CCLI data study: “In the mid-1990s, a popular song like ‘Refiner’s Fire,’ or ‘In Secret’ had a lifespan of about a dozen years, rising for 4-5 years before hitting a slow decline. Two decades later, that lifespan has dropped down to 3-4 years” - RNS
“When a megachurch scandal makes headlines, it doesn’t usually affect your Sunday morning set list. But Hillsong isn’t just a megachurch. It’s a major global force in worship music.” - C.Today
“Pat Barrett’s ‘Build My Life’ has regained the number one spot as the most popular worship song, a title it also held in 2019.” “In Christ Alone” remains in the top ten. - C.Leaders
In Psalm 98:4, God’s people are called to crank up the volume of congregational praise:
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth into joyous song and sing praises! (ESV).
I’d like to offer a brief exposition of the key terms employed, followed by some practical observations.
The Psalmist employs three expressions in verse 4 that call for exuberant praise.
“When it announced last month it was shutting down, Brentwood Benson became the latest in a line of major church music publishers closing their doors. Last year saw the bankruptcy of Lorenz Corp., which had purchased choral giant Word Music in 2017. Then a few months ago, Lifeway released its last box of new choral offerings for churches.” - BPNews
“…halfway through that epic bridge you scan over the congregation and all that looks back at you is a sea of blank faces. What went wrong?” - CPost
“It matters whether those who lead us in song see their task as creating a mood or a memory. If primarily a mood, lyrics can take a back seat …. If primarily a memory, the lyrics are critically important. Like the Psalms, they should be able to stand on their own, combined with music or not.” - CToday
“Do they hate these songs? Are they bad singers? Am I singing out of tune? … The church was newly established and small in number, and—to put it kindly—the singing in our gatherings was uncomfortable.” - TGC
“So the question becomes – in spite of today’s worship music often being meaningful, well done and engaging, what have we lost when a few hundred members of the congregation stand there watching 5 or 6 members of the worship team do all the singing?” - Phil Cooke
“Theology matters,” Morgan writes. “I can’t even stress that enough. It matters if a song is weak in theology and is not accurately displaying the Holiness of our God. It matters if churches are spreading a prosperity Gospel that is different from the Gospel found in Scripture.” - C.Leaders
