Once church I go to has a drummer, guitarists, bass player and singer.
The songs are good picks IMHO and again IMHO the band doesn’t distract from the mass and makes the younger folks show up more.
I enjoy it.
Or the church can just use hymns. They have stood the test of time. The presiding minister can easily choose ones that fit the Bible reading of the day.
However after a few months of attending there, I'm not kidding when I say that of the "worship songs" that they used, I wasn't familiar with ANYONE of them and less than 1% of the songs had any mention of God or Jesus on it.
The overall feel of the place (and it was quite large and over 60ft tall in the center of the building, felt more like a rock concert hall than a church. Sadly too was they they were almost all 100% ultra-liberals would constant be preaching on 'racial equality' and not 'oppressing the foreigners' etc.
I'm not kidding when I say that if Hillary made an appearance in there, they would almost worship her like the Messiah.
Oh well, its a sobering thought that ANYONE can be diverted, so even little old me can be diverted too. So after saying all of this that I've lived through with them, I'm not judging them, I'm just reflecting on how they used to operate and function.
Being sang?
Our church solved this question by having praise and other new style songs on the 5th Sunday of each month. As one of the Elders said, Sheep do not all eat from the same patch of grass in a pasture, but chose their sustenance from various places, thus we were insuring that all our congregation (aka sheep in this example) were fed. I think it worked fairly well.
IMHO, Selection of worship songs should never be made on the basis of emotion. Lyric content that is consistent with scripture is the most important element.
As a kid, our church elected a volunteer worship leader and backup every year. Same with piano/organ player. I think the church is wasting resources on hiring worship staff. The church had a lively worship service and the members singing was not drowned out by “pros” like today.
In many churches they are catering to those “members” who want to perform. If these members can’t perform, they go somewhere else. Why not have a talent night every Wednesday where those performers do their thing and those that want to listen show up. If no one shows up they could still perform. If someone wants a music career, go into show business or the recording business. I have seen some bands perform concerts in churches and fund themselves by donations.
An affiliated problem in many churches have “members” who leverage their donations to force the church to hire family members for worship or youth leaders.
Lead pastor is the final say of the congregation, and these mind deadening hare-krishna like repetitive praise songs are awful... as is a drum set and guitar.
Hymns mattered.
Being sang? Never encountered that particular solecism before.
Sometimes one or more of the hymns relates to the scripture and/or the sermon. If so, it’s not a bad idea for the pastor to select the hymn.
We could go back to the days of “Give them WATTS, boys!” for those who understand that statement.
For Catholics Gregorian Chants still sound good. I used to have a vinyl record of them. Wish I still had it.
Doesn’t matter as long as they are played as loud as possible....................
Depending on the church, it might be OK for a member to suggest a hymn. I got talking to the music director about the Titanic one day - I don’t remember what brought that up - but I suggested that he put “Nearer My God To Thee” on the schedule for the following April. There is conflicting evidence whether it was the American or the British melody that was played on the Titanic - I’m inclined to think it was the British version. Anyway he did put it on the schedule.
I smell “legalism”.
Does God care about what clothes you wear to church?
Does God care if you are dirty?
Does God care what type of praise music you sing?
Does God HATE electric guitars?
Does God hate Contemporary Christian Music?
The answer to all these questions is NO!
SHUT UP AND SING!
They may or may not be doctrinally correct, but the headline is grammatically incorrect. Change “being sang” to “being sung.”
The pastor should choose the hymns they complement his message.
If the lead pastor does not have some input, that leaves the worship team to do as they see fit.
And that is dangerous.
They are accountable to him.