Comments on the  Church Music revolution

          There has been a music revolution in the last 30 years or so. Since I am in the older generation my observations may be written off as someone who refuses to change.
But that would be too facile a solution. I have talked with young people who share some of these ideas. A young girl of 12 who is musically talented thinks that drums and Amazing Grace don’t really mix. My daughter asked me what 5 hymns we would recommend so she could teach her children these great treasures, because they are not sung in her church.
           The music program of the new generation of music directors and pastors have transformed the morning worship from a participating congregation into a spectator crowd of people who don’t know the contemporary songs, and there is little attempt to learn them since they won’t be around in a couple of months from now.
            One has only to look around and see how many people are not singing. Of course, there have always been people who don’t sing, but this is multiplied to the point that one might be more surprised when you see people who are singing.
            The song leader has been morphed into a worship team. The worship team is wired so that their voices are amplified and along with loud drums, guitars, and electric bass, one might gain the impression that people are singing, but observation tells you only a few are trying to follow the “team” up front. If the loud amplification were suddenly stopped it would show that in a crowd of 200 or so, there would be very little volume coming from the spectators. People are driven out by the intolerable noise of the volume. It ceases to be music. One might pity the small congregation that cannot afford the elaborate sound system, the technical lighting system, and the stage effects. On the other hand, maybe they are not so unfortunate.
             It is hard to believe that in a single generation the great treasury of hymns has been tossed out and songs with much repetition and little substance have been adopted.. I have heard people say, “if we sing that one more time I think I am going to scream, or walk out.” More is not necessary better.
             Pastors and music directors have been influenced by the Barna reports, but unfortunately, one Barna report has been ignored. The report indicated that when visitors come to church they expect something familiar. Hymns fit into the category of that expectation.
The new music program has played down some of the really good stuff in the past. There are fewer vocals, fewer instrumentals, fewer quartets, fewer trios, which means that a lot of really good talent in the congregation is ignored.
          I don’t expect that these comments are going to change anything, but they may explain while people may be looking for a different congregation. I remember one visitor who commented to a greeter as she was leaving, “ You have a lovely hymnal, too bad that you don’t use it.” She hasn’t been back. Last night we were invited to a home where four of the five couples were looking for a new fellowship. They were from a Bible church, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist. Reason for searching: loud music, performance by the worship team.
           One growing dynamic church called a new pastor who talked about being a seeker friendly church. This seemed to appeal to lots of people. Upon his arrival he wanted the worship center painted a dark battle ship blue, all light was covered over and the stage transformed into a platform where the worship team and the pastor appeared like a TV production. People could not see one another, only the performers up front. Older people were not asked to be part of the worship team. New contemporary songs were frequent and people did not know them. There was little singing on the part of the congregation. People became observers rather than participants. The instruments were loud and many felt they were attending a rock concert every Sunday. Pleas to turn the volume down went unheard. The pastor’s attitude was “it’s my way or the highway.” People who had been faithful attenders and supporters of the church began to fade away. Eventually the church had a split with some following the pastor to a new location leaving the one growing dynamic church struggling to recover itself.
           Chuck Colson once told of an experience in which he “cracked.” There had been endless repetitions of “Draw Me Close to You” which has zero theological content and could be sung in a night club without any difference. “When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed. “Let’s sing it again, shall we?” he asked. “No!” I shouted, loudly enough to send heads all around me spinning while my wife, Patty cringed.”
           I suspect that there are many in our congregations who inwardly sigh, “I wish I had his courage!”                           

                                     Dallas M. Roark