When you want to worship but you don't like U2
I think each one of us has some kind of favourite music. Something that triggers things in our body and our soul, that makes us come alive in a unique way. Maybe it's just me, but even though I love a wide variety of music (I have been voted most eclectic among my friends, a number of times), one particular kind of music absolutely brings me to life unlike anything else.
For me, that's dance music. Trance, house, EDM, if it's got a 4/4 beat and synthesizer, I'm hooked. But that's not the point.
The point is, if you don't like U2, then just about all modern worship music probably doesn't really do it for you. I know the U2 comparison is kind of old now (I imagine some of you barely know who U2 even is) but the fact remains that all modern worship music is still basically a riff on U2. And if you don't come to life through folk-rock ballads, then you may walk away from Sunday morning wondering why you can't get as excited as everyone else does. If you've ever felt that, you are not alone, my friend.
To be totally freed and uninhibited during worship, you need to find music that makes your soul come alive. That's why I love to worship with dance music. Whether in my room or at the club I get my praise-on like nothing else. Maybe for you, that's hip-hop, or classical music, or metal (move to Finland, trust me, I used to live there).
It's important that our souls are given the chance to worship God with music that allows us total abandonment.
But it's also important for our souls to learn to speak the truth about God regardless of musical style.
A few years ago, when we weren't attending church, dance music was my only worship music. I remember visiting a Christian ministry for their morning staff chapel and finding the rock-themed worship incredibly jarring. I spent the first few minutes frustrated and wishing it was dance music... and then I suddenly woke up. The truths everyone was singing about God were universal truths, and I could sing those too. I should sing those too! So I did, and within another few minutes, my soul was shouting out its praises to God, even though I didn't love the music. It was a powerful lesson for me, and it's stuck with me ever since.
Your soul is deserving of music that it loves. Go seek it out.
And God is deserving of our adoration and praise, no matter what. Give it to him.
If you can find a way to do both, then you're living the dream, my friend.
P.S. I still like U2.