Best Praise and Worship Songs

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As most people know, music is an integral part of any church service. The tradition of using music in worship isn’t a new concept. In fact, Christians are commanded to use music. In the book of Psalm, there is a command to “Sing to Him a new song.” However, the type of music used has changed over time.

Development of Christian Worship Songs

In the early years of the church, the music consisted of liturgical songs but then transitioned to hymns. These were songs that could be sung by the entire congregation and had a more expressive style.

The praise and worship songs began to appear in the 1970s when there was a revitalization of Christianity among young people. It was during this time that teenagers and young adults wanted a style of music that was easier to sing and more expressive in nature.

During this time, artists began writing short easy-to-sing gospel worship songs. What made this style of music so appealing to people at the time was its view of the Christian relationship with God. Instead of the more formal style, these songs expressed a relationship with God that was both honest and intimate. Christian worship songs that focused on the joys and struggles that people were experiencing became popular and with good reason.

Easily Accessible Music

Another reason why praise and worship saw huge growth in the early years is that it was an easy style to sing. Most of the praise and worship songs have a short-range that is not difficult for the average singer to reach. It’s not music for a well-trained choir to master but rather music that is designed for the average person. Both the simplicity and honesty of Christian worship songs were appealing and for good reason.

Developing Styles of Music

Although this music has been around for approximately 50 years, it also hasn’t remained static. There have been movements within the praise and worship genre. One of the more common themes today is engaging with the senses to experience God. For example, many gospel songs today mention touching, hearing and seeing. This movement expresses the personal style of worship that people desire.

Another recent change in style is Christian artists who take old hymns and provide a fresh arrangement. Instead of singing the hymn with an organ, these songs have a new life and it’s likely that this will continue in the future. Some of these songs have outdated tunes or the traditional melody is not as appealing to modern-day worship.

The future of worship music can only be speculated but it’s easy to see that this style of music is here to stay. While it originally developed with an emphasis on youth, today these songs can be heard in churches and are enjoyed by people of all ages. As Christians long for an experience with God that is personal, their worship style reflects that desire as well. This is one of the primary reasons why praise and worship songs were developed and why they remain a powerful force in Christian music.