Worship Music & Style

Here is a brief comparison between some of what John Macarthur vs Rick Warren think about Worship music and style.

Both men seek to reach God’s people through the use of music, and agree that music is not a bad thing in the church. There is a divergence when it comes to style and purpose in the detail analysis of their positions. In Macarthur’s historical discussion he attributes the rise in gospel songs for the decline in focus on doctrinal truth for that of personal experience.

“the rise of gospel song in congregational singing signaled a diminishing emphasis on objective doctrinal truth and a magnification of subjective personal experience.” (pg 114)

Macarthur sees the hymns prior to Ira Sankey as a body of music that challenged the intellect as well as the emotional aspects of worship. He saw these songs written as tools for continued and repeatable teaching as well as edification.

“They set the standard of worship that was cerebral as it was emotional.” (pg116)

Although Macarthur says he does not see all Praise Choruses and all Contemporary music as devoid of language and intention of glorifying God, modern worship, he thinks has led to the watering down of the content of the message and the educational depth of the congregation.

“It has led to a decreasing emphasis on preaching and teaching and an increasing emphasis on entertaining the congregation and making them feel good.” (pg 117)


Warren, admits that many of the hymns and older praise chorus hold a special place in his heart because they are attached to special events in his life; he also understands that music is cultural and subject to regions within one lives.

“The kind of music you like is determined by your background and culture. Certain tones and scales sound pleasant to Asian ears; other tones and scales sound pleasant to Middle Eastern ears. Africans enjoy different rhythms than South Americans.” (pg 281)

He firmly believes that limiting our historical frame of reference to hymns is setting that body of work above all the rest as being single-minded and elite.

“To insist that all “good “music was written in Europe two hundred years ago is cultural elitism.” (pg 281)

Warren gives his insight that this emotional topic of worship styles is so personal, because it is an expression of us personally and therefore if anyone is critical; it is received as a reflection of us. (pg 284-285)

Personal Summary:

From my perspective, music is very helpful in opening a corporate time of worship, setting the tone of the whole experience. I see the gathering of the church (people) as an experience. We are to experience God together, adore him, ask for forgiveness, fellowship in his presence and learn from his word. That experience needs to cover all forms of learning styles, based on the tools available to us. Incorporating all learning styles, i.e. auditory, visual, tactile etc. is far easier than trying to cover musical style and taste.

We seek to reach an age group lost to the church, that really calls for incorporating elements that make this group feel safe being with us. We have never changed the message to suit, just environment. I learn best when the learning is appealing, not troublesome in that it is boring, not understandable; yet challenging is alright.

I think it is the same for all those who have yet to come or come back to the church. It can be challenging, but they have to feel safe and we have to be real, not artificially holy.

All Macarhtur ref. Taken from his book, Fool's Gold? Discerning truth in an age of error.
All Warren ref. from his book, The Purpose Driven Church.