Hillsong United: critiquing my cynicism

I'm not the biggest Hillsong fan. Despite not particularly liking some of their music and being skeptical about money-making, I visited Hillsong London a few years back and was pretty disgusted by the production that was worthy of the theatre in which the Church met. So when the Church I'm now serving in decided to take it's ministry team leaders and invited me, I was interested to see what I would think.       
                      
If I was going to a Third Day show, I'd have no problem. They are a Christian band, playing Christian, but not necessarily 'praise' music. There is a worship element to the show, but it's not a 'worship concert'. It's their show, they are a band, lights, noise and typical gig-features are no problem to me. The same would apply to Dave Crowder. Hillsong United are a praise band, playing what they promote as a 'worship concert'. Immediately I am skeptical. Why do they need lights, and all the fancy gig-features?       

                      

So completely aware of my skepticism I decided to keep an open mind. So here's my thoughts...

• Superficial worship: Worship at a Hillsong United show is no more, no less superficial than worship at a traditional church service. In both, you can appear to be a faithful worshipper when in fact you are just going through the motions. In both situations what matters is whether you are truly engaged in genuine worship of Jesus. In both you can 'experience' worship and leave no different. 
• Message: Hillsong United clearly on at least 4 occasions made the above point clear. They very clearly expressed that they 'glitz and glam' was not important, but what was important was that Jesus be made the centre. I can remember the crowd being addressed at length on at least 3 occasions with clear Gospel messages, including an invitation to follow Christ, after which they strongly encouraged new believers to 1) tell someone 2) get a Bible, and actually read it, and 3) to join a church, and BE the Church. 
• False motives: Can the above be showy, saying the right things, reinforcing the Christian culture? Is it possible that is just part of their performance? Absolutely. It is completely possible. Yet it was Gospel truth. There was very little, if any that I disagreed with. From what I can tell, their hearts were very genuine, but who am I to tell the state of their hearts? What I do know is that in Corinthians Paul referred to individuals who were preaching the Gospel out for selfish reasons, but it was still the Gospel. 
• Raising hands: From the first note, dozens of hands were lifted to the air. I raise my hands in the air in an expression of worship, yet as someone who does, I still can't help be skeptical about how much of it is genuine worship. I watched some young teens lifting their hands and looking very obviously like they just wanted to be involved. Yet I concluded 2 things. Firstly, it's still a gig, and at gigs, I lift my hands. I don't know why I do, but I do. It's what you do at gigs. And if at a Hillsong United gig someone lifts their hands, and it's not worship, but an enjoyment of the 'gig-experience', then who cares? Secondly, I think it's great that those young teens I saw were in an environment where they could experiment with expressions of worship, whether they knew why or not. I think it's perfectly healthy for them to be exposed to a new expression. 
• Lyrics: "So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again". There are some truly cracking lyrics within Hillsong United material. 

So my conclusion... Hillsong United is still not completely my cup of tea, particularly their high-tempo songs. I love their slow-tempo songs, and particularly those with the rich lyrics. But I think I am more open to their expression, their lights, and their style. I believe that I diminish the beauty of the diversity of arts, expressions of worship, and personalities when I write off one something like Hillsong United.        

                      

The dangers are clear: worship becomes an emotion; it needs light, cool visuals and a cool band; 'true' passionate worship involves raising your hands. Yet the same dangers apply to a traditional church: worship becomes a ritual; it requires a certain style and approach.        

                      

I left the show last night pleasantly surprised at my openness. Look at me go. What truly matters is that we are engaged in honest worship of Jesus, and that when the last note is played, and we leave the arena or the church, that the worship of Jesus is expressed in our lives, a point that Hillsong United themselves made very clear.