“All of this came to mind when I read Bob Smietana’s article for Religious News Service entitled If Jesus showed up today, would he play guitar? He was reporting on the Conference on Contemporary Praise and Worship held this summer in Nashville, in which scholars came together to discuss, among other things, ‘whether worship music has become a new sacrament.’” - Gene Veith
“Entertainment disguised as worship isn’t worship. It’s idolatry. Ignorant worship is not worship at all. The ultimate authority on worship is Jesus, and He explained Himself very clearly in John 4.” - P&D
“When your sanctuary looks like a concert venue, with giant LED screens, flashing lights, and booming surround sound, someone might feel, ‘This isn’t church to me—it’s a show.’” - C.Leaders
“We Evangelicals have come to view the word ‘worship’ as referring to something like God-focused music. And music is inherently emotional. So it follows that our understanding of ‘worship’ could then be reduced to the personal expression of a God-centered, emotional experience.” - CLeaders
“I once paid a visit to one of the most mega of America’s megachurches…. I went into this modern worship situation with as open a mind as I could muster. I left perplexed. I was perplexed not by what was said or done in the service as much as what was left unsaid and undone.” - C.Leaders
“My congregation sings louder than they did a year ago. I have been their worship leader for just over a year, and I have seen progress in their participation in worship through singing. They sing louder, they sing more heartily and more of them sing than a year ago.” - C.Leaders
“Now that we have biblical principles, we should evaluate each principle and see which method better fulfills this principle. I have made this caveat before and will make it again, but this is a matter of philosophy, not biblical obedience. You might disagree with me, and that’s fine.” - P&D
“When a local congregation creates a culture of church entertainment in an attempt to build a congregation, it will only be a matter of time before they begin to experience the negative consequences that emphasis will bring. Call it entertainment fatigue.” - C.Leaders
“I’d argue that loving God with our hearts just as much as our minds is a biblical principle that many churches need to be reminded of. However, I’d also contend that too many churches ride the wave of emotionalism, believing that the outward expression of these ‘worship experiences’ is God’s primary concern. It’s not.” - Richard Bargas
“On the one hand, some are flocking to more traditional and liturgical forms of Christianity like Eastern Orthodoxy…. On the other hand, contemporary Christian music (CCM) is thriving… and market research indicates younger audiences are driving much of this growth.” - CToday
