>>566374
Having said this there are a couple of tunes I had come across over the past year that I found catchy or there was something in them that I liked. And since have actually been finding myself listening to such songs/bands from time to time. Vid related is one I really like, I believe the artist is associated with Bethal church who, like with the others like HIllsong, am suspicious of as miniteries for the reasons most would be familiar with. But I'm only talking about the music here, not the ministry.
I find the thing is, no matter if these songs/bands have come about and become popular because of (what I percieve to be) the cheap techniques they use to engage people and that they are an borne of a generic middle of the road swooshy wishy washy spacey stadium aesthetic that relfects the blandness of secular soft rock (and the blandess of the majority of the population's tastes - no hate to those who actually like such stuff just been dramatic), you can't deny that people listen to it and it is popular because people like it. It strikes a chord with people and they relate to it. And now I'm getting to the point where I don't actually care enough about my previous criticisms of the music, and simply want to repsond to Paul's intruction in Ephesians 5:19 to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." That's what's I want, whether it's through the use of these types of corny worship songs or not, I don't really care at this point. And with these types of songs, like I say people really do like them, it enflames their hearts singing for the Lord I that's something I truly appreicate and want to share in. You can really see in vid related how empassioned the singer and everyone is for the Lord. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. I have also found that since starting to listen to such songs over the past week or so, I went through a period of experiencing a certain feeling of contentment, of feeling of God's love in my being, which was odd but very nice. I don't know if it's related to listening to this worship music, probably is, as well as of course related to God, and again isn't necessarily a bad thing I guess.
What I do think is a bad thing is when people have these bands and these songs and these feelings and experiences as the grounding of their faith. While some of the churches I am intending to check out may utilise some of these types of worship songs, they are likely comprised of a pretty low key plain band. However I hate to think that if, say Hillsong stopped with their big production values, the lights, the smoke etc. (and their fashionable clothes) that people would no longer turn up to their services. Unfortunately I know that is probably the case in a lot of instances. The emotional and experiential impact of these songs, whether through a big pyrotechnic infused rock show ala Hillsong or even the plain jane bands at most local churches, should similarly not be in and of themeselves the reason one goes to these churches. It is all well and good "feeling" nice through the songs, the music itself and the often sound and wholesome message in the lyrics to the songs, but again, if this were taken away from some people, I wonder if they would remain as Christians. Such people desparately need to be instructed to develop a much more robust grounding to their faith, lest they stray when it's the end of the world, and all the big lights and electricity supplies for those amps and guitars are no longer available, we are facing pursecution and we have to make do with what little we have, namely our God given voices.
I lament the discarding of our traditional hymns and, for those of a particular background, metric psalms also, for the fact that when it comes to this time, the hymns and traditional songs once known by every generation, from the kids to the grandparents, who would once have been able to come together to sing the timeless melodies, hooks and messages contained within them to bring people together in celebration or solidarity, will no longer be able to be recalled by those that need them. Now I'm just picturing these times and we're all huddled in a cave at the end of the world and everyones trying to sing their own forgettable, middle of the road, Hillsong or Bethal tune in total discord with one another.