Styles of Praise and Worship

There are many styles of music used in Christian devotional contexts including stylings such as gospel, hymns, chants, blended music and choral music. In more recent years, praise and worship music set in a choral music style, often with repeating, short, easily sung "chorus" parts have become popular.

Having it's roots in the Jesus Movement and similar Christian youth movements of the 1960s and 1970s, this style of music was initially popularized in charismatic churches in the early 1970s. By the 1980s praise songs were breaking out in more worship services and has been evolving in the style of music employed in congregational and small group worship in numberous mainline denominations.

These new styles of music have also changed the choice of instruments used. The traditional organ and piano are being replaced with guitars, both acoustic and electric, keyboards, bass, and drums in many churches. And, the traditional church choir has been replaced with a worship band.

While the form of music may be evolving, the purpose remains the same… to worship God. Worship has been considered by most Christians to be the central act of Christian identity throughout history, and the worship of God is at the very core of what it means to be human.

As with most change, contemporary Christian music has been targeted by some as being controversial. Some Christians feel that the medium of popular music is unholy, and thus unfit for Christian participation. Some find the concept of Christian pop/rock music to be historically associated with themes such as sexual promiscuity, rebellion, drug and alcohol use, and other topics normally considered antithetical to the teachings of Christianity. Others assert that Contemporary Christian Music violates the second commandment because it adds man-made inventions, lyrics and instrumental music to the biblically appointed way of worshipping God.

Despite the controversy, it would seen this new style of worship has been widely accepted by younger worshipers and for the non-churchgoing visitors who feel more comfortable compared to the traditional worship settings.