Spontaneous worship moments drive a memorable Australian tour

TEAGAN RUSSELL | FEBRUARY 5TH, 2017 01:39 PM | Comment Icon3

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One of the biggest names in global Christian music, California’s Bethel Music is currently doing a brief Australian tour – visiting five cities in one week. Hosting “Worship Nights” around the country, they’ve already been to Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and last night they played in Sydney at Hillsong’s 3300-seat home, at Baulkham Hills.

Wrapping up the tour tomorrow in Adelaide, Bethel Music’s Hillsong special event attracted a full house – and the American powerhouse didn’t disappoint.

From the start, the atmosphere was buzzing. Before Bethel Music took to the stage, the huge crowd was reminded by Christian charity Compassion of the connection between worship and justice. This was a great introduction to what proved to be a memorable night of bringing together the power of a worship service with the Jesus-centred motivation behind it.

These “spontaneous worship moments” are one of my favourite things about Bethel Music.

Bethel Music’s Kalley Heligenthal, Leeland Mooring and Paul McClure led the first worship set. (Stay tuned for Eternity’s video interview with the delightful Kalley – who we caught up with behind the scenes). The first set went for more than an hour, and there were some beautiful moments of “spontaneous worship” – a notable and unusual expression session that Bethel Music has become well known for.

These “spontaneous worship” moments are when the lead singer begins singing what’s on their heart. They break out from the lyrics of a particular song and the band supports them, going with the flow of where the worship leader takes the team.

These “spontaneous worship moments” are perhaps one of my favourite things about Bethel Music.

Everyone in the crowd was still on their feet, passionately engaged in worship.

Bethel Music founder Brian Johnson and Corey Asbury led the second set. I have seen Bethel Music perform many times but I had not seen Corey before. He really brought an energertic and entertaining vibe to the stage.

Towards the end of Bethel’s worship night, there was an opportunity for prayer – and an “altar call” too. Corey led the final song, which Brian introduced jokingly as one of their few “faster” songs. It was a fun way to end a great night.

It was wonderful to see that after more than two hours of worship, everyone in the crowd was still on their feet, passionately engaged in worship.

 

 

Editors Comment:

Teagan who is probably a millennial seems to have zero knowledge of the church’s rich musical heritage,  and is void of this background.

She explains that Bethel Music didn’t disappoint. Was she reviewing a church service or a rock concert?

In her article she suggesting that the two hour worship time is an essential element to this tour? The crowd was still on their feet, passionately engaged in worship. Engaged in worship, but it seems more like a U2 event,  than Godward exaltation.

 

She also suggests that the now common occurrences of “spontaneous worship moments” are one of my favourite things about Bethel Music. Yet I shudder at such a suggestion because these times are void of true inspiration, but are more like a formula to be bigger and better and to see one song going for 10 – 12 mins sets a dangerous precedent.

Again the use of repetitive mantras.

And Hillsong are fully in step with this New Age Wave of Deception.

Tomorrow I look at the dangerous drift in doctrine of Bethel in reference to our Lord’s Divine nature which Bethel has strayed from because of their Pastor Bill Johnson’s poor exegesis and hermeneutics.