Christian churches are bridging the gap between gospel and mainstream

Ashley Verdugo/ Contributing Writer

What used to be robes and choirs is now skinny jeans and high pitches. The modern Christian church has transformed worship music from being a tradition on Sunday mornings to being heard on mainstream pop.

The change in Christian music attracts more people to the church. A newcomer could feel pressured for not knowing the environment, but with a more trendy sound, the pressure from being perfect is taken away.

Stephanie Alessi, a junior majoring in English, notes that the church and the music industry have been bridging the gap over the years. “We’re finding a middle ground here,” says Alessi. “We’re making mainstream songs with the name Jesus in it, but it’s cool.”

Ben Gomez, a sophomore majoring in business management, says the church noticed that unfamiliar music could alienate those who weren’t used to the environment.

“Some traditionalists would argue that it’s a negative change but the gospel is for everyone,” says Gomez.

Gomez shared that music is becoming an evangelistic tool for the church to spread the gospel and attract non-christians to the church. Early Christian music was filled with hymns and gospel harmonies. “Hillsong, a Christian church based in Australia, changed the tide,” Alessi said.

Hillsong makes songs that people can sing with their congregation. It’s no longer a bunch of harmonies that are hard to follow. Their goal was to make a song that people can pick up and add to their playlist.

Taya Smith, a singer for Hillsong church, stepped up and challenged female vocalists to stretch the range, runs, and melodies of worship music. “Why can’t we do what Beyonce does?” says Alessi. “Why can’t we do what Sia does in her songs?”

Choirs no longer have the task of leading worship on Sunday mornings. Churches have bands, soprano, alto and tenor singers and even songwriters. “Now as we’re in the Internet era, Christian songwriters can keep up with musical trends as quickly as the biggest names in pop,” says Gomez.

Christianity is the only religion to make it on top charts and have their own genre of music on music streaming services, such as iTunes and Spotify.

“We’re trying and we’re succeeding to make the church a creative breeding ground where you’re creating things,” says Alessi.

Additionally, many church bands have major sold out tours. In 2016 Hillsong United, a band of Hillsong church, toured worldwide to India, Singapore and North America. “Hillsong NYC went from church to trendy overnight,” says Alessi. Traditionalist church and the mainstream music industry are bridging the gap and coming together to create a modern sound for Christian music.

Alessi says the process of writing music is the same for Christians and non-Christians. Both write honest lyrics that come from a broken place and come from the heart. The only difference is Christian music all points back to Jesus.

As worship leaders at Metro Life church, both Alessi and Gomez know that when they’re on stage the attention is not for them. Their roles are to lead people to a more spiritual and faithful place with God.

“There are a lot of logistics that go into being a worship leader,” says Alessi. It’s not just singing the crowds favorite songs. A worship leader has to make sure the set list is approved by the pastor, lines up with the church theologically and communicate with the team of singers and bands.

Music of any kind can bring people together no matter who they are. The church wants more and more people to come to the Christian faith and has bridged the gap between gospel and mainstream.

“Nothing about the message of Jesus is alienating so why should our music be?” Gomez says.

 

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Photo taken from Flickr.

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