Worship and Pop Culture

In Selling Worship , Pete Ward’s thoughtful assessment of “how what we sing has changed the Church,” Ward notes that certain aspects of contemporary culture “will fit well with what we are doing while some other characteristics of the culture will be problematic.”

He provides a superb illustration of the latter by highlighting the “rate of change that the use of popular culture in worship has introduced into evangelical life.” One writers describes how the church has been “invaded by an astounding upsurge in newly-created forms of music,” which creates a rapid turnover not only of songs but of musical styles. Ward notes, “So quickly do songs come into fashion and out again that worship groups and congregations have a repertoire which changes every year.” He cites another worship leader who says that “There is a real pressure to keep up to date with the latest songs.”

Ward summarizes, “A media generated and transmitted religious culture is one that is affected by the pace of change and communication, which is characteristic of contemporary culture. While there are more songs from which to choose, and many of these songs may be seen as being relevant, there is also a tendency for a rapidly changing consumer-based worship culture to itself appear less than genuine. The more involved and engaging the mediated cultural environment within worship is constructed, the greater the possibility of a perceived threat to authenticity.”