begin to equate the emotion with worship, and then expect emotion; and when it doesn't happen, we feel like we haven't worshipped. And we want more and more emotion, because it makes us feel like we are growing. We are making "the experience" our god. Worshiping the creation, rather than the creator.

Many of our churches have no small group study time- that venue where the Bible is studied and doctrines learned. So if we don't make teaching doctrine in song a priority, how will the people learn about who God is and how he relates to us? Since music is one of the best teaching tools available, why not use at least one song a week to teach doctrine?
Tom

[yod1948]

If writing great songs that teach theology and provoke an emotional response were easy, everyone would be doing it.

The "gift" of writing songs requires a little god-given natural ability AND a lot of trial & error practice. The congregations who recognize the importance/value of developing songs and songwriters will be the ones setting the trends instead of following them.

As a songwriter, I'm not trying to teach theology but rather trying to teach the Word. Over 80% of the songs I've written in the last decade were simply putting scriptures to music. It is so easy that it feels like cheating sometimes, but it also seems to be more effective ministry than giving a theological commentary in musical form.


Musical styles & genre are great tools for identifying what would work best with the audience you are playing to, but if the purpose is to spread the gospel to every creature, then we should be versatile enough to tailor the message appropriately to the people we are serving....or we can expect the "worship wars" to continue.

As a musician in the Body, I'm called to serve the needs of a particular community rather than play what makes me happy.

It's nice when those considerations intersect.

[MarkSnyder]

If writing great songs that teach theology and provoke an emotional response were easy, everyone would be doing it.

The "gift" of writing songs requires a little god-given natural ability AND a lot of trial & error practice. The congregations who recognize the importance/value of developing songs and songwriters will be the ones setting the trends instead of following them.


Great comments. I just got through listening to a lecture talking about the very issue of the intersection of theology and emotion. The gist of the lecture was illustrating how in many of their songs, hymnwriters like Wesley did just this - they wrote the hymn from the core of their being, where the theology spoke to them and moved them emotionally. There are devices they used to do this, such as juxtaposing the grand story of salvation with the listener's own salvation story, for instance, and moving through time with verb tenses to make past events current (ie, Christ the Lord is risen today)

Lectures are here: SBTS – Resources – Institute for Christian Worship Lectures (http://www.sbts.edu/resources/category/icw/)

[simon]

Having been in, and participated in music, at a number of different churches, I think what is most appropriate depends more on what the intention of a service is. For instance in my previous more charismatic church emotional engagement and "freedom to move with the spirit" was more important than words, however a few times a year (easter, christmas) we would put on special services where a polished performance with specific arrangements of songs linked to the theme was most important.

I have now moved to a "low Anglican" church which means that organs are taboo, however a couple hymns thrown in with more modern songs is expected from the mostly piano led worship. Furthermore the congregation seems to "lead" the singing so there is little opportunity for more flexible arrangement. BUT we are about to start an evening "youth friendly" service which I am going to try and lead in a more flexible way - something that would be inappropriate for the Sunday morning. Regarding theology, as an Anglican there is so much diversity that someone will disagree with almost anything that is sung!

So worship wars? I would say a "war" is only created when there are different expectations.

Simon