4 Negative Effects of Worship Conferences on Worship

I'm sure to all parties involved, it seemed like a foolproof plan. The Christian Contemporary Music industry had already established a large market share and more and more churches were adopting a contemporary worship music style. What could be wrong with getting a bunch of popular CCM bands in a stadium, a few big name speakers, and thousands of Christians together for a worship conference? The idea of large worship gatherings was not a new idea, but what arose out of this confluence of technology, industry, and modernity was something that hadn't been seen before. Louie Giglio and Jeff Lewis began Passion Conferences in 1997 with the aim of "uniting students in worship and prayer for spiritual awakening in this generation." As Passion grew, a new brand of Christian conferences grew as well, along with a niche market within CCM: the worship music market.The intended effect of this movement was to utilize modern technology and leverage gifted worship leaders and preachers for the sake of reaching a generation the established church was missing. In many ways, it worked. New life breathed into youth groups and college campuses all over America. Musicians and songwriters began writing congregational worship songs at an overwhelming rate. The younger generation of believers finally had a full-fledged spiritual culture, one that completely catered to their unique tastes and even began overwhelming the older generation's religious culture. The modern worship movement, with its stadium conferences, worship concerts, market share, and celebrities, has become the new norm for Evangelical church culture all over America.For me to say that nothing good has come out of this would be wrong and unfair. Great music that glorifies God has been written and younger Christians have been  engaged in unprecedented ways. I grew up and developed as a Christian as this phenomenon developed. I remember almost jumping in a car as a broke college kid with other broke college kids to try and attend a Passion conference. Much of what I learned about music was through playing worship music. I am currently a worship pastor, a job that didn't exist in the capacity that it does now before this movement began developing.As I look at all of this, though, I can't help but wonder if this movement has done more harm than good in the long run. The Worship conference idea, despite all its good intentions and positive effects, has misled the church and contributed to the decline of Evangelicalism in the postmodern world. Here are five key ways the worship conference movement has negatively affected our modern understanding of worship:1. Worship is performance for God, not adoration of God - Growing up in worship bands, one of the things I always heard people struggling with (including myself) was not taking glory away from God (as if we could). I would pray, "God, please help me to play well for you, to sing well for you, and not for my friends." Now as a worship pastor, this same struggle pervades worship ministry. We want to perform well for God, but not seek the glory that comes from doing a good job in front of other people. But is performing for God really what worship is? In the worship dialogue we have the privilege of entering into, are we really the performers and God the audience? It seems we have things backwards. We are not performing for God, but rather God is displaying his great power and might, his unending love and compassion, his unsearchable wisdom before us and we are the drop jawed members of the audience responding in overwhelming praise of the great God before us. Worship is not performing for God, but applauding God for his great performance. By becoming the performers, we immediately step into a position that only God should fill with regards to the worship dynamic. Our job as worshipers is to adore Christ, not publicly perform for him.2. Talent is a pre-requisite for leadership - It is undeniable that God has used talented people to do his work throughout history. Paul was an exceptional scholar and zealot. Daniel was the top-of-his-class type personality. David was a natural renaissance man. Some people are born talented and for God to move in them and redeem their talents for the worship of God and service to the church is a great thing. Unfortunately, what the modern worship movement has taught is that leadership can only be filled by extremely talented people. There is no room for the humble, willing, and average  or even the moderately talented people. Leadership in the church, especially in worship ministry, is for those who are exceptionally gifted. This is often times valued above character, biblical training, and spiritual depth. Talent is always something that has been used by God, but never required.3. Good worship is expensive - The argument is always for excellence. The bible shows the great detail and cost put into the excellence of the temple and the worship surrounding it. And to a certain extent, the biblical argument is fair. We want to give our best for God and be excellent in what we do. Furthermore, the worship of God is not something we are wasting money on. The problem occurs when the definition of worship changes from a holistic response to God by the body of Christ to a performance for God by the talented. Many people are amazed at the incredible use of media, the quality of music, the lighting effects and overall ambiance of modern worship conferences and services across America. However, if people knew how much it cost to get that effect, I don't think people would be amazed, I think they would be shocked. The church pours millions of dollars a year into the production of worship services. We have the best sound system, the best equipment, the best musicians, the best everything. Unfortunately, what it teaches the church is that for us to be excellent for God, for the church to worship him well, we need to spend ridiculous amounts of money. This doesn't mean that there is no argument for having the right equipment for the situation. But the right equipment does not have to mean the best equipment. Pouring money into the production of church as opposed to the worship of God is something the Bible does not support, anywhere.4. Worship can be consumed - Something I discussed in an earlier post was the dialectic nature of worship. Worship is the dialogue, initiated by God, between him and his people. One of the effects of the mode of modern worship is that we can consume "worship" without actually participating in it. Worship CD's are produced and sold in crazy amounts. Many people choose a church because they prefer a worship style or leader. Now, it is unfair to say that worship CD's are wrong or that its wrong to have certain preferences in style. But the machine of "worship music" needs to support participation, not just consumption. Unfortunately, the modern worship movement is doomed to push consumption over participation by the very way it is set up and presented. When worship is consumed, it doesn't help the church become stronger disciples, it just helps the church become better consumers. It sets a precedent that the church is offering a product that people can buy and passively benefit from.If you thought this post was overwhelmingly negative, you are probably right. My next post is going to be outlining four of the good things the modern worship movement has taught the church, to try and be fair. I ask that you please weigh these observations carefully and feel free to push back if you disagree.