Contemporary Christian Music Is Not About Praise and Worship, It’s About Secularizing God with Entertainment

As I have often pointed out, as in my post, The Rise and Fall of the Church Musician, the entire emphasis on “praise services” is a slippery slope. EVERY service should be a praise service, and every person in the pews should be a participant. Sure, have special music. But elevating a group of worshipers over the rest turns the rest into mere spectators. God is not after a good show, but rather the confession of broken and contrite hearts and the spontaneous gratitude for his mercy as reflected in congregational responses of praise. If you remember the music but cannot remember the scripture teaching for the day, then you have put the form of worship ahead of the function, which is to strengthen you to live a life of service. But service requires humility and hard work, much less glamorous and inviting than being entertained.