Worship Music in Christianity Enter

¶ … Worship Music in Christianity

Enter various churches around the country today and one is just as likely to hear non-traditional worship music, such as pop, punk, rap, hip-hop, and rock, as gospel and traditional praise music.

According to SoundScan, Christian music sold 49.9 million albums in 2001, up 12% from the previous year, and continues to climb while other music genres slack in sales (Green). Christian music today encompasses a broad category that includes black gospel, contemporary Christian, Christian rock, Christian rap, and traditional praise and worship music, all of which jumped in sales by more than 20% after the September 11th attacks (Green).

Jerry Phelps of Paradigm Management Group says, "Christian music is no longer a genre of its own," for there are so many types within it and people, especially young people, gravitate to music they relate to and that expresses their feelings (Fitzhugh-Craig). Christian music is a "billion dollar-plus business" due partly to the fact that the quality of music is increasing, and partly because so many young people are gravitating toward the soulful tunes (Fitzhugh-Craig).

Throughout the country, there are hundreds of Christian music concerts, festivals and tours taking place every year, as faithful fans turn out to hear new artists as well as seasoned favorites who play everything from rock and hip-hop to contemporary and more faith-based music (Fitzhugh-Craig). As one fan expressed, "It's like rock, but it's also praising God...a more fun way to praise God...the melodies I like, but it has lyrics that I can relate to as a Christian" (Fitzhugh-Craig). Many people appreciate the uplifting lyrics of Christian music which rather than focusing on the negative and misery of life, tends to focus on the positive things, thus it brings hope and meaning (Fitzhugh-Craig).

Not only are there more Christian festivals and concerts popping up around the country, but more and more churches are beginning to offer a menu of services in an effort to accommodate the various preferences of worshippers (Garza). Today, churchgoers can choose a service of their choice based on the type of music and atmosphere they prefer, from traditional to modern. Terry York, associate professor of Christian ministry and music at Baylor University, believes that part of this new trend is due to the so-called "worship wars," which have grown during the past few years over disagreements concerning music (Garza). York says, "Music has become a very divisive issue in some churches. Some people love the traditional music and don't like the contemporary stuff at all...Other people think the hymns are boring," thus churches are dealing with it by offering a menu of worship options (Garza). Arlene Steffen, adjunct professor of music at Fresno Pacific University, believes the reason that music has become such a divisive issue at some churches is because music has become very personal to many people, and because today it can be different, whereas in the past it was frowned upon (Garza). Moreover, while older churchgoers do not particularly fancy the contemporary sounds, younger Christians are attracted to it and find a connection because it is their music. Many church experts are concerned whether offering a menu of different services is a good idea, and some worry that it may promote a level of selfishness, such as 'I'm only going to sign what I want to sing,' yet York says, "If people would rather be separated than unified over music, then I think you have to define what it means to worship" (Garza). Rick Cole of Capital Christian believes that the door cannot stay closed forever, and feels that by offering different services based on music preference is an opportunity for the entire congregation to unite (Garza).

Contemporary worship music began with the Jesus movement of the early 1970's and the rise of charismatic churches, and although it paralleled the growth in contemporary Christian rock and pop music, it remained separate until a few years ago (Levy). It now has become a mix of Christian pop, rock and praise choruses, and a blending of styles that has opened up contemporary worship music to a wider variety of instruments and sounds, such as the Christian bands Sonicflood and Delirious (Levy).

According to John Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association, roughly half of the top twenty Christian and gospel albums sold in 2003 were modern praise and worship music (Levy). Says Styll, "People want to connect to God in a way that is culturally powerful to them. For some people, choirs and organ music are not the stuff of their ordinary life. It doesn't make God personal to them," thus praise songs are increasingly moving from recording studios to church worship services (Levy). Not only does modern praise and worship music have a better beat and rhythm but it is getting better since there are more songs with more substance to choose from, which in turn is leading young people to form praise and worship bands (Levy).