“Hey! How’s the conference going for you?”
She’s a beautiful woman who just radiates the love of Jesus as she plays her hammered dulcimer, sings, or just sits and smiles up at you. I sat down. I had a confession to make—one I thought she should hear.
It might help if you knew a bit about my take on the whole contemporary worship thing. Context and all that.
First, I hate the way the church has relegated “worship” to the singing portion of our fellowship together and our time with the Lord.
You see, I’m old school. Not even 48, and I’m old. And old-school. Corporate worship is just that. Worship of our Lord anytime we’re all together. Prayers, singing, Scripture reading, lessons, baptisms, the Lord’s supper—it’s all worship in my book.
So when people say, “Let’s gather for worship,” my brain automatically connects all those dots and expects a multi-faceted experience. I’m disappointed when, after singing a few songs, we’re done.
Second, I’m a bad Christian.
I can’t stand 95% of Christian music. And, because of that, I tend to expect two things when I hear “contemporary worship music.” Either, “7/11 Songs” (where seven words are sung eleven times) or “God is my boyfriend” songs (where the words are indiscernible from a breathy lounge act where some gal is singing about her lover). I don’t like the musical style, I don’t like the loudness of most of them, and well… I just don’t like it—any of it, usually.
Third, I’m old school in more than just my “church music.”
Yes, I love old hymns—if they have rich words that hold strong theology in them. I’m a snob that way. There are a few fluffy hymns I love to sing because I love the harmony, but for the most part, I’m a snob about hymns, too.
But I love old music period. No, really. In my brain, “The Beach Boys” are modern. I like the Ames Brothers, Vic Dana and Vic Damone, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Four Lads, Jo Stafford.
Basically, I like my music old and full of harmony.
So I arrived at the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference on that Thursday morning, and I dreaded the opening ceremonies.
Why?
“Worship.” I’d already talked to one conferee (is that the right word?) about it. And, I’ll admit, it was nice knowing that someone there agreed with me.
The words popped up on the screen.
The same line, three times. Actually, there were two screens, so technically, if you count the time the woman spoke the words for us before they popped up, we got seven lines!
My heart sank, and I’ll confess… my attitude took a dive with it. Putting it frankly, I was put out, annoyed, ticked.
All around the room, people sang. Hands rose—arms. People swayed. All very much out of my comfort zone (despite my stint in a holiness Pentecostal church in my teens).
I trained my eyes on the words. At least those three identical lines were meaningful.
The next screen popped up.
New words… and none of them repeating. Not only that, but they had substance. I shot a glance heavenward and whispered, “Rebuke taken, Lord.”
Yeah… like doves and manna in the wilderness, the Lord piled more and more crow at my feet.
Confession: I remember thinking, “Okay, Lord. Think they’d get it if I started singing, ‘Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye. Four and twenty black crows baked in a pie…’?” I mean, c’mon… the birds singing? Black ones? Crows? Who knew a nursery rhyme could be transformed into worship?
I digress.
The second song began. The third. Every single song they sang had substance to it, wasn’t repetitive, and while they sang of the beauty of just who Jesus is, there wasn’t even a hint of “God is my boyfriend” in any of it.
Point taken, Lord.
The next day came. Lather, rinse, repeat.
So… that’s when, out of the blue, the woman called me over to her table in the dining hall and began chatting. I confessed it all. They’d never heard of 7/11 songs—never heard someone refer to “God is my boyfriend” songs. And, while I told them what I’d dreaded and how much I didn’t want to be there at their “worship service,” they listened with graciousness and genuine care and concerned for someone who, let’s face it, was shredding their ministry.
I promise I was kind. I was tactful. Despite the topic, I made sure that they knew I recognized that I am the one with the problem.
But c’mon. It had to be a tough pill to swallow.
And then I said it.
“I owe you an apology. You taught me a beautiful lesson here. You taught me that when we allow the Lord to teach us through whatever means He chooses, when we allow Him to stretch us, we can be blessed. And I was. I still am. You blessed me so much by just doing what you do. Thank you.”
Look, “contemporary worship” is never going to be my cuppa. It ain’t gonna happen. But I can learn and be blessed through it regardless.
If that was only the end of the story. Alas, this is my Paul Harvey moment.
So, as if to test my sincerity, the following evening, I sat down, ready for whatever the Lord would teach me through this less-than-optimal music, and the first song that came up repeated itself… over and over. And over. And they added another repeat. Over. And over.
Seriously, if I didn’t know them to be above that, if I didn’t know they’d probably had to submit their slides the moment they arrived, I would have sworn they did it to poke a bit of fun at me.
Especially considering the second song was definitely a “God is my boyfriend” song, too.
And the thought came again. Rebuke taken, Lord.
For the record, I won’t be joining a “worship team” anytime soon.
This isn’t about how I just changed my style of worship after a great lesson from the Lord. That’s not what I’m talking about at all.
But I needed a reminder that if my service to the Lord, if my worship hinges on my preferences, if I can’t praise the Lord with my brothers and sisters in Christ because I’m focused on everything I don’t like about how they’re praising Him…
Yeah. The problem is with me.
I just want to take a moment to thank Sandy Padilla for being so gracious with me. I tried so hard to make her see how blessed I’d been by their offering to the Lord—by their serving the body of Christ. But I’m sure they watched me walk away going, “What’s with people like that?”
But not for one second did she make me feel like that. And if you ever need someone to serve at your event, I recommend giving Sandy Padilla a call. She sure blessed me.
I said I survived a weekend of contemporary worship and loved It.
I did. In fact, I loved every lesson I learned and I loved laying my preferences at the foot of the cross and saying, “Do what you will with it, Lord.”
Loved reading your thoughts. My 18 year old has something in common with you. He hates the 7/11 songs. His take is that “modern” Christian don’t have any creativity or depth to their writing of lyrics. I can agree on a lot of contemporary worship songs, but like you I have heard some that have tremendous depth and meaning. Love the old hymns as well!
Three cheers for your son.
I mean, um… Yes, Lord. I learned my lesson. However, it is nice to know I’m not alone. 🙂
Wow! Did you sneak into my head and heart to write this? Ouch! Your preferences mirror mine and I too have trouble with 7/11 music et. al.. Thanks for the encouragement to lay those preferences aside to worship with other brothers and sisters in Christ! The definition of love (I Cor 13) applies here. Do we love our fellow believers like that? Not with a mushy feeling but bearing all things, believing all things, being kind, seeking not my own, not easily provoked, thinking no evil, being long suffering? The way God loves us! Like you, I don’t think I will change my preferences, but your post has certainly given my much to think about!
Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone. Sometimes, it feels like I am, even when I know I’m not. I’m not alone in my preferences. I’m not alone in my need to grow, expand, stretch, yield. I’m not alone. I’m a part of a BODY. And I’m glad to say you aren’t either. We’re in this walk together!
I agree with you about the importance of the songs actually saying something – Maybe even taking ideas from the Bible about the most important things that it teaches us – or even some of the parts that are seldom read or told.
My WELS group of Christians is building a new hymnal. They choose the new hymns and they give all of us a chance to comment on their choices. If we have a good reason for not using a hymn or for using a similar hymn instead they actually sometimes change their choice.
That’s a wonderful thing. The Lutheran Hymnal we use has RICH, deep theology in the songs. And horrible tunes. They’re so hard to sing, I can understand why someone would want anything else. 🙁
I love many worship songs, some old and many new, but then I loved Taize back in the 70’s and still do and that is repetitive but leads you into contemplation. The Weston Priory Monks also hold a special place in my heart. We are all different and that is good, God offers us many ways to worship him. The most important thing is that we worship and put God first.
I love how different we all are. I’ve never objected to what others choose to do… just to being included in what feels superficial TO ME. I don’t like it. I want deeper, richer stuff. Others see my richer as antiquated or pompous. I get that. I do. But when our attitudes shift so that we can’t worship the Lord because of what the person beside us is singing… There’s a problem.
I too want deeper and richer, and in many ways, I don’t seem to be able to find that. Maybe I am asking for too much! In my church, there is too much rigid tradition and no time to pause, reflect or be spontaneous if the spirit moves. I have tried other churches but they lack depth or just skip over things that I feel are too important to do so. It is an interesting journey that the Lord takes us on when we seek Him and only Him in our worship. And yes there is a problem when we view other’s choice of music and think they are in the wrong. God loves us singing in whatever form that takes.
Yep. I get it. I do. 🙂
I’m sitting right there with you. I’m much older though. Having lived through the early sixties I have always thought that the repletion of the songs at nauseum was to get the newly converted druggies to feel the high of a repletion of a mantra. I awake most days with a hymn being sung in my mind. Yesterday, it was “My Jesus I Love thee I know thou art mine.” I guess it might be construed as a boyfriend song….but its reality in my life.
See, that one doesn’t feel like the God is my boyfriend song to me because it names Jesus! It’s when you can’t tell that it’s supposed to be about God that I object. When it could be about any man etc…
Gotta agree to an extent, there are many meaningful and beautifully written contemporary praise and worship songs Overall the parts I’m uncomfortable with are the endlessly repeating and putting on a show to work up emotions- the Holy Spirit is present when believers gather in His name, so chill with the 7/11 lyrics and allow the music t o contribute to leading us into a time of corporate worship. All that said, who made me judge? Oh right I am not. So grateful for the occasional hymns in whatever arrangements are done- open to being enlightened just please chill with the guitar riffs and drum solos! Love you sister in Christ
It’s a growing process, no? The self-righteous, presumptive attitude I went in with wasn’t my best moment. Ahem.
I will have to agree, the repetitive songs are not my favorite. I do understand that sometimes when there is an outpouring of prayer, they like these songs so you are not having to follow the words up on the screen and can close your eyes for prayer, communion with Jesus and not be watching how your neighbor or someone across the way is reacting to the service. I do like the mixture of the old and new songs. My prayer is that I’m ready and open to all Christ wants from me each and everyday. Keep sharing!
We go into so many things with preconceived notions, and those are not always right!
Let me tell you, you are not the only one, there are many who have not bowed the knee to Jesus is my boy friend, 7/11 songs.
I like hand raising, because it’s in the bible, I like loud instruments, guitars, drums, the works, cuz they are in the Bible. What else is in the bible? Jesus saying to not come to God with vain repetition. I think repetitive songs fit that category, they are more designed to create a hypnosis, than to bring true heat felt worship. Our worship should be raised way above anything that could be construed as a common love song.
Worship isn’t just church either, it should encompass everything we do, because whether we eat or drink, we should do it all to the glory of God.
Exactly.
I am with you, although I am older than you! I grew up in a church that played very boring hymns (more like funeral dirges). For a while, on Wednesday evenings I would attend a Pentecostal service with some relatives and I loved their hymns and music (Gospel music). I do like some of the contemporary groups, but I much prefer the old hymns, and I really, really dislike the “hip hop” ones and will change the channel on the radio when those play. We are to be praising and worshiping our Lord and Savior, not celebrities and those whose music does not do so and does not point to the Lord do themselves and their audience a great disservice. Just my 2 cents’ worth!!
Night with Ebon Pinion. UGH! Or, what about when they sing “Oh Happy Day that fixed my choice on Thee my Savior and my God” like it was a dirge! UGH UGH UGH.
I like the old hymns. I just do.