From the “850 Words” E-newsletter from Relevant Magazine.
Editor’s Note: In the latest issue of RELEVANT, we got the chance to ask seven leaders about seven big questions facing the Church. Here’s an excerpt from their responses. To read more, be sure to check out the January/February issue of the mag.
What trends in church and worship styles do you see? Are they positive or negative?
Mark Driscoll: I’ll be happy when we have more than just prom songs to Jesus sung by some effeminate guy on an acoustic guitar offered as mainstream worship music. Right now most worship music is still coming from the top down through such things as Christian radio and record labels. But the trend today in a lot of churches is writing your own music to reflect your culture and community, and I pray this trend of music from the bottom up continues.
The prom-song to Jesus may be a bit harsh, but it’s not inaccurate. He’s right, most music used in the church is coming from the top down, I think mostly because a lot of worship leaders in local churches cough don’t have the time or the skill to write their own.
January 4, 2007 at 6:47 am
“Harsh, but not Inaccurate”… Doesn’t that perfectly define Driscoll? I dig it.
With that said, Mars Hill puts out a lot of original non-prom song music, and it is a bit weird in my humble opinion. Come to think of it, a lot of it tends to be “Harsh, but not inaccurate” ;-)
I am glad that they are trying though. Sooner or later, something will resonate. Perhaps their music is just to Seattle-ish for an east side guy like me.
January 4, 2007 at 10:21 am
Hasn’t a lot of the music on labels today spawned from local worship leaders who were exceptionally gifted? If so, wouldn’t that be originating from “the bottom”? Beyond that question, Mark’s comments are very thought-provoking. No body likes my lyrics though.
January 4, 2007 at 10:32 am
Tim, originally, yes. But once they got “picked up” by a label, their music was effected forever. You will be hard pressed to find any music from their “pre-industry” days. Tomlin’s last album was written almost entirely by Ed Cash, among others.
Crowder’s band is one of the few out there that is truly original to music created within the band(and I might be off on that…). Derek Webb as well (I have a strong suspicion it’s part of why he parted ways with Caedmon’s Call). Casting Crown’s first album was all from within their church as well.
There are a few churches out there putting out music that isn’t industry effected, but they are largely unknown. About 3/4 of our songs at Stonebrook come from such sources (Red Mountain Music, PDI, Indelible Grace, to name a couple).
January 4, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I was going to write some music, but you guys keep refusing to put an organ in. I’m washing my hands of the whole situation.
January 4, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Josh – agree that the music is a bit… odd… but then, I’m not from Seattle. Last time I was out there, Swedish Speed Metal was really in with the group of guys I was hanging out with.
Dustin – why don’t you just move to Mexico or something?
January 4, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Hmmm…done!