IS WORSHIP “ONE SIZE FITS ALL?”
The church in America is in a cycle of prosperity. Impressive church venues are everywhere. Millions of dollars are spent to remodel sanctuaries, build new ones, purchase gear, keep up the latest trends in stage production – live video capturing – and worship song-set automation software. Yet, many who attend services find themselves standing in silence, watching screens, and observing performers on a platform. I call this lack of congregational engagement Wallpaper Worship.
In his endorsement of my book, author Philip Yancey says: “In my lifetime worship has changed from something we do before an audience of God to something a few semi-professionals do for an audience of us.”
C.S. Lewis recognized this problem over 70 years ago: “The perfect church service would be the one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God. But every novelty prevents this.”
WORSHIP LEADERS: “SOMETHING’S WRONG, BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS.”
In my work with worship leaders across the country, I hear from good-hearted, talented church musicians: “Something is wrong, but we don’t know what it is.”
Let’s consider… The “worship industry” is now a multi-billion-dollar segment of the music and entertainment industry. The American church market purchases over $1.5 billion a year of production gear from audio and video retailers (Music Trades magazine, February 2019). Worship song-publishing/recording companies produce new songs daily, with videos promoting a singular sound – a monochromatic look – and a homogenized form of leading from the platform.
Is this new? Technologically, yes. Historically, no.
Throughout history, expressions of worship were governed by rules which reduced congregational participation to “stare-at-the-platform-and-listen-to-us.” Priests clad in gorgeous attire with elaborate “worship gear” on sanctuary altars, would perform worship for the people. The problem? (There were many…) Leaders led in Latin which most worshipers didn’t speak or read, and congregational participation was allowed only during the Eucharist. The result? Congregants simply watched and listened. Sound familiar?
Even more concerning was when the church found itself relying on monarchies, dynasties and other secular shareholders to promote its mission. The problem? When the church becomes an industry-driven machine – opposed to a spirit-and-truth-driven organism – its message can become diluted and its mission compromised. The result? The message of human fallenness, repentance, redemption, sacrifice, suffering, and sanctification becomes eclipsed with messages of personal actualization, self-healing, and emotional relief from social, political or personal injustices. Sound familiar?
PASTORS TO WORSHIP LEADERS: “MAKE IT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE THAT!”
Leading music in today’s church, even in small rural settings, can quickly become about mimicking the latest worship-industry wave to attract more sheep. Seems like a worthy idea. However, when the worship industry needs and feeds the church, and the church needs and feeds the worship industry – resulting in passive or even frustrated congregants – then something may indeed be wrong.
Pastors or elders will view YouTube videos of arenas full of worship-music fans, with hands in the air, gathered in front of a stage occupied by music professionals – supported by world-class venue production, pristine sound, eye-candy lighting and smoke – and then dictate to their worship leaders: “Your job is to make our Sunday service look and sound like THAT.” After long hours and spent offerings, often the result is local congregants passively watching screens, silently sitting, or leaving for coffee – feeling performed at by musicians they’ve never seen before in their church.
Worship leaders ask: “What do we do now? Bigger production? More expensive effects? Newer songs? Slicker automation? What more do they want? What’s wrong with THEM?” To find relevant answers, perhaps we should ask different questions:
- Do we even believe something is wrong?
- Regarding local church worship: Does one size fit all?
- Is some corporate industry pushing the idea that ‘one size fits all?’
- If so, who and why?
I do not think there is some sinister plan by the music industry to undermine the church it profits from. However, history clearly reveals the church as vulnerable to being wooed from her mission and message, especially when there are billions of dollars involved.
So what’s the SOLUTION? As shepherds of worshipers, our job is to lead in a language our sheep understand and respond to. The Object of our worship said, “My sheep hear my voice and will not follow a hireling.” (John 10). If worshipers are not following, leaders are responsible. Good shepherds will make adjustments on behalf of their sheep (Ezekiel 34) – laying down their own preferences, agendas, and yes – even their lives.
Does one size fit all? What do you think? Please comment below.
Singer/Songwriter/Speaker/Author DANNY BYRAM has performed on over 100 US military installations worldwide since 1987. His work earned him the name “The Combat Musician” from chaplains and troops. Danny also directed 26 Promise Keepers NFL-Stadium events for men, including the Clergy Conference (the largest gathering of clergy in history), and 36 FamilyLife arena events for couples, working alongside Marantha! Music and Integrity Inc. His book: WALLPAPER WORSHIP: Why Church Music Sounds Better, Fewer Are Singing And What To Do About It is available on Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, and from CLCPublications.com. His music is downloadable through iTunes and Spotify.
