Is Contemporary Worship Becoming Too Focused on Entertainment?

Is Contemporary Worship Becoming Too Focused on Entertainment?

Modern worship trends are shifting, reflecting both generational differences and evolving leadership styles within churches. The discussion centers around whether contemporary worship has become too focused on entertainment and performance, raising the question of how churches can strike a balance between engaging congregations and maintaining authentic, Christ-centered worship.
#ContemporaryWorship #ChurchTrends #AuthenticWorship #WorshipBalance #FaithCommunity


Photo credit: ©Kalisa Veer/Unsplash

In today’s church landscape, the line between worship and entertainment can sometimes feel blurry. With advanced sound systems, concert-style lighting, and booming tech setups, many churches strive to create engaging worship experiences. But this raises the question: are we inadvertently making worship too dependent on entertainment? While engaging presentations can enhance worship, some believers worry that it may shift the focus away from genuine, God-centered devotion.

What are your thoughts? How can churches strike the right balance between utilizing technology and ensuring that worship remains a sincere act of praise to God?

Here’s an interesting article on the subject if you are interested in further reading:

I visited a “professional “ church with a light show. Auditioned band, a no fatty rule on stage, and cool pastor. It was entertainment provided by thegood looking and thin. Other members, even those with high musical skill sets were relegated to parking lot or nursery duty, etc. the music was repetition an attempt to whip up emotional frenzy.

I didn’t hang there but a couple of months. I gladly went back to a hymn singing church where no one was paid to perform and how you look doesn’t matter. High school kids are in the orchestra beside older retired folks. Anyone can sing in the choir. I would never return to the contemporary shallow style of worship.

Our worship team is nothing like that. We have thin, fat, old, young; the drummer is a woman who only took up the drums because the Worship Team needed a drummer. We don’t have lights or anything like that. About the only thing we can brag on is that the music pastor & his wife are educated in music and our guitarist is an award-winning prodigy (who sits in the back corner & just plays). The rest of us are rank amateurs who just love music & love the Lord. That said, we sound pretty good anyway!

I do worry about this to be honest. I wonder if some people go to see a concert rather than worship. If our worship is genuine, then we should be able to worship either with a full band or just one guy on an acoustic guitar or a piano . If our worship is based on who is leading it, then we have missed the point. Additionally, worshp is much more than singing songs on a Sunday, its meant to happen in every sphere of our lives. Our work can be an act of worship, how we serve others can be an act of worship. I always remember the song by Matt Redman, the heart of worship and that song touches on this issue. It should be all about Jesus.

1 Like

Amen! I totally agree with you. So many Christians miss this. Worship is a lifestyle, not just what happens on Sunday.

I once had the opportunity to lead a chat event with Jeff Deyo and I’ll never forget that one of the things he said was that he was NOT a worship leader… he was a lead worshipper.

That always stuck with me.

1 Like