by Sandy » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:37 am
I sure don't mind a good praise band, especially if they are good musicians and the volume is set at an appropriate level, and the musicians understand that they are leading worship, not performing a gig.
The arguments about the simplistic nature of contemporary worship music and the repeat, repeat, repeat.... don't really hold water. A lot of older hymns are pretty simplistic, theologically bad, and pretty repetitious ("Bringing in the Sheaves" comes to mind, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder" is another, "Jesus Saves," and I could think of dozens of others). And I guess the influence of seminary classes I had regarding worship has probably affected my perspective on hymns, since I was taught that, from a Biblical perspective, worship is something that is directed toward God, hymns that are about God or Jesus, not directed to them, sometimes seem less worshipful. Much of today's Christian worship music is theologically sound, not nearly as simplistic as implied in the article, and not necessarily repetitious. On the other hand, there are some great worship hymns, loaded with praise and inspiring in their sound. A good worship leader, in my opinion, works with a pastor to plan a worship experience that will lead a congregation into the presence of the Holy Spirit, inviting God in, and bringing him into contact with worshippers who want to meet him. Sometimes, great music performances can drive him away.