The difference between praise and worship music

[Lukamu]

They are both about praising and worshipping God, but they are two different categories, depending on how they're used and who they're performed by.
Praise music is usually performed by a specific band or a cover band. It generally has more technical aspects to it that are difficult for the average Joe to reproduce. For example, more complex rhythms and more intricate instrumentals. It is great to listen to and sing along with, and especially great to see it performed on stage at a concert.
Worship music is more accessible for a congregation because it is not as intricate, and therefore more easily reproduced by Joe Shmoe. The melody is easier to sing, the rhythms aren't as difficult to grasp, and the instrumentals are basic.
I prefer worship music in church because more people are able to sing along with it, and I think that singing/participating is important in worshipping God on Sunday.
Your thoughts?
- Lukamu

 

[Dave-W]

Actually there is a third category: thanksgiving.

the major difference is who the lyric is addressed to. Praise is proclaiming the works of God to those around us; thanks giving and worship are addressed directly to HIM. Thanksgiving is thanking HIM for what He has done and worship is extolling Him for who and what He is.

I prefer worship music in church because more people are able to sing along with it, and I think that singing/participating is important in worshiping God on Sunday.

All three are appropriate for congregational use. Please note Psalm 95 - how it describes the move from praise into worship:

Praise:

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.

Worship:

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.

 

[Dave-W]

Here is a medly of praise music:

Here is are a couple examples of worship music:

 

[tturt]

Some believers don't think there's any difference between praise and worship. In terms of church music, I'm wondering how it can be worship to Yahweh when we're thinking and singing primarily about ourselves including on Sunday mornings. I agree with DaveW-ohev - praise and thanksgiving can lead to worship.

 

[Goodbook]

?
it thought it was the same.
Singing God's praises is worshipping Him.

if we are singing about ourselves worshipping sort of negates the purpose. Not really sure what the distinction is, but if you talking bout some of the Hillsong music thats not even about Jesus, but more about feelings and singing how 'I" feel then yea that's not. Thats just kind of self-indulgence. For example, I remember one congregation always used to sing 'he is jealous for me' which isn't about the Lord, its about the singer worshipping something...but it could be anyone...when we come together to praise Him it isn't about ourselves.

 

[Dave-W]

Good - read Psalm 95.1-7 and meditate on it verse by verse. Notice the change from praise to worship between v 5 and 6.

 

[Goodbook]

yes but the Psalm is one Psalm not two separate ones. Is my point.

 

[Goodbook]

This is like asking the difference between rock and roll or r and b.
Or the difference between fish and chips. Or bacon and eggs.

It goes together alright?

 

[Dave-W]

It goes together alright?

Right - and that is the flow of Psalm 95. You go from loud proclamations of praise to the quiet subtly of worship to the position of being ready to hear God speak to us.

 

[Phil Bartlett]

I take a slightly more simplistic approach. I'm pretty confident that the main body of the congregation wouldn't know the difference in the categories we place the songs in. I/they tend to think (or have been conditioned to think or expect) that the band starts out fairly vigorous and uptempo foot-tapping stuff and then moves towards more reflective, emotionally moving, sweeter, melodic sensitive, songs.

 

[WolfGate]

I tend to align more with DaveW-Ohev's thoughts than the OPs. In addition to Dave's comments, while they are different in some aspects, I think Praise and Worship get grouped together because they are both common and suitable for Sunday morning services. Christian music has many genres, including other contemporary ones that are popular. Still, much of what you'd hear on KLove or Air1 or the Message, while decidedly Christian, is not intended for Sunday worship and would not be considered either praise or worship lyrically either.

The topic is a good one though. I have known several non-worship team people in church to ask what the difference is. The simple fact it is called Praise AND Worship leads to the question.

 

[faroukfarouk]

This has great Biblical lyrics -Disciple's Radical (I don't know what category it would be in, whether praise or worship music):

 

[WolfGate]

This has great Biblical lyrics -Disciple's Radical (I don't know what category it would be in, whether praise or worship music):

It would be in neither the praise or worship category. Basic hard Christian Rock is where it falls.

 

[faroukfarouk]

It would be in neither the praise or worship category. Basic hard Christian Rock is where it falls.

Oh okay!

 

[Dave-W]

It would be in neither the praise or worship category.

Agreed. P&W has to work well in a congregational setting with the congregation carrying much of the singing.

Can you really imagine a congregation trying to sing this?