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I guess they always have been. But now it seems that they are changing at an ever increasing pace. Musical trends and standards are evolving so fast that it is becoming almost impossible to keep up. It has been no secret that I have never been a big fan of Contemporary Praise and Worship music. After I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from California State University at Sacramento, I began to evaluate music differently than I did before. This provided a foundation that enabled me to distinguish compositions of Musical and Lyrical integrity from those that are poorly constructed. It goes beyond taste or musical preference. I am well able to appreciate the musical integrity of styles that I don't particularly enjoy listening to on a regular basis. I am not a big fan of Classical music. But I certainly can appreciate the artistic achievement in well written compositions, and even enjoy them at times.
When the move toward contemporary praise and worship music began over 25 years ago, I was not very impressed with the songs, especially as they pertained to a worship service. But my opinion at that time was based solely on my distaste for the style. I felt that they just failed in comparison to the Hymns and even some of the Southern Gospel songs we had been using for worship. But the word CONTEMPORARY is a very powerful word. People seem to be naturally drawn to it. It represents what is new, and up to date. So as the years have gone by, more and more of our churches have moved to this contemporary trend of music. And those of us who did not like it were labeled Old Fashioned, or just Weak Minded, or even Shallow Believers. Yes, I have been looked down at, from some very long noses because I did not prefer what was Contemporary.
Well, I'd like to inform all those fans of Contemporary Praise and Worship music to fasten their seatbelts and get ready for their same arguments to be thrown in their own faces. Alas, times are changing once again, and what was Contemporary, is not Contemporary anymore! Over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to visit several churches where we have never been before. On one particular Sunday we had the morning off, so my wife and I decided to visit a local church in the town we were in. We arrived just a few minutes late, the service had begun about five minutes before we arrived. When we walked into the sanctuary, there were approximately 2000 people in the congregation. The lights were dimmed in the congregation. As a matter of fact, it was quite dark, much like you would expect in a concert situation. The usher tried to seat us a few rows from the front, but we chose to sit about four rows down from the back row on the main level. I wanted to have a full view of what we were about to experience.
On the stage was a rock band. There was no choir, no hymns, no praise team, and no contemporary Praise and Worship tunes. It was a full blown Heavy Metal Rock concert. The band consisted of two drummers, several guitars, a keyboard player, and one singer. The lead singer sang with the style that you would expect from a Def Leopard or Guns and Roses concert. (Sorry for the old band references. I'm not exactly sure who the new wave of secular heavy metal artists are.)
This was what was presented to the congregation for 10:00 Sunday Morning worship. Oh, by the way, this was not some weird Charismatic Youth Conference. This was the largest Southern Baptist Church in the city. And it was not advertised or presented as a special event for the Youth, it was their normal Sunday Morning Worship. I looked around at those who were seated near us. About 5% of the people were sitting, not participating at all. Of those who were standing, a few were moving their lips to the words of the song. At one point the lead singer told the band to quit and let the congregation sing. This is what really told the story of the morning. When he asked to hear the congregation of 2000 lift this song to the Lord, there were about 100 people who actually were participating, if that many. You really had to listen close to hear someone singing the song. No one around us was singing or worshipping for that matter. We were simply watching a rock concert performance. The band was not LEADING anything. They were simply performing.
I would love to say that this was an isolated incident, but we have experienced similar experiences in other churches, of other denominations as well. The days of Contemporary Praise and Worship music is on it's way out. It is just not CONTEMPORARY anymore. Churches have been singing those songs and choruses now for over 25 years. There is now a new generation of musicians coming up that look at Contemporary Praise and Worship as OLD SCHOOL!!! Isn't that a hoot!! And those of us who still prefer hymns and southern gospel songs are just old forgotten dinosaurs in their eyes. The Praise Choruses are much too passive and watered down for the tastes of those who are following the current trends in church music.
All of these Praise and Worship Music fans that have pushed the rest of us aside for so many years, are now being pushed aside in favor of a more youthful, up to date, format. The Praise and Worship music just does not reflect pop culture any longer. There is a new wind blowing.
So what to we do about it. Well, I'm going to sit back and laugh like a hyena at those who are now realizing that time has marched on and they are no longer considered part of the cool group. I'm also going to laugh at those who decide they need to jump on this new band wagon of Hard Rock Worship, in order to remain cool.
Now I don't have a problem in the world with people who enjoy that style of music. My own kids think it is wonderful. And that's OK. They are kids. But I think that some of the more mature believers ought to rise up and teach the younger ones that there is more than one way to do it. There are deeper things in the spirit that we can explore, that will last long after the music has faded away.
For Christmas last year I bought my wife a CD collection of 1970's pop music. She loved the music of that era. As we have been driving down the road listening to the CD's, my children would sometimes laugh and ask "was this cool when you were a kid?" I assure them that it was. And I also tell them that one day their children will think that the music they are currently listening to, will sound very outdated and old fashioned. Each one of my three children have now listened to those CD's enough in the car, that they have each picked out their favorite tunes. My six year old, Cason, likes Rock The Boat. My 13 year old thinks Carwash is the best tune of the 70's. But my 9 year old, Lyndsey, our little prayer warrior, has chosen The Hustle as her favorite tune.
I'm so proud!!! Not because those are great songs, but because they are learning to appreciate something beyond what pop culture is telling them is cool right now.
I think we as Christian songwriters should stay true to the callings that God has put on each one of our own lives, and create the kind of music that He has placed in us and inspired us to write, regardless of whether or not it is considered contemporary or cool.
Until next time, keep on writing!
Daryl Williams
http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net
Reader Comments
Excellent article Daryl...I agree with you 100%!
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Written: 03/01/2007 
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Category:
The Songwriter
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