Don’t Be Quick To Judge Church Music

August 22nd, 2026
Its not uncommon for Pastors to receive nasty letters from time to time from disgruntled members of the Church.
Usually pointing out things they disagree with from a cultural perspective.
Here are two letters that caused me to pause, in my cultural criticism of Modern Church Music.
1. “What’s wrong with the inspiring hymns which we grew up with?
When I go to church, it is to worship God, not to be distracted by learning new songs.
Last Sunday was particularly unnerving. While the text was good, the tune was un-singable and the new harmonies were quite discordant.”
2. “I am no music scholar, but I feel I know appropriate church music when I hear it.
Last Sunday’s new hymn, if you call it that, sounded like a sentimental love Ballard one might expect to hear crooned in a saloon.
If you persist in exposing us to rubbish like this in God’s house, don’t be surprised if many of the faithful look for another place of worship.
The hymns we grew up with are all we need.”
The first letter was written in 1890 and was complaining about the Hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”.
The second letter, dated 1865, was criticising the use of “Just as I am”.

(Which incidentally is the most listened to hymn on my Youtube Channel. Perhaps because I was singing in the choir. 😂…..just joking!

Having been on the receiving end of many a nasty letter over the years, I appeal to you as a fellow believer to think again before you express your biased opinion.

I know the western church seems to be going through some cultural upheavals of epic proportions.

Even to the extent of sarcastically calling a church that I was a part of in times of revival as the “Entertainment Centre”.

Its easy to find fault with Churches and their music, especially if you don’t like it!

In fact if the truth is known, your opinion can be very hurtful to musicians and singers who are generally people who feel deeply about their ministry in church music.

Lest you think I have an axe to grind, I like to think my opinion is balanced because I have lived through the music genre of Hymn singing of the 20th century and todays multiplex church music styles.

When the world wide Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusade were in full swing, it unpretentiously set the standards of church music.

Slowly that genre has changed, and today church music is reaching a totally different cultural group of people which the Lord only knows to well, because He is building His Church.

I can’t say I am enamoured with modern church music, yet I am led to believe it is reaching a different generation of people that are not impressed with the hymn singing style of yesteryear.

Besides, now that I’m into my final years and suffer from deafness and vertigo, the music of many a modern  church service is painful to endure.

As a former minister and leader of Gospel and Worship music in the the Church, I have chosen to take a softer line in criticising the Church.

My basic approach is to recognise that Jesus is building His Church and He knows exactly what’s necessary.

In light of this I have adopted to embrace a policy of, what I can’t change I refuse to express negative notions!

Instead I take it to the Lord in prayer!

 

 

 

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