Worship Words

..well, at least the way I see it. The phenomenon that is the praise & worship movement has currently splintered into so many subgroups that its easy to lose count. See my timeline below.

1960’s

Gaithers write new songs that become widely sung in churches (The King is coming, Because He lives, etc.)

Folks in the Jesus Movement start writing their own songs for Christian use

1970’s

Jack Hayford writes “Majesty” in 1978, a prototype for similar songs written around the same time.

 1980’s

The seeker-friendly church takes off and worship music goes with it. Worship songs become commonplace in many churches. Songs like Awesome God, Lord I lift Your Name on high, El Shaddai, Mighty is our God, As the deer, Give thanks, Celebrate, He has made me glad, etc. become staples in worship music. By the late 80’s, this style of music becomes known as “contemporary.” Word Music, Maranatha, and Integrity/Hosanna emerge as major players in worship music publishing.

  1990’s

“Shout to the Lord” is the worship hit of the decade, catapulting Hillsong to the top of the P&W foodchain (where they still are today). Individual worship artists gain popularity (Paul Baloche, Don Moen, Darlene Zschech, etc.). Worship music, IMO, overtakes more traditional styles of music in churches. The revival at Brownsville became somewhat hysterical…however, some of their music was redhot during the latter half of the decade. Passion worship conferences take off, producing notables songs like “We fall down.” A celtic flavor gains momentum in certain circles. Vineyard worship music, characterized by bad lyrics and poor audio quality (just kidding…but not really), gains popularity in certain circles. Integrity moves ahead of the pack as the leading publisher of successful worship music. 

Notable worship songs from the 90’s include Open the eyes of my heart, Trading my sorrows, Shout to the Lord, God will make a way, My redeemer lives, Firm Foundation, Days of Elijah, and others that I’m sure I’m forgetting (help me out if you think of any).

2000-present

Lakewood takes over. Osteen’s church churns out hit after hit (We worship you, Better than life, etc.), and epitomizes what I call ‘Biggie-sized worship’ (strings, horns, winds, guitars, keys, percussion galore, you name it).

Hillsong is a mainstay with the addition of Hilllsong United.

Paul Baloche continues to put out excellent worship music that remains immensely popular.

Ross Parsley of New Life Church in Coloroda Springs fronts several successful worship albums.

Chris Tomlin writes eleventy thousand popular worship songs (Holy is the Lord, How great is our God, etc.)

The UK makes a strong impression with artists like Matt Redman and that guy from Delirious? Redman’s “Heart of worship” is hugely popular and widely sung.

A whole new genre of worship music springs up that is more edgy and focuses on issues of social justice, poverty, etc. (see Hillsong United)

Notalbe artists include Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Darlene Zschech, Tommy Walker (again, I’m sure I’m forgetting some)

Re-setting hymns with fresh music becomes popular. Everyone from “Mercy Me” to “Passion” to modalists “Phillips, Craig, & Dean” record updated hymns.

In an absurd move, some churches start incorporating secular songs that could possibly have a spiritual message into their worship (U2, etc.)

Worship music is increasingly affiliated with different local congregations…Hillsong, Hillsong United, New Life worship, Gateway worship, Sovereign Grace worship, Potter’s House, Saddleback, etc.

There are more styles/types of worship music than ever before, along with various worship movements: Emerging worship, Ancient-future worship, Liturgical renewal, Radical Orthodoxy, etc.  

IMO, decent theology flies the coop and solidifies the stereotype that worship guys (like me) are clueless about matters of doctrine and have little to no knowledge of scripture outside of the Psalms.  

Worship music becomes an insanely profitable industry. There are now more worship conferences than Wal-marts (not really, but I’ll bet its close). Christian colleges and seminaries are adding worship leading degrees to their curriculum (my alma mater is one of them), and folks are getting straight-up rich off of worship music. 

There you have it.