Modern music in churches today

[Michael The Disciple]

I wish all Christian music was this glorious!

Hillsong

[Michael The Disciple]

And this!

Hillsong

[CC1]

Originally Posted by lily

I love the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir type music, etc.
I notice in UPC churches today the Hillsong type music and performance is a norm and I truly detest it. It's a dealbreaker for me. I truly hope this music trend dies out.
The last church I regularly attended was a small PAW church for about 5 years. There was none of the stage stuff and screen with the shallow Hillsong style music, just good ol' worship music.
When I attended UPC churches several years ago it was mainly choir music, just good powerful Pentecostal worship music which I love. I'm sure everyone's seen Bro. Spell's services since he and his church have become infamous on the news. I like their music style, definitely no Hillsong stuff there.


I visited a church last Sunday and I basically had to sit and grit my teeth and bear the Hillsong music style I detest, which is always seemingly accompanied by that nauseatingly annoying sing songy "talk" the worship leader does, a la Hillsong style. It's basically like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. I had to repent and tell God sorry, but I just couldn't deal with it. Won't be back for sure.

What has happened to the music in UPC churches?? ��

Have you ever considered that music style is generational and does not stay constant? It might do you a little good to not be so judgmental that a style of music would keep you from enjoying praise and worship and entering into the presence of God. I of course prefer some styles of music over otehrs but as much as I am NOT a Southern Gospel fan I can enjoy the presence of God and join in that style worship if I encounter it just as I can black gospel music, the murch maligned Hillsong style, etc, etc.

Your complaint reminds me of people who get upset if someone sits in "their pew".

[lily]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I havent seen Bro Spells services. Do you have a link?

On Central City News. I've seen the services via Facebook

[lily]

Originally Posted by CC1

Have you ever considered that music style is generational and does not stay constant? It might do you a little good to not be so judgmental that a style of music would keep you from enjoying praise and worship and entering into the presence of God. I of course prefer some styles of music over otehrs but as much as I am NOT a Southern Gospel fan I can enjoy the presence of God and join in that style worship if I encounter it just as I can black gospel music, the murch maligned Hillsong style, etc, etc.

Your complaint reminds me of people who get upset if someone sits in "their pew".

Nope, it stinks . It's just baaaaddd. Musically it's bad, lyrically it's bad, soooooo uninspiring. I will post a link on the subject.

[lily]

This:

https://medium.com/@juuanb/the-probl...c-4252e1dbc0d3

[lily]

Originally Posted by Steven Avery

A couple of problems are missed.

Sing-songy carnival style backdrop music during an alter call. You can almost see the ferris wheel.

Carnal music.
Back-beat (ghetto) music with sort of Christian lyrics.If I hit it, I walk out, quickly.

And I don't know enough Hillsong and K Love, but there are many lyrics that exalt the singers .. "yes, I love you so much, Jesus, my (our) love is super-amazing"

repetitive, short ditty, choruses that go nowhere in terms of our relationship to Jesus.


Anything that exalts the dark-side name "yahweh". At Homestead Heritage they swapped away the majestic and sonorous name Jehovah, and put in the creepsta. This can pop up in any place that is not truly an Authorized Version (KJB) church. If your church has been moving that way, please consider carefully. You are inviting in a non-Christian entity.

Thanks!

Yes to everything you said, and please read the link I posted that is an interesting read. I love music, and when I got in church one of the things I loved was the music. I get the feeling it's the UPC that's been the most inundated with this Hillsong style trend as far as Apostolic churches go? It doesn't lend to a true deep worship, at least for me. I can't stand the music style, the actual technical music aspects of it are dismal. and the whole cookie cutter aspect of it, even down to that sing songy talking stuff the song leader does at the congregation, every. single. time., drives me bonkers. Like they handed out a manual or something. If one is into sociology, it would make a great thesis on how people just follow each other. It became popular and now everyone does it and copy cats, even if it's good or bad.

It's like instead of a full course meal, you get cotton candy fluff that really doesn't reach down in your soul and spirit. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something amiss imo.

When I was at the church I was visiting and having to endure it, instead of worshiping, I was asking God to forgive me the entire time because it was getting on my nerves so bad. It was that bad for me. If there's some things I can't stand it's follower mentality and mediocrity and the whole thing smacks of it. It's a fad and I hope it's one that goes away. I don't see how true musicians can actually stomach the mediocrity and lackluster music style? At any rate, I concur with the author of the link that I shared above.

[lily]

Originally Posted by james34

Something in the music has changed over the years. I remember when christian music wasnt popular in secular businesses. Now it is common to hear it played in convenient stores, dollar general etc. What changed? The lines that used to separate christianity from sin have become so blurred that people are not able to discern the body of Christ. Things that shouldnt be are counted as in the body. I remember a time when sinners didnt listen to gospel music. I always thought it very telling when the interest of sinners and saints are the same, and im not talking about repentant sinners.

I agree with your observation, and it's because of the watered down lackluster, lack of true anointing new music. Do you notice it all sounds alike? Much like what is considered modern "country music" of today, it all sounds the same. No true creativity. I do NOT listen to modern country music, it's as bad as Hillsong music. Give me the classic greats like Johnny Cash, etc, but this nauseating pop country is right up there as bad as the Hillsong style music.

[n david]

Originally Posted by lily

I love the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir type music, etc.
I notice in UPC churches today the Hillsong type music and performance is a norm and I truly detest it. It's a dealbreaker for me. I truly hope this music trend dies out.
The last church I regularly attended was a small PAW church for about 5 years. There was none of the stage stuff and screen with the shallow Hillsong style music, just good ol' worship music.
When I attended UPC churches several years ago it was mainly choir music, just good powerful Pentecostal worship music which I love. I'm sure everyone's seen Bro. Spell's services since he and his church have become infamous on the news. I like their music style, definitely no Hillsong stuff there.

I visited a church last Sunday and I basically had to sit and grit my teeth and bear the Hillsong music style I detest, which is always seemingly accompanied by that nauseatingly annoying sing songy "talk" the worship leader does, a la Hillsong style. It's basically like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. I had to repent and tell God sorry, but I just couldn't deal with it. Won't be back for sure.

What has happened to the music in UPC churches?? ��

First, you confuse your favorite genre of music with being more anointed than another. I hate worship genre wars, where people try to pit their favorite against others. Quite frankly it's stupid.

PAW is a black organization, Tony Spell's church music style utilizes mostly black Gospel music (location and audience). Side note: I watched a service in which Tony Spell sang a song by Andre Crouch. That dude HATED Apostolic Pentecostals. Back in the late 70s, my family and some friends went to a concert by Andre Crouch where he ranted several minutes against A/Ps. Yet every church I've visited or attended has sung at least one, if not more, songs written by Andre.

Personally, I like black Gospel music. I love Saints in Praise, the old Carlton Pearson, Walter Hawkins, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Winans, and the list could go on and on.

I like the early 2000 Hillsong music. I like many of Clint Brown's songs.

Speaking as someone who has been a music director/worship leader in several churches in a couple of different states, the genre may change, but the anointing should not.

When I first began, at the church where I grew up, it was old school choruses and the Sing Unto the Lord hymnal, along with a couple of choir songs on Sunday nights.

My second church was in a small town surrounded by farms. It was still some old school choruses, with a little country gospel mixed in.

I moved to the southwest where it was Hillsong, Martha Munizzi, and Israel Houghton.

The second church here was predominately Hispanic. Welcome Marcos Witt and other latin artists.

My third church here was predominately black. I was actually called out by a sweet "church mother" who sang in the praise team because I wasn't using more black gospel and they liked black gospel music.

My current church is a small UPC church, mostly over the age of 60. They like old school choruses and country gospel.

In each one of these churches, it wasn't about the genre of music. The genre changed depending on the makeup of the congregation and their culture. But what didn't change was the worship.

Don't get so stuck on your personal preference and not worship because it's not your style. It's not about you or the style of music. It should always be about HIM.

[n david]

Originally Posted by lily

This:

https://medium.com/@juuanb/the-probl...c-4252e1dbc0d3

I read the article. Agree with most points, disagree with some.

While I'm not a fan of repetitive lyrics, there are a lot of old school choruses and black gospel songs that are repetitive, so you can't throw stones at Hillsong for repetitive lyrics when a lot of other genres have the same.