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Post by Josh on Sept 22, 2009 20:05:21 GMT -8
It seems like about 10 years or so ago all of the sudden a new genre of "christian music" appeared on the scene: "worship music".
The label has always bugged me for a couple reasons. First, I feel like the label insinuates that other kinds of music aren't worship or that music under this label automatically is worship.
Secondly, I've found personally that music labeled "worship" is often times the music that is least likely to inspire me to worship.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Is there a reasonable dividing line between music that is and music that isn't "worship music"?
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Post by Alex on Sept 22, 2009 21:23:29 GMT -8
no
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Post by robin on Sept 23, 2009 7:24:17 GMT -8
As we discussed last night, I believe there is a difference between worship music, and what I would call spiritual music.
Worship music is music that pays honor and reveres God specifically. I would also say that worship music is not a new genre. All the hymns that was sang growing up, and that Christians have been singing for generations is considered worship music.
The newer genre of music, what I would call spiritual, invokes great feelings of spirituality, and sometime conviction without ever mentioning God, or God's greatness. It seems to me that this type of music, though extremely valuable in the Christian life, is not what I would consider Worship music.
Robin
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Post by Kirby on Sept 23, 2009 14:20:02 GMT -8
"Worship" is just another title corporations come up with to sell more music.
Even Elvis, Johnny Cash, et al recorded albums of hymns back in the day.
Yeah, it also seems to dictate what is "appropriate" to sing in church and what is not. Worship is more than just singing, but i'd wager that most churchgoers only think of music when they hear the term "worship"
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ben
Advanced Member
Posts: 115
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Post by ben on Sept 23, 2009 14:58:40 GMT -8
It seems to me that lyrics have an important facet in what I consider worship music. If it is man centered, I'd just as well listen to secular music.
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Post by Josh on Sept 23, 2009 15:58:48 GMT -8
If it is man centered, I'd just as well listen to secular music. You mentioned this the other night at Aletheia. But I'm wondering if you could define or describe what is considered "man centered" music. Because I have a sneaking suspicion that what one person thinks is "man centered", another person might find "God reflecting". |
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ben
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Post by ben on Sept 23, 2009 19:34:54 GMT -8
When some of the lyrics emphasize how God can fix all your problems instead of giving glory to God inspite of your problems, I consider that man centered.
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Post by Josh on Sept 23, 2009 19:48:45 GMT -8
So, you don't mean that if there's a long rocking guitar solo it's automatically man-centered? Good. I thought we were going to get into our first argument  Seriously, I agree with you- overly simplistic quick-fix sort of lyrics don't resonate with me. I mean, let's look at the closest parallel to "worship" songs in the Bible, the Psalms, and what do we find there? A whole lot of honesty- even desperation at times. Not the quick fix. I think "worship" music should be like the Psalms- sometimes stories, sometimes praise, sometimes petition, sometimes confession, sometimes thanksgiving, sometimes wisdom. |
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ben
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Post by ben on Sept 23, 2009 20:01:20 GMT -8
I would never argue with you. You "da big Kahuna".
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Post by Margot on Sept 23, 2009 21:35:50 GMT -8
I had to think a little about this one because it can be such a dividing line amongst Christians. For the most part, I believe the title "Worship Music" is little more than a marketing tool. Men (okay, and women!) are always so quick to want to label everything! God forbid it stand alone by itself as just "music" -- we have to slap a name on it so we know where to file it at Fred Meyer's. I have found that what moves me to worship is s-o-o-o different than what moves other brothers and sisters. Some of the songs where choruses are repeated over and over, might be designed for "worship," but, they just bore me. I wouldn't want to differentiate between worship and non-worship because I think it could really offend others that use that music differently. However if I had to generalize: I think "worship" music should be like the Psalms- sometimes stories, sometimes praise, sometimes petition, sometimes confession, sometimes thanksgiving, sometimes wisdom. Amen! And a long, rockin guitar solo wouldn't hurt either ;D |
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Post by Josh on Sept 26, 2009 20:05:03 GMT -8
\
Much agreed. And I had how divisive of an issue it is in the Christian world. That's why I think the best way to go is diversity in the musical life of a church.
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Post by Josh on Sept 26, 2009 20:05:52 GMT -8
I would never argue with you. You "da big Kahuna". Every good relationship has to have some arguments, right? |
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Post by Kirby on Sept 29, 2009 18:32:42 GMT -8
I really want to discuss this. I will save my thoughts until someone else watches:
It's 10 minutes long.
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Post by Josh on Sept 29, 2009 19:52:53 GMT -8
Is that Jack Black?  OK, so now I'm really curious what you have to say, kirbstomp. |
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Post by Kirby on Sept 29, 2009 20:03:32 GMT -8
My impressions: When you look at the audience, they seem confused...are we partying, or praising God? At the end, the abrupt switch from rockin club to direct verbal praises was awkward.
I can't figure out if this is creative or if Dead Or Alive should sue.
I felt like it was a performance, which may be what separates any genre of music from worship. Worship music can very well be rock, hip-hop, other modern music styles, but these guys seemed more about changing "baby" to "Jesus" so they could be hip in church.
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Post by Josh on Sept 29, 2009 20:07:31 GMT -8
Absolutely.
Yeah, most of the people in the audience looked like they couldn't wait to get the heck out of there.
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