Top Five Reasons For Blaw Music in Worship

I'm writing this blog after the 110th time of trying to find new music to worship too and leaving itunes in a state of "blaw."  Its like 99.99% of the stuff always sounds the same, why is that?  Now, I've been a worship junkie since back in the day with Ron Kenoly and Touching the Father's Heart albums from Vineyard.  However, no matter what time period the church is in, there always seems to be a trend in the Christian community to stick to one style of music and make everything else sound the same.

First, everyone wanted to sound like Vineyard, then it was Hillsong, afterwards it was David Crowder and Chris Tomlin, now its Jesus Culture and IHOP.  Really?  The God who created the whole universe can only release one style of worship music per decade?!  God have mercy!  No wonder people love the best the world has to offer- it always sounds new and fresh.  Lady Gaga, Lil' Wayne, and so many others bring new creative sounds to the secular music scene almost every week.  My point isn't we should be more "worldly," but rather more "creative!"  

I know in overall Christian music we have all the styles of the world- rap, dance, country, even scream-o, etc... but I'm referring to "worship/prayer music."  Meaning, I believe we should be creative in what we present to the people in the way of worship.  And please don't get me started on Gospel- because that style has been basically the same for the last 15 years since Kurt Franklin (which by the way, God bless him for changing that style up)!  Not to mention- Southern Gospel, no revolutionaries there!

Its almost like I have to turn off my creative mind when listening to worship music and just say to myself, "This will not be creative or different, but it will be anointed- so open wide and take your worship medicine of 'blaw' talent!"

Please don't get me wrong, I know its not about me or the style, its about God and Him receiving praise- but why do we keep praising Him to the same tempo, cords, and style?  Can I pretty please praise God in church to other styles of music too?  Just maybe, someone will get this blog and change it once and for all and raise the standard higher than "Celine Dion" and the wanna be adult contemporary style of Chris Tomlin (God bless him for the song, "You're the God of This City," but let's be honest its about as creative as "Life is a Highway," by Rascall Flatts.)


TOP FIVE REASONS FOR BLAW MUSIC IN WORSHIP

1-LACK OF COMPETITION |  The worship industry is not as competitive as the world, thus the "cream doesn't have to fight to get on top and stay there."

2-WE USE GOD'S PRESENCE AS AN EXCUSE | We are people of God's presence and as long as the song touches our heart- we generally don't care how creative it is.

3-WE LOST THE ARTISTIC EDGE | In church, we don't like long songs or new songs that have an artistic edge- short and simple and to point is how we like it.  Thus, the song writers are not forced to be challenged or change up the style because sounding like everyone else is the easiest thing to do.

4-EXTREMELY NICE CAPTIVE AUDIENCES | The weekly church provides a regularly captive audience where people are just happy to not being going to hell and love singing about heaven with a joyful heart- they don't care about "what's new."  Its not like Sister SoandSo is used to new bands at the church every week and gets to decide which one she wants to pay and go see like bands have to do at bars and clubs every week.

(Side Note: Dear worship leader just because your church thinks your the "beezneez," it doesn't mean you are- get out of the nest and see how it works elsewhere.)

5-WE KEEP BUYING IT | We settle for less and keep buying new songs that sound like every other song we worship to because we're so desperate for a new song and don't have a choice.  Thus, they keep giving us the same stuff and the cycle never ends.  Not to mention most Christian radio stations are about as creative minded as PBS.

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Read the follow up blog, "My Top Three Picks for Creative Worship Music," here.