Worship Wars, Celebrity & Taste with James Ward

You know Paul, in my lifetime few things have defined churches more than their music style selection. I’ve seen choosing a church go from denominational loyalty, “I’m catholic", "We’ve always been Baptist", "I’m Presbyterian”, to “My church has the best worship, this amazing band, a really powerful service.” or “We still sing the old hymns and have the same liturgy we’ve always had."

In that transition a lot of people were hurt, felt betrayed, were angry, disappointed and confused. Also in that transition a lot of people gave up on church, leaving us at the lowest point of church attendance in our country’s history.

Church hurts. You bet it does. Music hurts. In Church it does. 

Can we learn something from this? What can it teach us about churches, about ourselves and, maybe, maybe, maybe something about God?

I don’t know anyone in this world more qualified to help us navigate these waters than our guest today. His name is James Ward. I don’t have time to list his albums, his degrees, the number of concerts he’s performed or talk about his diversity with children’s music, hymns, choir music, rock and even his preferred jazz and blues. I will say one thing: Jim is the most thoughtful Christian musician I know who has walked through the times we now call the “Worship Wars” and has come out alive, filled with faith and wiser for his bumps and bruises.

James, welcome to Church Hurts And…