I've seen all of the above in Christian churches.
Steyn brings up excellent points all through the article, but he also highlights the degradation and pollution of "Worship" music that has proliferated in Western churches for the last 30 years.
Many, if not most, of today's "Praise and Worship" performers act like pop or rock stars, and think they actually are pop or rock stars.
The "Praise and Worship" portion of the average Christian service takes (in my estimation) 40% to 60%+ of the "stage time." More than the Pastor. More than the sermon. More than prayer.
I have seen it all: fog machines, laser lights, and an obsession with stage craft. Many of these "Praise" performers are praising and worshiping themselves - not God.
As I have posted her before, I attended a church where the "Praise and Worship" team probably would not exit the stage unless a hook was employed. The "closing song" morphed into two, three, four songs. Maybe more....depending on how much they wanted to "rock out."
In the COVID era, I listen to real sermons on-line. When I feel the need to praise God in song, I listen to one of the more solid modern praise songs (there are a few), or an old hymn and quietly sing along.
Jan Markell did an entire program about a year and half ago on the problem of modern Christian "Praise and Worship" music and musicians.
She played numerous "Jesus is My Boyfriend" songs. They lyrics are indistinguishable from pop love songs, and when you listen to them in the context of God and Christ, they are literally blasphemous and carnal.
I have seen female singers wail in almost orgasmic glee on stage, belting out lyrics of "Being Inside Me......Deeper.....Deeper To Know You......My Lover.....The Lover of My Soul...……"
I would like to believe that if we ever went "back to normal", many Christian churches will have reformed themselves. But I highly doubt it.
