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Why Modern Day Worship Music is Not Always Beneficial- Especially in Mega Churches
-written from the perspective of someone who believes in and follows the Christian faith-
Modern day worship music is probably one of the biggest staples of churches across America. Although it is seen as beneficial or uplifting to adamant church goers, it isn't always. In the world we live in today, most institutions and businesses thrive off of greed and money. This includes corrupt churches and massive music corporations. They turn something that was once meant as a sacred time of worship and spiritual encounters into a booming business opportunity. When churches sing these songs written by mega worship brands it brings them profit, exposing people to ideas that are not always biblical or beneficial.Β Β
Traditional hymns or songs of praise focused on the divine and holy character of God. The music focused on God's attributes, highlighting the redemptive work he does. Modern day worship music often focuses on how we as humans feel. The songs favor words like "me" or "my" and "I". Instead of focusing on God, they focus on how the believer feels and what God can give us.Β
The Bible does emphasize the importance of worship. Shallow, non Godly lyrics turn what is meant to be holy into a feel-good (or bad) business.Β
Instead of really getting a private, emotional connection with the Lord, people often get a public, almost show-like performance while trying to worship in large churches.Β Loud instrumentals, fog machines, and darkened lights can change the feel into a performance, rather than a holy connection and reverence.Β to someone, this may make them feel happy and hyped up, leading them to mistake that feeling for the Holy Spirit and God's presence.....ultimately bringing them a false hope.
Β Reverence, by definition, is a feeling of deep respect, awe, and honor directed toward someone or something holy, exalted, or worthy of supreme regard. (In this case the Lord).
Modern worship comprises the Biblical idea of reverence in many ways. Focusing worship music on God as a buddy and friend (which is not inherently wrong) while completely ignoring his holiness and justice changes a biblical view into a commercialized one. Instead of feeling a deep connection with a feared and holy savior, a feel-good human experience is prioritized.
Exodus 3:5 explains God's command of respecting holy ground through his command to Moses. Although we are not physically being commanded by God to take off our sandals when we are standing on holy ground, this shows the importance of boundaries and respect when it comes to Holy places and divine respect. In this ancient case, removing one's sandals was a sign of deep gratitude and respect. In a modern day lens, this shows symbolic and even physical acts of humility while coming into God's presence.Β
The fact that some worship songs are more concentrated on uplifting humans more than God is already concerning enough. The flip side of this is "worship " songs that tear humans down in order to make God seem greater. Worship should not be focused on making us as humans feel good or bad by talking about ourselves. God does not need us to tear ourselves down, saying things like we aren't worthy and we don't deserve good things and were nothing in order to praise Him. Making young children-or even adults- listen to and sing these songs can lead to subconscious ideas about self worth and identity that is completely opposite of how God would want us to view ourselves. With Christ, the Bible teaches that we are all worthy no matter what we have done. Jesus emphasizes that we are all his children, made in his image whether or not we choose to believe. By creating these subconscious feelings of self doubt along with certain chord progression in songs, it will lead to people feeling immense guilt and regret while keeping them running back to church for more.
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Josephine??
as an orthodox christian, i can say that modern day "christianity" is a scam just to make people feel good about themselves. And the music is often centered around the sentiment of "I can do anything with God" and although that is technically true, that's not meaning that God is for your own personal gain. I find myself simply listening to gospel music from the 50s-60s because I feel like it's good about maintaining the message, but keeping it easy to listen to as well!! because honestly, i'm not always in the mood for chants and hymns.
Loved this post! :3
Thank you so much!! im glad theres someone out there who agrees with this, i grew up primarily in big churches and organized "chirstian schools" but as i got older i turned away from a lot of it just due to personal things and reasons like this one,- i learned alot of it was more for control and feel good opportunities- but i'm looking to get back into the faith, deconstructing and reconstructing from a completley different and healthier perspective!! ill have to give 50s and 60s music a try, ive never really thought of that either! :D
by ππ€π; ; Report
yeah i honestly felt the same way with the control and stuff! I grew up baptist and very sheltered and felt like a lot of what the pastors tried to teach girls was very heavy on purity culture, yet very vague about bodies, consent, etc.. And because I was never taught the appropriate things about how I'm allowed to say no and that my body is mine, my first boyfriend heavily abused me and kept me very isolated due to religious guilt. I'm glad I can relate to you on that (maybe not the boyfriend trauma dump lol)! Not a lot of Christians that I've talked to have experienced the similar themes of control with modern day Christianity tbh
by Josephine??; ; Report
i'm so sorry you went thru that thats horrible, very glad youve gotten away from that environment tho!! but yeahh for sure, i feel what i experienced was very heavy on rules and purity, things like that... or completely just a mega church out of touch from God feel. it was weird and my guilt ate me alive especially since i tend to obsess over certain things over and over and i walked away from most of it for my own sake a while ago but this actually gives me hope that other Christians agree with things like this since most of the ones ive been around have been so out of touch with reality and things that go on around them. God bless you, you seem so nice and genuine :)
by ππ€π; ; Report
Jup¡ter
Hiii non believer but religion interessted/apperciative person here! I agree with this and the general evangelical trend of trying to over perform/entertain, i think it depends on confession. In my country catholisism is more common and thus a lot of the actual ritualistic elements feel different.
Furthermore, i'd recomend looking into the taizΓ© song recordings. Have visited that place of woreship multiple times and they focus on worship through song, which is really beautiful :D
yes thanks so much for the feedback!!
im looking forward to learning more about it ill for sure look into the recordings, it sounds rlly interesting. i do like certain parts of catholicism and that's another thing ill probably look into the history of more, as alot of my extended family is catholic and originated from a primarily catholic country. the churches and way they go about worshipping without the need to perform and entertain can be so beautiful though.
its hard to separate the goods and bads in different beliefs, because inherently they're supposed to be good, but after all these years of horrible things being done in the name of religion it has gotten a pretty bad rep... but i suppose that could be said for anything.
by ππ€π; ; Report
Yes thats true. I suppose xou just need to learn about what it was used for and acknowledge that while the chruch has done that you can still distance yourself from that.
I think faith at its core is still an idivdual thing! :)
by Jup¡ter; ; Report
very true!! :)
by ππ€π; ; Report