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How to Write a Worship Song (in 5 Minutes or Less)

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How are y’all doing this morning? Are we ready to worship the Lord in music today? Can I hear an “Amen”? God is Good? All the Time!

Let’s lift our voices in praise to God, and put our hands together for Eric Carpenter at Pilgrim’s Progress who posted this hilarious video on his blog:

This guy is right on! Though I noticed in this sample song at the end there that he forgot to sing about fire…

Christian Music SongI have complained about Christian music before, but one thing I have noticed in recent years is what this guy points out — Christian contemporary music all sounds so similar! 

One little game my wife and I occasionally play in the car as we drive around is “Pick out the Christian Music Station.” We repeatedly hit the “seek” button on the radio in the car, and every time it lands on a station, we see which one of us can most quickly determine whether a station is “Christian” or “secular.” We can usually nail the “Christian” station within less than one second of music. It all has the same tempo, the same chords, the same rhythm, the same vocals, the same everything.

Whatever happened to creativity?!

Anyway, I am not trying to bash Christian music. It helps a lot of people prepare their hearts and minds for prayer and Bible Study. In some ways, Christian music is a form of prayer, I suppose. For me, however, I have been finding more truth, reality, and significance in secular music.

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In Laugh a Little!, Music and Art
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  • prinzhal

    You say, “[Christian music] helps a lot of people prepare their hearts and minds for prayer and Bible Study.” One useless activity to prepare another useless activity. The problem is that far too many Christians think listening to Christian music is prayer and they are closer to their God because of it. One pair of hands doing something will accomplish more than a 1000 pairs clasped in prayer or being waved in the air during a empty song. The people who write most of the Christian music are just pandering to the believers to make money.

    • http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers

      Prinzhal,
      Well, maybe so. I definitely agree with your last statement. A lot of Christian music artists are just in it for the money. But then, most of us do our jobs “just for the money.” Is it so bad for people who enjoy writing music to do the same? I think not… although maybe they could be more honest about why they are doing it….

      • http://www.facebook.com/ticoandtina TicoandTina Real

        This comment has me pondering whether the genre of “Christian” music should exist all-together. What is the purpose of this mainstream fluff that all sounds the same?
        I read a study by a Rabbi named Stefan Blad about worship leading in the church, but he made an interesting point about not calling it “music” per se because of the etymology of the term, which implies idolatry.
        MUSIC: from Greek mousike (techne) “(art) of the Muses,” from fem. of mousikos “pertaining to the Muses,” from Mousa “Muse”
        MUSE:Meaning “inspiring goddess of a particular poet” is from late 14c. The traditional names and specialties of the nine Muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne

        Could it be that ( I know I might be generalizing a bit) this “Christian” music business is just idolatry? If so, what is being worshiped? I mean when I see everybody and their brother covering worship songs and putting out whole albums of worship song covers it makes me seriously question the motives of the band. Why do we want a cd of worship songs that someone else wrote, sung by you? Are we worshiping God through your cd or your musical talents? Is there another way around it? Do people buy “buff, sexy hair guys” worship album because they want to worship to his crooning?

        I’ve gone too long on this comment, but I leave with this last bit, Stefan says that what is incorrectly termed “music” in the church, should be called “prophecy” the band of prophets that Saul joined were prophesying with instruments. Prophecy is relaying a message from God to the people. I see that as my mission as a worship leader, and not just with music , but with every avenue that HE provides me with.

  • mark

    I guess I can understand the efforts to be objective and discerning about such topics as christian music. My concern though, with videos like the one put together, is that it seems to lack a spirit of honor or respect for those that have poured their hearts into what someone like this young man would consider uncreative, or mundane.It’s a little tricky to tell where a person’s heart is when using sarcasim to get their point across, so my only comment would be that as we grow, discern, and test those things around us, that we not forget that things like respect, and honor are very important to out God. The longer I walk in my christian faith, the more I understand that values like these, and a godly heritage, are what I would love the next generation to recieve.

    • http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers

      Mark,

      Yeah, I don’t know who this guy is. My suspicion is that he is a youth pastor in a big church somewhere, but I cannot find any details about him.

      Of course discernment, respect, and honor is important, which is why it is important to reject so much of what passes for “Christian.”

      • http://www.facebook.com/ticoandtina TicoandTina Real

        Their names are Jordan and Josh Taylor, two guys from Tenessee that have a very awesome youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/blimeycow . I was able to meet and interview them for our channel http://www.youtube.com/user/theBeautyofOne this summer. They are excellent kids that have a heart for God and use their youtube popularity to do some honest criticism of our Christian culture. Mark I would beg to differ with you in regards to this video being done with sarcastic intent, i would say it’s intention was to bring attention to the sad state of mainstream Christian music through irony rather than sarcasm, there is a difference. If you look at Josh’s vlog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACmZPLh6OlM&feature=share&list=UUJS5Lpqm-YnrcJR_kcFB_Xw of the day before he posted the video you can realize he didn’t take posting this video lightly.

        • http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers

          Hey, thanks for the information on them! I found their YouTube channel and Facebook page, but their website is “closed for construction” or something like that, and I couldn’t find much more information about them.

          Do you know if they “attend” a church there in TN?

          • http://www.facebook.com/ticoandtina TicoandTina Real

            No Idea, they’re super approachable I bet you could have a good conversation with josh if you try him on twitter @joshtaylor388

          • http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers

            Cool! Thanks.

  • http://mickholt.com/ mickholt

    I don’t really go for “pop” music of any genre – never have. To me there is just no substance. Too many people singing other peoples words and those are the good tracks; when some people write their own stuff? Hurumph!

    Rock and roll, and to a degree country, has always had an honesty to it that pulls me in. When I listened to secular music the lyrics resonated with me; the pain, the desire and at times the hate – it was palpable, solid – there was meaning – even in the “power ballads”.

    Now, I seldom listen to secular rock – if you’d like that explanation I will provide a link to a post I wrote – but I have found a few christian rock bands that can not only play good tunes but the lyrics? Oh man, can they bring it. Bands like Disciple use so much imagery it is poetic. The guy that writes for them – I no longer learn band member names, again the explanation can be provided – uses scripture to set up his pieces, I can’t tell you.

    Other bands with really good lyrics include: “Ashes Remain” – straight ahead RnR, “Kutlass” – kind of a Linkin Park sound to them, “Demon Hunter” – my only issue with these guys is the signer growls some of the material, when he sings he’s amazing but his writing is top notch – and I am really digging “12 Stones” right now – again solid lyrics.

    Now, If you’re not big into rock then these will do nothing more for you than any of the “pop” stuff out there – but I seriously recommend looking at the writing of any of the above – you may not dig the tunes but I really think you’ll see something in the writing that is lacking in other genres.

    • http://www.tillhecomes.org/ Jeremy Myers

      I like Kutless AND Linkin Park. Ha! I haven’t heard of those others, but then, I don’t keep up with music very much, Christian OR secular… I will check them out. Thanks!

      I used to really like Casting Crowns. Their album Lifesong really got me through some tough times. But their last several albums have really “sold out” to the “five minute worship song” mentality in the video above.