Yeah, those are easier with overheards. And then you make the classic mistake of blaming evolution for not explaining the origin of life. We are both fallen, sinful human beings who are prone to pride, anger, and saying hurtful things. Enter into His presence, focus on Jesus, and put away your humanistic desires. But as I have matured and gone through incredible times of testing (and pain,) I have realized that my opinion really isn’t as important as serving the body of Christ and creating an atmosphere where the majority can enter in. My husband (personman) became an athiest (which had nothing to do with the list, btw) and my daughter and I now attend church alone. That’s all for now…for whatever it’s worth. It's like the Spirit or something." I DONT ‘LIKE’ SOME AT ALL. I want to think on good things. Let me tell you, folks, this is a weird movement but people, intelligent people are FALLING for it. This is the kind of attitude that makes people not want to even go to church. . You’re publicly praying, So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss…. I believe he said, "What exactly is the river?" Now I’m thirsty and I want to go skiing! We can all relate to a worship service when we have allowed the quality of the musicianship or the content of the songs to get in the way. If you read all 150 or so posts in this discussion, you would quickly find that though these people are disappointed by many songs, we all know that the body of Christ is more important than any individual. Some of us even KNOW that we’re not very good worship leaders, but we really are doing our best, and it may be that the best person for the job in any given congregation isn’t willing. Famine! Try having a little humility before thinking that you are actually above any song, especially if you can’t write your own! That’s good enough for me! i have my faves. O my word - how irrelevent and inaccesible are you!! Being his subjects means that we are subject to his authority. A place where there is a two beer maximum and what is said there stays there! There’s nothing that makes me want to worship less than a song about AN INVASION OF LOCUSTS, folks. My observation- people respond more favorably to our originals than the covers… Maybe people are getting a little worn out by the repetitive nature of some songs; read Every Move…(na na na nana na na)… and the fact that a lot of the recent stuff sounds as generic as boy bands. Everytime I hear Come Share the Lord, I think Jean Veljean is going to enter the church building and we’re going to start an uprising against the French government. I honestly am sorry if I offended you, but I am quite interested in what you would rather have me say. I feel like we need to stop judging and look into these songs really i mean if it took you an hour or a day to figure out a song why does that make it bad???? However, I have two big peeves in a worship setting, which I find more distracting than any “bad” song, is singing a brand new song I’ve never heard (I generally don’t listen to K-LOVE 24/7!) Can you do that? We Fall Down- Chris Tomlin I have nothing against expression of worship, but I believe that God is not impressed unless we are actually thinking about what we’re singing and what it means to us. While you choose the fear of the Lord, I’ll be waiting out in the car. Do none of them have any say in how long worship goes? I would like to think that the lyricist/composer was being ironic, but I doubt it. 6. However, what I would rather do is invite you to submit a few of the songs you have written to be subjected to a litany of tests by the readers. Like someone said previously, half the time I spend trying to figure out what I’m singing. But I do pray for a great christian song writer/artist to come on the scene and reinvent praise and worship! I’m talking about the river songs put out by the River Movement people. The closer you are to God, the more peaceful you become. As far as personal tastes for worship songs go, I think most worship leaders would welcome criticism and would feel blessed that someone cares and prays for the songs sung during worship. They decided that I must believe that the second law of thermodynamics relates directly to evolution, and therefore must be an idiot. Dorsey, All that said, I do happend to think that this could be misconstrued by those who would condemn the originators of this thread so let me make myself 100% clear. You do do that. I read Psalm 34 over and over superstitiously, hoping somehow that would solve my problem. The lyricist has a history of substance abuse. 3) Inappropriate for a reverent worship setting (such as Christian Heavy Metal). The Bells. Didn’t you mean to say “thanks for LEDING the way Doug?” and please, let’s leave Emannuel Lewis out of this…I don’t remember that t.v show being that cynical…Gary Coleman and Different Strokes on the other hand! David Crowder is a fine worship leader, but God called David Crowder to be David Crowder. We’ve all experienced this. your to busy shuffling your feet,dady dreaming, and saying “i hate this song” when your suppose to be engaged in worship. Some sacrifices are better than others. Laura, I don’t think you did read every comment. People sing more from the heart when it’s a song they enjoy singing. Paul wrote that if anyone even an angel comes preaching any other gospel, let them be accursed, eternally condemned. I was crying from laughing so hard. changing the lyrics to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah") When a 3-minute song becomes an 8-minute song because the worship leader thinks they achieved a "Hey Jude" moment. Ivory Twer chrisitanity is also absurd. Memorize Philippians 4:8 and live by it. While we’re at it, we can add that we have each created/done things in Jesus’ name that were at least equally BAD. You used “we” so absolutely, I have to ask, “If there is even one worship leader who behaved this way this week (and I’d bet my internet priveledges there was) why would you want to associate yourself with him and defend him?” Furthermore, do all worship leaders try to improve their voices for years? I actually happen to be an artist as well as working for one of the Christian publications you may or may not have read. by the way, I dislike the song Instruments of Your peace although the words are from the beatittudes… and if you don’t like a lot of stuff, just write your own as we do. While we’re at it, and we are at it…What do you think about the ridiculous copyright laws to have to pay a license fee to show lyrics for worship songs. It seems that most of the criticisms here come from a motivation to make our corporate worship better: to allow our brothers and sisters to more fully express their devotion to God, and to allow them to more fully experience his presence. 1. Michael H, good point- Hey Danny - WOW! Anyway, I realize that nearly everyone who has commented here is some sort of cynic (and believe me, so am I) so I’m taking a big risk here… but maybe you could check out some of my original worship music. Rob…idk man. but I also think of 2 Corinithians 8:12 “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”. I agree that there are “bad” worship songs as well as “overplayed” worship songs. The creative art of song writing and performing is dying in the name of formula writing, poor grammar and bad theology. “My Life is in You” (Sing, Sing Again, Repeat as Necessary. I am one of those people, and I deserve to be loved and respected and cherished just like those of you who hate me and/or the views that I espouse. Please have a look around my site and feel free to respond to a relevant post. Can’t get it out of my head…I feel horrible!!! Another point I’d like to propose: these songs, like almost any piece of music written in popular styles, aren’t meant to last very long. Are you the Danny that started this blog? You are lying underneath your pew in the fetal position with your hand over your ears, sobbing uncontrollably. And people cried tears of spite as they sang. I actually cant think of songs that I really dislike - what drives me around the bend is the style of singing sometimes. Sorry about that. “Awesome God” comes to mind “When He rolls up His sleeves He ain’t just puttin’ on the Ritz” What were you smoking when you wrote that line Mr. Mullins? Troy (II): If the exercise that your professor led you through didn’t change your opinion of the song, how about I just keep my opinion without researching lame songs? …When it all comes down to it, someday we’re going to be praising God for all eternity, like it says in Revelation, and all this mushy cereal music isn’t going to be a problem. To the best of my understanding the posture most closely associated with awe of God, or His presence or glory, would be bending the knee, bowing, or looking away. Nuff siad. So much of the worship music that is sung today is difficult to follow, and in reality doesn’t even lead you anywhere. Will the good songs you’re looking for be good for everyone? Perhaps you’re the scientist who should have his works published? Now I can never listen to that song and engage without at the very least a smirk. Any scientist who can present good evidence should be able to make progress in the scientific community. Do we have hearts of worship? Cause if so - maybe you should go reread some of your own comments. we’re gonna shake this planet, we’re gonna shake this planet Here I am, giving a sermon, which in this church (being a Reformed Protestant denomination) view as being “the Word of God". I think most of you are forgetting that the people who sings composed these songs did it in prayer and what THEY were feeling at the time or what they felt others would feel. This site is extremely entertaining and before I start with my “I rebuke thee speech", let me contribute to the madness with my own pet peeve: I hate old hymns that are the most depressing sounds on the planet. She knows this too and cringes when we sing songs containing this lyric-guys I know you feel my pain on this…. pick a side and stay there. I don’t mind leading, because that’s when my God-given talents are supposed to be used! (clafication I don’t worship the BANDS I use thier songs WHEN I worship GOD!) And bring that kind of attitude into your place of employment, and you’ll be out the door in a hurry. because if I don’t, you’ll kill me.”. It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive Well - I have actually never played it… 3. Rivers and Fire are both references to God in the Bible. I usually spend the entire ‘hymn’ thinking to myself “where’s a sniper when you need one?”. We must select the best of our worship song flock for the altar. I asked like 10 people what it meant, and understood even less when I was done. God bless. I have been told the songs have to be simple for everyone to connect with and understand, but I don’t buy that because if you are a new comer to the church who doesn’t know christian imagary , you here lyrics such as: “Revival in the land this I know, as soldiers we fight with heart and soul", and don’t get me started with all the blood references. That’s true but we are also called to love with all our minds as well. I think we need to be a little more sensitive and watch our tongues before we make accusations like this. When I look down on others that is pride. 91. http://www.tektonics.org/af/bibleunrvw2.html. But it seems that if you sing in spirit and in truth then great… if you can’t then why pick at the song? I feel that if no one challenges the false and twisted claims made by atheists regarding Christianity and the Bible, then they will feel all the more justified in heading off in entirely the wrong direction. Having said all that, we have to face the likelihood that the Christian world is re-entering the age of the folk song, where the song is written by the singer and those who want to sing along make the best of it. I’m very sorry for the position you’re in, because it was painful for me to break the news to my family knowing how much it would hurt them. It’s tricky to lead worship songs when you’re an active musician and music lover, because things like this happen when you think “I can’t bare to play that song.” But what happens if it’s a song the church is moved to? This, of course, does not apply to everyone here. Congratulations on the job.) I really enjoyed your subtle suggestion that people who posted in this discussion are going to hell.