Praise Music Again

This past Sunday worship service left me in tears. I was subjected to an hour of praise music or as I prefer to call it "narcissistic drivel". There was very little difference in the music itself, certainly nothing memorable. While the choir and the soloists gave powerful performances, nothing could counter the lyrics that focused on "I" or "me" praising God and how wonderful "I" was for praising God. Let's get this straight. I believe we should praise God, but leave ourselves out of it. Remember the doxology. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." There is no "I"or "me".

While I realize this music is a fad that will pass, I feel insulted that my church cares so little about my generation. If anyone did care, they would throw the old dogs a bone and have a traditional hymn or two. No, the focus is youth, youth, youth. Strange, I don't remember Jesus saying that people over forty were worthless. Discrimination in any form is wrong in God's church. Just because it is aimed at older adults, does not make it right. The church should be inclusive. Sunday morning worship services should not exclude, but strive to bring God's followers together. We need to know each other to love each other. I think it is time for a new Christian movement: across all ages, we are one with Christ.

Praise Music

Sometimes, I think that praise music (narcissitic drivel) is an outgrowth of the "dumbing down" of American religion. American evangelism has a strong anti-intellectual bias. Some of this anti-intellectualism is driven by the fear caused by what is perceived as the assault by science on what is found in the Bible; some by the very real antipathy of those that consider themselves intellectally elite; some by those that would create an enemy in science and in particular evolution, so that their followers have a common enemy against which to stand. I believe that the combination of anti-intellectualism and a desire "to feel" their connection to God has given rise to praise music and the new worship services. Churches are substituting emotion for thought. At this moment, all I can do is continue to pray and not attend.