About a dozen years ago, the ex wanted to start going to a church so we went looking for one. I found a lot of churches that were the same way. Couldn't stand it.
I know it's the JW mindset. You go to church to hear the speaker, not songs.
One church really annoyed me. They come out with a whole band and do like 20 minutes of songs. And then more later. And these weren't songs where everybody has a hymnal and sings along and participates, no. It's a performance, they're playing songs. Not good ones, mind you. No Stairway to Heaven. It's bland contemporary Christian music played by average talent. And on and on for agonizing minute after minute. And forgive me for a racist comment, but it's bland "white" music (and I'm white). Give me some soul or gospel over that crap. Some Reverend Cleophus James. The whole time I'm thinking what does this have to do with worship? I even e-mailed their pastor to complain. I'm thinking somebody was in high school orchestra and was fulfilling their lifelong dream of being a musician and this was their only way to do it and they were seizing it and relishing in it.
I was still a believer at the time and didn't come to hear songs. I had given up on the JWs as a false religion, but still believed they were right about some things. So I didn't want a church that believed in hell, trinity, and some other things. And since we were looking or a church to attend regularly, I wanted to hear what they believed and wanted to hear the sermons, not songs. These songs only annoyed me.
A year or so ago an ex director where I used to work had taken over as the director of a mega church and I went to see him and attend (not that I believe, but just checking it out). Same thing but much higher production value and a more talented band. Spotlights, TV screens, very professional, high quality. Not that much different from your average touring band. Great musicians, vocalists, and song writing. Still, a lot of music. And then a talk by their pastor (or whatever he's called). Who I later found out had some controversy for publicly outing a member who was cheating on his wife. That's beside the point though.
What I learned is that this is church for some people. This is how they keep people interested. I'm intelligent, a thinker, a MENSA member. I want to hear what they have to say, don't bother me with this worthless music, it's wasting time. Many people like the format. They just want to to be entertained in church. A feel-good sermon, nothing deep. And some music. A show.
Then again, I'm not entirely immune. Maybe the entertainment is why I always liked dramas at assemblies more than the speakers.
And now I belong to a club that does a lot of singing. But the songs are of an adult nature and everybody sings along. Participation is better.
