Wow, I’m so grateful to read these words that express so much of what I’ve been feeling in regards to modern worship! I play the keyboard for our church’s worship team, but I often feel like something of a puppeteer, pulling the strings of the congregation. Intro, V1, pre-chorus chorus, building into V2, pre-chorus, chorus 2x’s, bridge (building, building) now quiet chorus. It is still, for me, a form of worship, but The Formula you write about, Joshua, feels like such a heavy influence. I almost laughed reading it, having lamented my struggle to my parents in a recent conversation and using that exact terminology. I love the Madeleine L’Engle quote you used, and I think about it often as I write, because I believe God gives me at least my best words, and I want what I put down to be worship to Him.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful critique. It does indeed seem like much of CCM is trading on generalities. Recently I was listening to Kendrick Lamar's "How Much A Dollar Cost"—which details the story of an encounter with God mediated through the plight of a street beggar—and the contrast with Lamar's detailed, personal experience, and the lowest-common-denominator thematics that you mention in contemporary CCM, is quite striking. Thanks again.
Your writing today gives me hope! Thank you…But please don’t get arrogant or self absorbed… I need writers who can say - with a measure of humility -/what you have written.
There is a passage in the essay that was removed for the sake of brevity. But before the end of the essay we return to the scene in Walk the Line, because it is the answer to the problem that the label head posed to Cash.
It said:
“After the label head in Walk the Line rejects Johnny’s Kirkland-brand expression of gospel music, he challenges him to sing something that would truly shake the earth and express his heart, raw and naked before God. He asks Johnny if he’d been hit by a car, and was dying in a ditch, and had time to sing one song...one song that would let God know what he thought of this life on earth...what would that song be? Johnny sings “Folsom Prison Blues.” And that song contains what may be one of the greatest lines ever written:
“But I shot a man in Reno // just to watch him die.”
Now I cannot speak for you, but I’ve never shot a man in Reno, let alone merely to witness his end. My guess would be that you haven’t, either. All the same, those words inevitably begin their haunting of of us. With an image so deeply personal—even one of a kind—he conveyed something utterly universal. Because we all have done something so vile, so heinous...just to see. To know what it felt like. And that is the call of the writer; to bring forth depths to that we may swim in, uncover, and awe in. No mere three feet of water that can be splashed about and experienced in full the first go-round. We need to say it, by saying something else entirely.
I have great respect for your artistry and what you do, Joshua. I love that so many Christian artists are wrestling with these things, and firmly believe that we need better modern worship songs. I'm encouraged that you are writing them!
I'd be interested to know what distinctions you might draw between a song written for a body of believers to sing in worship, and a song written for personal imaging and expression. For the latter, I would agree with most of what you say here. For the former, I'm not so sure.
I think your piece wrestles with a core tension that many artists encounter when they walk in the doors of any church -- artistic excellence vs. artistic service.
I agree that many modern worship lyrics composed via The Formula are lacking in imagery and specificity, and that we need depth and imagery in our lyrics (which is why the recent resurgence of Psalters is encouraging to me). The loss of hymnals in so many churches -- compendiums of the best of worship music throughout history -- is something of a commentary on the current state of things.
However, there is something intrinsically lowest-common denominator about a biblically-rooted worship service -- it will always cut to the human heart because it is an encounter with the Living God, not because it is artistically compelling. We're bombarded by complexity, imagery, and artists vying for our attention every day of our lives. One of the beauties of gathered worship is that God clears away all of those things so we can come to Him for the grace our cluttered, stubborn hearts need to be softened and made new. As worship leaders, we are responsible (in part) for removing obstacles to that encounter.
I say this as an artist and worship leader myself. I would take "Jesus Loves Me" or "Amazing Grace" over any modern worship song -- whatever the imagery packed into it -- because the whole people of God can sing it with their hearts. I love an imagery-dense song; so do the artists in my congregation. Frankly, it usually won't hit home for the truck drivers, engineers, and health-care professionals in the pews. When I see and hear them sing "I once was lost but now am found / was blind but now I see," or "all I have needed Thy hand has provided / Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me" -- I believe them. They are not on autopilot, and if they are, lack of imagery isn't the cause.
I suspect that the people who are most susceptible to autopilot in worship are artists like you and me, when we build our artistic standards into a wall between ourselves and God's cliches, and between ourselves and God's people who don't uphold the artistic standards we hold to. My own heart has struggled with this on Sunday mornings. The primary threat to worshippers is not cliches; it's their worship leaders (and their own hearts, but that's not really something we have much control over).
I firmly believe that the path forward for worship leaders and songwriters in the church is not more imagery, but coming as broken vessels yearning for more of God and less of ourselves. When it comes to the terrifying task of leading the worship of God, we must use our creative giftings from that posture. Is it any surprise that this was the path at Asbury?
Just as a note on writing music: so many of the hymns of faith that have withstood the winnowing effect of time have done so because they combine excellence with access. The tunes are singable, the lyrics understandable, the imagery is beautiful, the theology sound. They are designed to be sung by the people. To aspire to writing like that of Isaac Watts and King David is a noble aspiration indeed. Praying that God is with you in that process!
Such a great read. You really hit the nail on the head with this; "The modern worship song has gripped tightly to the lowest common denominator: songs that can be sung by all people, at all times, regardless of circumstance or maturity." We haven't strayed away from true imagery and true beauty because we don't have the taste for it--rather we have strayed because we are trying to cater to those who we feel aren't "ready for it" or won't fully understand it.
We modern evangelicals are plagued by a constant need to appear welcoming and palatable to both the lowest common denominator and to the enemies of Christ alike.
A friend of mine sent a link to your article. I appreciated reading it as I also have struggled for many years with the state of contemporary worship, particularly in regard to music. I also have been involved in many ways with worship and worship teams over the years, and the music has left me unfulfilled. Whereas your concern addresses the lack of depth, creativity. and generalization of the lyrics, I have been disappointed in the music side of things. Although I do have concerns with the lack of diversity in subject matter regarding lyrics. This discontent has led me to write a book on the subject that I've recenting E-published. I could go into depth on my concerns, but it would take far too long. So, I'm going to leave it with my thanks for writing this article and showing me, I'm not alone in my concerns. If you are interested in my concerns, I've created a website that introduces my book, and provides a link to Amazon where my book can be found. I have to charge for the book, to be published, but it's a modest $2. I would be interested in your reaction if you do decide to read it. The website is: www.praisedeprived.com. The book title is: "Oatmeal and Brown Sugar: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Worship".
I loved this article. Rang to true with me. Sometimes I think do these worship leaders not understand that these songs are like a droning sound in our ears? Repeating the same things over and over. I grew up with the hymns and there was such poetic meaning there. Yes, we did have the chorus in which we could sing from memory, but then back to the "story," which was so much scripture as well. And as far as being able to sing a harmony...that's nearly gone. I can't even use my gift of that. There are no harmony parts to speak of. I am from the older generation. I hope for something better out of the next generation.
Wow, I’m so grateful to read these words that express so much of what I’ve been feeling in regards to modern worship! I play the keyboard for our church’s worship team, but I often feel like something of a puppeteer, pulling the strings of the congregation. Intro, V1, pre-chorus chorus, building into V2, pre-chorus, chorus 2x’s, bridge (building, building) now quiet chorus. It is still, for me, a form of worship, but The Formula you write about, Joshua, feels like such a heavy influence. I almost laughed reading it, having lamented my struggle to my parents in a recent conversation and using that exact terminology. I love the Madeleine L’Engle quote you used, and I think about it often as I write, because I believe God gives me at least my best words, and I want what I put down to be worship to Him.
This is wonderful. Thank you for such a gracious and thoughtful take on Christian art and what it can and should be.
Joshua, this piece expresses so much of what I've been feeling for so long about my experience of Christian worship music.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful critique. It does indeed seem like much of CCM is trading on generalities. Recently I was listening to Kendrick Lamar's "How Much A Dollar Cost"—which details the story of an encounter with God mediated through the plight of a street beggar—and the contrast with Lamar's detailed, personal experience, and the lowest-common-denominator thematics that you mention in contemporary CCM, is quite striking. Thanks again.
Your writing today gives me hope! Thank you…But please don’t get arrogant or self absorbed… I need writers who can say - with a measure of humility -/what you have written.
Excellent and insightful! Also glad to see Madeleine L’Engle included. “Walking on Water” is an annual read for me and always refreshes my soul.
There is a passage in the essay that was removed for the sake of brevity. But before the end of the essay we return to the scene in Walk the Line, because it is the answer to the problem that the label head posed to Cash.
It said:
“After the label head in Walk the Line rejects Johnny’s Kirkland-brand expression of gospel music, he challenges him to sing something that would truly shake the earth and express his heart, raw and naked before God. He asks Johnny if he’d been hit by a car, and was dying in a ditch, and had time to sing one song...one song that would let God know what he thought of this life on earth...what would that song be? Johnny sings “Folsom Prison Blues.” And that song contains what may be one of the greatest lines ever written:
“But I shot a man in Reno // just to watch him die.”
Now I cannot speak for you, but I’ve never shot a man in Reno, let alone merely to witness his end. My guess would be that you haven’t, either. All the same, those words inevitably begin their haunting of of us. With an image so deeply personal—even one of a kind—he conveyed something utterly universal. Because we all have done something so vile, so heinous...just to see. To know what it felt like. And that is the call of the writer; to bring forth depths to that we may swim in, uncover, and awe in. No mere three feet of water that can be splashed about and experienced in full the first go-round. We need to say it, by saying something else entirely.
This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece - thank you for sharing.
I have great respect for your artistry and what you do, Joshua. I love that so many Christian artists are wrestling with these things, and firmly believe that we need better modern worship songs. I'm encouraged that you are writing them!
I'd be interested to know what distinctions you might draw between a song written for a body of believers to sing in worship, and a song written for personal imaging and expression. For the latter, I would agree with most of what you say here. For the former, I'm not so sure.
I think your piece wrestles with a core tension that many artists encounter when they walk in the doors of any church -- artistic excellence vs. artistic service.
I agree that many modern worship lyrics composed via The Formula are lacking in imagery and specificity, and that we need depth and imagery in our lyrics (which is why the recent resurgence of Psalters is encouraging to me). The loss of hymnals in so many churches -- compendiums of the best of worship music throughout history -- is something of a commentary on the current state of things.
However, there is something intrinsically lowest-common denominator about a biblically-rooted worship service -- it will always cut to the human heart because it is an encounter with the Living God, not because it is artistically compelling. We're bombarded by complexity, imagery, and artists vying for our attention every day of our lives. One of the beauties of gathered worship is that God clears away all of those things so we can come to Him for the grace our cluttered, stubborn hearts need to be softened and made new. As worship leaders, we are responsible (in part) for removing obstacles to that encounter.
I say this as an artist and worship leader myself. I would take "Jesus Loves Me" or "Amazing Grace" over any modern worship song -- whatever the imagery packed into it -- because the whole people of God can sing it with their hearts. I love an imagery-dense song; so do the artists in my congregation. Frankly, it usually won't hit home for the truck drivers, engineers, and health-care professionals in the pews. When I see and hear them sing "I once was lost but now am found / was blind but now I see," or "all I have needed Thy hand has provided / Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me" -- I believe them. They are not on autopilot, and if they are, lack of imagery isn't the cause.
I suspect that the people who are most susceptible to autopilot in worship are artists like you and me, when we build our artistic standards into a wall between ourselves and God's cliches, and between ourselves and God's people who don't uphold the artistic standards we hold to. My own heart has struggled with this on Sunday mornings. The primary threat to worshippers is not cliches; it's their worship leaders (and their own hearts, but that's not really something we have much control over).
I firmly believe that the path forward for worship leaders and songwriters in the church is not more imagery, but coming as broken vessels yearning for more of God and less of ourselves. When it comes to the terrifying task of leading the worship of God, we must use our creative giftings from that posture. Is it any surprise that this was the path at Asbury?
Just as a note on writing music: so many of the hymns of faith that have withstood the winnowing effect of time have done so because they combine excellence with access. The tunes are singable, the lyrics understandable, the imagery is beautiful, the theology sound. They are designed to be sung by the people. To aspire to writing like that of Isaac Watts and King David is a noble aspiration indeed. Praying that God is with you in that process!
Such a great read. You really hit the nail on the head with this; "The modern worship song has gripped tightly to the lowest common denominator: songs that can be sung by all people, at all times, regardless of circumstance or maturity." We haven't strayed away from true imagery and true beauty because we don't have the taste for it--rather we have strayed because we are trying to cater to those who we feel aren't "ready for it" or won't fully understand it.
We modern evangelicals are plagued by a constant need to appear welcoming and palatable to both the lowest common denominator and to the enemies of Christ alike.
A friend of mine sent a link to your article. I appreciated reading it as I also have struggled for many years with the state of contemporary worship, particularly in regard to music. I also have been involved in many ways with worship and worship teams over the years, and the music has left me unfulfilled. Whereas your concern addresses the lack of depth, creativity. and generalization of the lyrics, I have been disappointed in the music side of things. Although I do have concerns with the lack of diversity in subject matter regarding lyrics. This discontent has led me to write a book on the subject that I've recenting E-published. I could go into depth on my concerns, but it would take far too long. So, I'm going to leave it with my thanks for writing this article and showing me, I'm not alone in my concerns. If you are interested in my concerns, I've created a website that introduces my book, and provides a link to Amazon where my book can be found. I have to charge for the book, to be published, but it's a modest $2. I would be interested in your reaction if you do decide to read it. The website is: www.praisedeprived.com. The book title is: "Oatmeal and Brown Sugar: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Worship".
I loved this article. Rang to true with me. Sometimes I think do these worship leaders not understand that these songs are like a droning sound in our ears? Repeating the same things over and over. I grew up with the hymns and there was such poetic meaning there. Yes, we did have the chorus in which we could sing from memory, but then back to the "story," which was so much scripture as well. And as far as being able to sing a harmony...that's nearly gone. I can't even use my gift of that. There are no harmony parts to speak of. I am from the older generation. I hope for something better out of the next generation.