How Modern Church Worship Is Becoming An Idol

[Ghoti Ichthus]

There's multiple reasons why cadence sung while running in military formation . . .
Inculcation of military/Command attitude/values, esprit de corps, team building, maintain cadence/step/pace, ignore pain/exhaustion, etc.

Singing combined with exhaustive hard labor/exercise is a well-known brainwashing/indoctrination technique.

 

[mattfivefour]

ignore pain/exhaustion

As the negro slaves knew when they began their practice of field hollers and rhythmic chants.

 

[Matthew6:33]

Worship is big time under attack right now in the Church. Even conservative Bible Churches are adopting more of a modern contemporary style to "attract the youth." I brought this up to the Church leadership the other day and referenced the article about Elevation Church (Elevation Worship, Stephen Furtick, NC) not mentioning the resurrection, blood of Jesus, and Calvary in their Easter service because it makes people "feel like an outsider..." I asked them if they really wanted to be supporting and giving attention to an apostate ministry like that. The leadership heard my concerns and hopefully took it to heart but the following Sunday after I mentioned this, they played Bethel Music. The scary thing is Churches don't want to investigate the fruit of the worship music they are playing. Bad doctrine comes next as Satan just needs a small opening in the doorway. He was after all the worship leader in heaven at one time.​

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Modern music in church makes me feel like an outsider and/or as if they're trying to push the old people out of the church. Worse, it feels as if they're trying to push Jesus, tradition, respect/reverence, the Bible, God, and even the Pastor out of church.

If a church wants a less formal service and does away with the liturgy, but still retains minimum essential elements of the service and the hymns are still traditional, OK. But when essential elements are done away with, the music/conduct is disrespectful, Law and Gospel aren't present in the sermon, a "worship leader" usurps the Pastor's role as worship leader, the band/choir/etc. usurps the focal point of the cross and altar, I have a serious problem with it.

Minimum essential elements for weekly worship (Lutheran):
Invocation
Confession of sins and absolution/announcement of Grace
Bible readings (generally comprising OT, NT, and The Gospel)
Sermon
Confession of faith (Apostle's, Nicene, or Athanasian Creed)
Prayer, including The Lord's Prayer
Holy Communion, including consecration and distribution of the elements (some churches every week, others less often)
Benediction

Offering and offertory don't appear, as many churches no longer pass a plate/basket due to online giving, mail-in donations, and/or receptacle/basket near the door or back of the Sanctuary (partially due to covid)
Hymns don't appear, as not absolutely necessary, although a lot lost when omitted, and in some places, singing/music could attract attention of persecutors

 

[lismore]

Worship is big time under attack right now in the Church. Even conservative Bible Churches are adopting more of a modern contemporary style to "attract the youth." I brought this up to the Church leadership the other day and referenced the article about Elevation Church (Elevation Worship, Stephen Furtick, NC) not mentioning the resurrection, blood of Jesus, and Calvary in their Easter service because it makes people "feel like an outsider..." I asked them if they really wanted to be supporting and giving attention to an apostate ministry like that. The leadership heard my concerns and hopefully took it to heart but the following Sunday after I mentioned this, they played Bethel Music. The scary thing is Churches don't want to investigate the fruit of the worship music they are playing. Bad doctrine comes next as Satan just needs a small opening in the doorway. He was after all the worship leader in heaven at one time.​

Hello! Good on you for raising that with church leaders. I think this is the way it will be in the last days. Many in churches are those the Lord warned us to look out for , 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. They throw in a mention of Jesus or an out of context bible verse as the sheep's clothing. Many other church leaders are seeking popularity or a steady life and will not take a stand if it will have a cost. May the Lord grant us all the courage to speak up for the truth when an opportunity arises.

Another thing I have noticed with modern 'Christian Music' is the hawkish way they enforce music copyright. You would think they would be happy for the gospel to get out there by all means. But no, it's cash first. I have noticed that other genres, folk singers and the like have a more relaxed and down-to-earth attitude to copyright. They're seemingly not in it for the money alone.

God Bless You

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Hello! Good on you for raising that with church leaders. I think this is the way it will be in the last days. Many in churches are those the Lord warned us to look out for , 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. They throw in a mention of Jesus or an out of context bible verse as the sheep's clothing. Many other church leaders are seeking popularity or a steady life and will not take a stand if it will have a cost. May the Lord grant us all the courage to speak up for the truth when an opportunity arises.

Another thing I have noticed with modern 'Christian Music' is the hawkish way they enforce music copyright. You would think they would be happy for the gospel to get out there by all means. But no, it's cash first. I have noticed that other genres, folk singers and the like have a more relaxed and down-to-earth attitude to copyright. They're seemingly not in it for the money alone.

God Bless You

How sheet music, recordings, and lyrics are allowed to be used depends only partly on the publisher.
Important to understand and adhere to intellectual property law.
Fair use, royalties, etc. Differences in requirements and restrictions depending on intended use. Differences between individuals, registered non-profit churches, schools, for-profits, commercial, libraries, electronic databases, etc.

 

[Margery]

I think some churches understand the potential pschyosomatic and even psychedelic qualities of music. Extremely loud, sometimes repetitive music, designed to have those effects, often with other sensory manipulative techniques like lowering the lighting. Getting people fired up to lower their inhibitions and mental thought processes, then comes the questionable and even false teaching. I think the cranking up of the volume in music is related to the dumbing down of the biblical content in sermons. Some of the more controversial televangelists cum faith healers use techniques like musical manipulation to stir people up into a mental state where they believe they have been healed, a pschyosomatic high, which of course when reality sets in they're away from the auditorium and the spotlight.

That is a very good comment, very insightful.

One of the things that keeps me out of a normal church service now is the sensory overload because I start to get dizzy, have trouble walking and feel extremely disoriented in these loud repetitive choruses or worse yet light displays. It literally brings on all the symptoms of the MS type stuff I cope with. Now that George isn't here to drive me home fast if that starts up, I can't take the chance. I attend online every Sunday as the church our daughter and son in law goes to up in Clearwater has a live online broadcast.

The early 2000's I started to feel like church was becoming an endurance contest because of that. I knew another lady, same church who had it bring on her vertigo as well. I don't think we were the only ones.

I finally quit enduring it around 2015 or so when they started preaching that Genesis was poetry, that God allowed for evolution, no 6 day creation and that the Flood was a local event - it was Hebrew poetry that simply exaggerated the extent.

I would say you are right on the money there, connecting the dots between manipulative music techniques covering up for bad teaching.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

That is a very good comment, very insightful.

One of the things that keeps me out of a normal church service now is the sensory overload because I start to get dizzy, have trouble walking and feel extremely disoriented in these loud repetitive choruses or worse yet light displays. It literally brings on all the symptoms of the MS type stuff I cope with. Now that George isn't here to drive me home fast if that starts up, I can't take the chance. I attend online every Sunday as the church our daughter and son in law goes to up in Clearwater has a live online broadcast.

The early 2000's I started to feel like church was becoming an endurance contest because of that. I knew another lady, same church who had it bring on her vertigo as well. I don't think we were the only ones.

I finally quit enduring it around 2015 or so when they started preaching that Genesis was poetry, that God allowed for evolution, no 6 day creation and that the Flood was a local event - it was Hebrew poetry that simply exaggerated the extent.

I would say you are right on the money there, connecting the dots between manipulative music techniques covering up for bad teaching.

Good reasons for the old, traditional, good-theology-and-doctrine hymns played on an organ (or piano, orchestra, traditional instruments) with congregation singing (with or without choir in the back/balcony/side singing, NOT the focal point or entertainment).

And traditional stained glass windows, candle light, and maybe dimmable lights/lanterns/lamps so people can see the hymnals and find rest and peace instead of glare and bright lighting like an office. Adjustable so darkened during the sermon and more light when needed to read along in the Bible and use hymnals. Unless electronic hymnals and Bibles in the pews, then it can stay dim and restful the whole time, except before and after service, or movement to and/from Holy Communion (don't want anyone falling in the Sanctuary).


God is supposed to be the focus of worship, so the cross (or crucifix) and altar should be up front and central. Not glitz, showtime, screens, entertainers, etc.

 

[Margery]

Good reasons for the old, traditional, good-theology-and-doctrine hymns played on an organ (or piano, orchestra, traditional instruments) with congregation singing (with or without choir in the back/balcony/side singing, NOT the focal point or entertainment).

And traditional stained glass windows, candle light, and maybe dimmable lights/lanterns/lamps so people can see the hymnals and find rest and peace instead of glare and bright lighting like an office. Adjustable so darkened during the sermon and more light when needed to read along in the Bible and use hymnals. Unless electronic hymnals and Bibles in the pews, then it can stay dim and restful the whole time, except before and after service, or movement to and/from Holy Communion (don't want anyone falling in the Sanctuary).


God is supposed to be the focus of worship, so the cross (or crucifix) and altar should be up front and central. Not glitz, showtime, screens, entertainers, etc.

you just outlined exactly why the chapels in hospitals are low lighting carpeted spaces, with some focused lights at the front so people can retreat to a quiet space to pray no matter what their background. Away from the noise, lights, movement of the hospital. Space to cry, to process, to pray.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

you just outlined exactly why the chapels in hospitals are low lighting carpeted spaces, with some focused lights at the front so people can retreat to a quiet space to pray no matter what their background. Away from the noise, lights, movement of the hospital. Space to cry, to process, to pray.

Some of them have a lot of live green plants to freshen the air so it doesn't smell (or look) like a hospital or sterile place.
No flowers, because of allergies and many people, especially in those circumstances, would associate them with funerals and sick/dying people.

 

[3Nails4Given]

Interesting article. I remember reading an old Library book which noted that Napoleon understood the value of music, it's pschyosomatic qualities, loud martial music could stir soldiers up to do things they wouldn't otherwise do, or to accept things that made no sense, like undertaking near suicidal attacks in a wedge formation etc.

I think some churches understand the potential pschyosomatic and even psychedelic qualities of music. Extremely loud, sometimes repetitive music, designed to have those effects, often with other sensory manipulative techniques like lowering the lighting. Getting people fired up to lower their inhibitions and mental thought processes, then comes the questionable and even false teaching. I think the cranking up of the volume in music is related to the dumbing down of the biblical content in sermons. Some of the more controversial televangelists cum faith healers use techniques like musical manipulation to stir people up into a mental state where they believe they have been healed, a pschyosomatic high, which of course when reality sets in they're away from the auditorium and the spotlight.

I know one local Charismatic church that has to take volume readings, monitoring the decibels after people in neighbouring homes complained of the noise and former members complained of ringing in their ears and hearing damage after attending services.

I saw this other article online talking about the loudness of contemporary worship services:

When Worship Music is Too Loud, What Do Worshippers Do?

If you've become more and more frustrated by the ever-increasing volume of worship music during contemporary church services, you're not alone.

www.patrickkphillips.com

God Bless All

I know what I do, I leave. My hearing loss from 28 years of LEO service and other dumbness on my part, shooting without hearing protection etc.. really affects me. If someone is talking to me and there is music playing or background noise, I usually can’t hear them. When I was young I loved loud music, now I can’t stand it. It gives me migraines.

I visited a church in Jacksonville that my sister’s friend attends, my sister told me it would be loud, so i took foam earplugs with me.

When the full stage rock band started playing I put the earplugs in. It was so loud that didn’t help. Within 5 minutes I had to go outside. Once outside there were picnic tables probably 35’ from the side of the church. Since I was outside I took the earplugs out. I could hear the music at a normal level outside of the church sitting 35’ from the building.

I tried going back inside once and I couldn’t take the speaking was just as loud. I’m looking around at hundreds of folks of all ages and wondering why aren’t they all deaf by now.

I literally sat outside for over a hour and I could hear everything almost like I was still inside.

I’ve been to rock concerts in my younger days that were not as loud. I should have known when I walked into the church and their speaker stands were floor to ceiling on each side of the stage and the concert hall lighting rivaled any arena I’ve been to a concert in that it was going to be that loud. So No I did not enjoy the show and I will not go back to that church ever again. I get a headache just thinking about it.

 

[lismore]

So No I did not enjoy the show and I will not go back to that church ever again.

Hello! Sorry for your experience. I think you hit the nail on the head describing it as a 'show'. Seems like more of spectator sport, or a rock concert than an actual church. I think a good church will in some shape or form give everyone an opportunity to contribute, because everyone has something to contribute. I like this scripture:

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up (1 Corinthians 14:26).

God Bless