John Mark McMillan
I don’t know if that’s a fair title for this post. I don’t mean any disrespect to the artists and worship leaders in the videos below. The fact is just that right now there’s a fair amount of attention around these artists and the direction they may or may not be taking popular worship music as we know it.
To be honest I like it.
I think the future is bright. I think we might be seeing such big changes as smaller or no stages in our churches, trading hazers and motion lights for simple light bulbs. Less sitting and watching and more standing and engaging. We might see the congregation participating in new ways.
But I’d like to hear from YOU!
If this is the future, what do you think of it? Tell me what you like. Tell me what you don’t like. Together we might be able to save ourselves from making some mistakes down the road as we figure out the future or worship music in our own contexts.
Watch and Discuss
(keep in mind lots of these are not actual “worship service” moments)
and something a little different
Discuss…GO!
I’m with you Caleb. I love it. I think it’s creative and innovative and it seems our country is full of people looking to be different. John Mark, Will Reagan, these guys are doing something different than the typical “worship band”. I think kids latch onto those things. I definitely prefer this unplugged, simple lighted worship to the fog machines and sold out stadiums but again thats my preference. But for me it helps me connect in worship. I feel like until electricity corporate worship looked a lot more similar to these guys than to hillsong united.
Also I’d like to note that in these music videos they are all full of people worshiping together. The difference between leader and congregation are not nearly as distinct and I like that idea. Being a community of worship seems so much more genuine to me than being a super sweet worship band.
yup, I think if the goal is being a community of worship then we’re heading in a great direction
Caleb … I’m thinkin’ I’d like to encounter this @Encounter @saanichbaptistchurch @6pm Sundays. however, I’m thinkin’ I’d need to work on the #miamivicestubble
dlc
You know you’re aways welcome!
A couple thoughts…does it come down to the lights/show or is it about authenticity and raw-ness…real-ness in worship…I think people are drawn to authenticity…If I can toot your horn a little K…your appeal in your leading is there’s a level of authenticity…the things that you’ve experienced in your life…the hard stuff, the good stuff comes through when you lead…my vibe on the guys leading…all of them, is there is a genuine feeling of they’re just there as people…not superstars, not rockstars, just raw, real people that crave (just for you) the presence of the holy spirit…I LOVE Robin Mark’s leading…not always a huge fan of all his music, but how he leads is from a place of authenticity…I also LOVE Lincoln Brewster…dude is a total rock star, but he engages those he’s leading because although the guy can flat out play and sing, how he leads is as a normal dude with a guitar in his hands that God’s gifted him to play…so although the “trend” seemingly from these clips may be towards lightbulbs and intimate settings (not saying that it’s not), I think the trend in worship is to put aside those things (although they may be present) for leading from a place of authenticity, from a place of raw-ness, real-ness, brokenness…it’s not about a put together artist…just people that are broken and sinful, empowered by God’s Spirit to worship…that’s my…25 cents…
Thanks for the toot, Dave. Authenticity will never get old. If we can create beautiful worship spaces, and beautiful music that connects with people and points them to God then that will always be good. I hope we all as worship leaders can stay authentic no matter what the style or trend…and sometimes that could mean not going with the trend at all.
These groups all sound great. I see how groups like Gungor and JMM have shaken up and are influencing music in the church. Doing acoustic is great, and actually in some ways harder–no click track loops, or massive pads and goo hiding the autotuning. However, I still see us looking for the “next thing” and what that means is the next formula to adopt. We are gonna shed the fog-machine-metro-dressing-4onthefloor for hipster-1970s-barefoot image. Authenticity is what we are. The tools and means are the language. We can be authentic with big subs and haze and vnecks just as much a bearded hipsters with banjos and sitars. And, the opposite is true. These trends shall too pass.
I think you’re right, Rich. Good insight.