James K.A. Smith, Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College, has written a short “missive” to praise bands, “An Open Letter to Praise Bands,” as “an encouragement to reflect on the practice of “leading worship.” I’m guessing that Professor Smith approves of praise bands, instruments, and uninspired songs in worship, but he has some good reflections about the current evangelical worship scene.
Professor Smith is concerned about the entertainment culture in the church that has been fostered by so-called “praise bands”:
In particular, my concern is that we, the church, have unwittingly encouraged you to simply import musical practices into Christian worship that—while they might be appropriate elsewhere—are detrimental to congregational worship… I sometimes worry that we’ve unwittingly encouraged you to import certain forms of performance that are, in effect, “secular liturgies” and not just neutral “methods.” Without us realizing it, the dominant practices of performance train us to relate to music (and musicians) in a certain way: as something for our pleasure, as entertainment, as a largely passive experience. The function and goal of music in these “secular liturgies” is quite different from the function and goal of music in Christian worship.
He offers three brief “axioms” to encourage reflection on “leading worship”:
1. If we, the congregation, can’t hear ourselves, it’s not worship. Christian worship is a collective, communal, congregational practice—and the gathered sound and harmony of a congregation singing as one… body in Christ.
2. If we, the congregation, can’t sing along, it’s not worship. Your virtuosity gives rise to our passivity; your creativity simply encourages our silence. [See above.]
3. If you, the praise band, are the center of attention, it’s not worship. When the praise band goes into long riffs that you might intend as “offerings to God,” we the congregation become utterly passive, and because we’ve adopted habits of relating to music from the Grammys and the concert venue, we unwittingly make you the center of attention.
Is it possible to avoid falling into these three “praise band” ruts? I don’t think it is, because of the human mind’s proclivity toward idolatry (see Calvin’s Institutes 1.11.8: “perpetual factory of idols”). Boundless, unrestrained entertainment, narcissism, and creativity rule. But even worse than this idol factory is the Biblical and theological bankruptcy of most “praise bands”; some of them are not even Christians, but hired professional musicians.
So if it is impossible to avoid the three things Professor Smith deems as “not worship,” then there’s only one conclusion:
Worshipping with praise bands is not worship.
Update: Professor Smith’s post got a ringing endorsement from D. G. Hart at OldLife.org in “Send This to Members of Praise Bands Before It is Too Late!!!”
If only James K. A. Smith had been the editor with whom John Frame worked on his worship books, the world of conservative Presbyterianism might be a lot more liturgically coherent than it is. I (all about me) don’t usually agree entirely with Smith, though I admire his provocations within the world of neo-Calvinism. But his recent letter to praise bands was largely on target—a bull’s eye would have been doing away with bands altogether.
13 thoughts on “Worship with “Praise Bands” (Updated)”
A commenter says, “worship is an attitude of the heart.” So all worshipers, as long as they’re worshiping with all their hearts, are acceptable. And these include Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, INC, JWs, etc. They’re all worshiping with all their hearts.
As the title of the article states, “Worship with ‘Praise Bands’ ” or worshiping with a band that’s leading the music… this is a very general observation and somewhat unfair to some bands who do not fall under under the writer’s “AXIOMS”… the “you”and the “wes” should not be applied as the sole basis of true worship rather than the Spirit. The band can always argue that they are worshiping God and the congregation won’t because of their expressed prejudice.
Worship simply put: is giving glory to God. The present practice in the church of corporate singing dates back from the early Christian church as they sung songs of thanksgiving to God. Contemporary songs written in the 18th and19th centuries centered on the majesty of Christ, the Son of God. These songs are expressions of gratitude in response to His grace and love and for Christ’s death and resurrection. These actions is what was referred to as worshiping in spirit in the gospel… It is not because of human strength but because of the spirit of God that we have our salvation, royal priesthood, being co-heirs with Christ, and many more… Sadly, this is the element that is missing in most of the present day songs and singing. Instead of songs giving glory to God, a lot of them are centered on human efforts, unfounded prophecy, stereo-typed music from the world and the like. The entrance of the “band” type of music has somewhat complicated the church music farther. But it did not stop the Spirit of God to work in every believer as one can express worship anyplace, anytime, everywhere. And as we model Christ anywhere we are, God is magnified and worship is present.
again, for the millionth time (an exaggeration, more like the 605th time), worship is an attitude of the heart, not singing or music or instruments or anything outside of the heart of man.
We can also remark that many of the psalter hymns and old hymns can’t be sung or folllowed by the congregation. SO that remark-can cut both ways. Let us find the middle ground for this. Sometime the center of singing these old songs are the pastor and organist who can do this on thier too.
Let me know which ones in the psalter can’t be sung by the congregation.
Pastor- In Contemporary Christian music-some of the songs are meant to be sung by soloist-others are not really meant to be sung at all. The congregation can try to follow-but it will be a dull experience because the heart cannot. For Psalter and Hymnals -there are many that can be followed -but some are dull experience for the worshippers since the heart cannot too. The whole person cannot worship in both sitaution. BTW -I am brought by my Christian granfather, 3 mentors to sing old hymns-esp by the pastor’s wife who was an organist too. Our criteria for songs to be included in worship is just two- content-and singability. I have also downloaded psalter tunes and not all flow naturally through the text. Sometimes I just felt an old Catholic singing tunes for a High Mass.
It can be done. The pastor and elders must supervise it and not let the kids just go on with their ‘concert’. There is no need to go to extremes.
Let me know where in the Bible it says that singing the psalter is an “extreme” practice. And where in the Bible we find a “praise band” leading worship.
Pastor -I did not say that singing the Psalter is extreme-but singing the Psalter Only is extreme. There are few worship situations in the NT that can be used as a model on how worship is to be lead. Jesus and the apostles sung a hymn in the Upper Room/Gethsemane (?)-while Paul and Silas in the prison. Which is a good example of what good worship song should be- it can be sung without the need instruments because the heart can easily remember the tune. Both are not satisfied by some contemporary songs nor the old Psalter and hymnals. Let us strive for the whole person worship-whether contemporary or psalms or hymns or songs.
Update: Professor Smith’s post got a ringing endorsement from D. G. Hart at OldLife.org in “Send This to Members of Praise Bands Before It is Too Late!”.
http://oldlife.org/2012/02/send-this-to-members-of-praise-bands-before-it-is-too-late/
Valen and I were former head of the Heart and Jesus Prayer Community assigned at the St. Gabriel Parish in Caloocan in the 90’s for 7 years. Simply put it, singing is twice than praying. There are Christian musics relevant inside the Church and music for gatherings outside the church. If the congregation can’t sing, can’t follow notes – the praise band is merely performing and worse some of Americans inserted rock-metallic tunes to the praise songs & musics all for the glory of God…who? I once had tapes of the type. listened to these musics then threw them away. really, there are varied spectrums in the field of praise and worship… the singer wants to be a preacher, and the preacher wants to be a singer… then the preacher-singer wanted to be a healer, ngek! everybody-somebody wanted to get to the center of attraction. the concgregation is left with their tongues out, can’t sing and awed.
Thanks, Rodrigo. I have another related post just written: “Why Does Your Pastor Monopolize Your Worship Service?” http://twoagespilgrims.com/pasigucrc/index.html/why-does-your-pastor-monopolize-your-worship-service/
It just started with youth fellowship, then tried to have their own worship service, then to keep the youth, incorporate such music stye in the regular ser
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