4 Ways to Kill Church Worship Fast

[Originalist]

I've been saying this since the late 90's and few have listened. Some have gotten angry at me. Thank God more are seeing it. Saints, God is sick and tired of our "worship services" that draw attention to performance instead of helping his bride open up to him.

4 Ways to Kill Church Worship Fast

Charisma News


Looking around the church last Sunday I noticed that the majority weren't singing. And most of those who were singing barely moved their lips. The only voices I actually heard were those on stage with microphones.

That's been the case for years now—in churches large and small. What used to be congregational singing has become congregational staring.

Even when the chipper "worship leader" in contemporary churches bounds on stage and predictably beckons everyone to "stand and worship," the people compliantly obey the stand command, but then they turn into mute mannequins.

What's behind this phenomenon? What happened to the bygone sounds of sanctuaries overflowing with fervent, harmonizing voices from the pews, singing out with a passion that could be heard down the street? I suspect it's a number of unfortunate factors.

Spectator set-up. Increasingly, the church has constructed the worship service as a spectator event. Everyone expects the people on stage to perform while the pew-sitters fulfill the expectation of any good audience–file in, be still, be quiet, don't question, don't contribute (except to the offering plate) and watch the spotlighted musicians deliver their well-rehearsed concerts.

Professionalism. It seems it's paramount for church music to be more professional than participatory. The people in the pews know they pale in comparison to the loud voices at the microphones. Quality is worshipped. So the worshipers balk at defiling the quality with their crude crooning. It's better to just fake it with a little lip syncing.



Blare. The musicians' volume is cranked up so high that congregants can't hear their own voices, or the voices of those around them, even if they would sing. So they don't sing. What would it add? The overwhelming, amplified sound blares from big speakers, obliterating any chance for the sound of robust congregational singing.

Music choice. Sometimes people refrain from singing because the songs are unfamiliar, hard to sing or just cheesy. Sometimes worship leaders choose a song that may thematically tie into the day's sermon topic, but it's unsingable. Sometimes worship leaders choose lame songs written by their favorite songwriters–themselves.

I admit. I've joined the majority. I've stopped singing. I'm not happy about it. I know I should overcome these barriers and just praise the Lord with my very unprofessional vocalizations. But I long for an environment that evokes my real heartfelt vocal participation.

Thom Schultz is an eclectic author and the founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café. Holy Soup offers innovative approaches to ministry, and challenges the status quo of today's church.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/...hip-fast-kills

[rick g mcmahan]

Amen you are right

[Carl]

Originally Posted by Originalist

I've been saying this since the late 90's and few have listened. Some have gotten angry at me. Thank God more are seeing it. Saints, God is sick and tired of our "worship services" that draw attention to performance instead of helping his bride open up to him.

4 Ways to Kill Church Worship Fast

Charisma News


Looking around the church last Sunday I noticed that the majority weren't singing. And most of those who were singing barely moved their lips. The only voices I actually heard were those on stage with microphones.

That's been the case for years now—in churches large and small. What used to be congregational singing has become congregational staring.

Even when the chipper "worship leader" in contemporary churches bounds on stage and predictably beckons everyone to "stand and worship," the people compliantly obey the stand command, but then they turn into mute mannequins.

What's behind this phenomenon? What happened to the bygone sounds of sanctuaries overflowing with fervent, harmonizing voices from the pews, singing out with a passion that could be heard down the street? I suspect it's a number of unfortunate factors.

Spectator set-up. Increasingly, the church has constructed the worship service as a spectator event. Everyone expects the people on stage to perform while the pew-sitters fulfill the expectation of any good audience–file in, be still, be quiet, don't question, don't contribute (except to the offering plate) and watch the spotlighted musicians deliver their well-rehearsed concerts.

Professionalism. It seems it's paramount for church music to be more professional than participatory. The people in the pews know they pale in comparison to the loud voices at the microphones. Quality is worshipped. So the worshipers balk at defiling the quality with their crude crooning. It's better to just fake it with a little lip syncing.



Blare. The musicians' volume is cranked up so high that congregants can't hear their own voices, or the voices of those around them, even if they would sing. So they don't sing. What would it add? The overwhelming, amplified sound blares from big speakers, obliterating any chance for the sound of robust congregational singing.

Music choice. Sometimes people refrain from singing because the songs are unfamiliar, hard to sing or just cheesy. Sometimes worship leaders choose a song that may thematically tie into the day's sermon topic, but it's unsingable. Sometimes worship leaders choose lame songs written by their favorite songwriters–themselves.

I admit. I've joined the majority. I've stopped singing. I'm not happy about it. I know I should overcome these barriers and just praise the Lord with my very unprofessional vocalizations. But I long for an environment that evokes my real heartfelt vocal participation.

Thom Schultz is an eclectic author and the founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café. Holy Soup offers innovative approaches to ministry, and challenges the status quo of today's church.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/...hip-fast-kills

Boy you nailed it! A lot of people agree with these observations. It seems like over the years as more people assembled on the platform and the louder the volume became the less the congregation participated. It is a sad situation.

[Sean]

Brother, that hits the nail on the head. That is exactly what was happening at my last church.

[KeptByTheWord]

It's good to see someone finally acknowledging that there is a problem with performance-based worship. The next question is.... what is to be done about it?

[Carl]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

It's good to see someone finally acknowledging that there is a problem with performance-based worship. The next question is.... what is to be done about it?

1. Eliminate the praise/worship teams and have only one person to direct the song. This makes it less a performance and more a corporate event of worship.

2. Turn the volume way down so the congregation hears themselves. If it is too quiet, tough, then the church members need to learn how to sing. Sing at home, sing in the car, get comfortable with your voice and how it sounds. This also does away with the overpowering beat .

3. Get rid of the light show. This is just a gimmick.

4. Sings songs that are easy for everyone, not repetitious.

This is just a start.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Carl

1. Eliminate the praise/worship teams and have only one person to direct the song. This makes it less a performance and more a corporate event of worship.

2. Turn the volume way down so the congregation hears themselves. If it is too quiet, tough, then the church members need to learn how to sing. Sing at home, sing in the car, get comfortable with your voice and how it sounds. This also does away with the overpowering beat .

3. Get rid of the light show. This is just a gimmick.

4. Sings songs that are easy for everyone, not repetitious.

This is just a start.

Excellent points, and I agree... but easier talked about than done. People aren't going to give up their turn in the spotlight easily.

[obriencp]

i agree with most, but wanted to offer another view.

Some people wouldn't be comfortable praising and worshiping if everyone around them could hear what they're saying/singing. Loud praise and worship music makes it easier for newcomers or strugglers to worship without fear of their prayers being heard.

[Carl]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Excellent points, and I agree... but easier talked about than done. People aren't going to give up their turn in the spotlight easily.

Yep. Some attitudes have to change.

[Carl]

Originally Posted by obriencp

i agree with most, but wanted to offer another view.

Some people wouldn't be comfortable praising and worshiping if everyone around them could hear what they're saying/singing. Loud praise and worship music makes it easier for newcomers or strugglers to worship without fear of their prayers being heard.

I agree, there has to be something to encourage people to sing. This goes for the altar call as well. It is easier to pray with a little something going on. The problem is churches have overcompensated to the point of discouraging and drowning out participation. Just my thoughts. I watched the whole thing change from being a kid in the 1960's to where we are at today. Its been very confusing.