Chapter 1

Introduction

The main reason for this study is because of the many misconceptions and

different perceptions of young people on Praise & Worship songs and Hymns. With

some young people questioning the appropriateness of modern praise and worship songs

on a Sunday Morning Church Service, while some young people being bored of singing

old hymns on a Sunday Morning. Thus having a Worship War from a long period of time

until now.

So we decided to settle this age old worship war, since as Christians, we are

called to love one another as Christ loves us. And find balance between this two genres

of worship for appropriateness sake. Though both Praise & Worship songs and Hymns

are for God, both are also different ways of worshipping Him. For Praise & Worship

songs are usually focus towards God in a personal way, while Hymns are usually focus

on the Integrity of God, Theologically, and about God of Who HE is.

According to an article: “Teens and Church – What Do They Really Think?”

(reformedworship.org), the problem is actually the church who determines what the

young people should feel concerning the appropriate genre for their church setting based

on their church denominations.

 Purpose of the study

Even though in a certain extent, it is the church leaders’ responsibility to

determine what should or should not be appropriate for church music.

This study aims to:

1.To know how the perspective of young people affects them upon hearing Praise

and Worship songs based on their age.

2. To know how the perspective of young people affects them upon hearing

Hymns based on their age.

3. To know how the perspective of young people affects them upon hearing

Praise and Worship songs based on their gender.

4. To know how the perspective of young people affects them upon hearing

Hymns based on their gender.

5. To know if there is a significant relationship on the perspective of young

people between Praise and Worship songs and Hymns.

Significance of the study

The result of this study may hopefully benefit the following:

Future Young People – This will help them fully understand the true meaning of praise

and worship songs and hymns

Pastors – This will provide knowledge and insights as a new source for using what is

praise and worship song and hymns are.

Future Researchers - This may serve as a reference for other research relating to praise

and worship songs and hymns.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

YOUNG PEOPLE - the time of life when one is young, and often means the time

between childhood and adulthood (maturity).

PRAISE - the joyful recounting of all God has done for us.

WORSHIP - to humble ourselves before God, surrender every part of our lives to

His control, and adore Him for who He is, not just what He has done.

HYMNS - a religious song or poem, typically of praise to God or a god.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
 INPUT PROCESSES

1. Data Collection:
A. Questionnaires &
1. Gather insights from church
Interviews
young people about the use of 2. Analyzing the Data
3. Presentation of the
Praise and Worship songs and
results
Hymns.
2. Prepare Data Collection Input
3. Review related Studies.

OUTPUT

Propose appropriate type of songs

to be used for worship.

Evaluation

Figure 1. The Research Paradigm ( Input-Process-Output-Evaluation).

 Questions for Interviews:

Praise and Worship songs:

 1. Why are Praise and Worship songs too loud and worldly in a sense of the style

of music?

Hymns:

1. Why do Hymns sound a bit conservative?

2. Why are Hymns too technical?

SCOPE & LIMITATION

We will conduct a survey on 6 churches. 3 Pentecostal churches namely: L.I.G.H.T

Christian Church, Antioch Christian Church, and The Way Church. 3 Baptist churches
namely: C.P.U Church, Jaro Evangelical Church, Baptist Center Church. Within Iloilo City

area, and give questionnaires to a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 young people per

church and interview atleast 2 young people from each church.

RESEARCH LOCALE

L.I.G.H.T Christian Church –

From the University of San Agustin side gate, you take a ride on a jeepneu

that goes to Lapaz, then stop over to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Then you go to

the waiting shed at the corner of the church and take a ride on a jeepney that goes to

Calumpang. Then stop over to Bangga Maling, Boulevard Molo, then take a ride on a

trisikad going to to L.I.G.H.T Christian Church.

Antioch Christian Church –

From the University of San Agustin side gate, you take a ride on a

jeepneu that goes to Lapaz, then stop over to the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Then you go to the waiting shed at the corner of the church and take a ride on a
 jeepney that goes to Calumpang. Then stop over to Bangga Maling, Boulevard

Molo, then take a ride on a trisikad going to Antioch Christian Church.

The Way –

From the University of San Agustin main gate, you take a ride on a jeepney

that goes to Baluarte. Then stop over Atria, and cross over to the Capitol. Then take a ride

on a jeepney that goes to Jaro C.P.U., and stop over Robinson’s Place Jaro. When you

reach Robinson’s Place Jaro, go up to the 3rd floor of the building going straight to Cinema

3.

C.P.U. University Church –

From the University of San Agustin main gate, you take a ride on a jeepney that

goes to Baluarte. Then stop over Atria, and cross over to the Capitol. Then take a ride on a

jeepney that goes to Jaro C.P.U., and stop over C.P.U.. And walk inside the campus until

you reach the University Church, which is next to the Rose Memorial Auditorium.

Jaro Evangelical Church –

From the University of San Agustin main gate, you take a ride on a jeepney

that goes to Baluarte. Then stop over Atria, and cross over to the Capitol. Then take a ride
on a jeepney that goes to Jaro C.P.U., and stop over at Jaro Plaza. Jaro Evangelical Church

is at the opposite side of the Jaro Cathedral.

Baptist Center Church –

From the University of San Agustin main gate, you take a ride on a jeepney

that goes to Baluarte. Then stop over Atria, and cross over to the Capitol. Then take a ride

on a jeepney that goes to Jaro C.P.U., and stop over Baptist Center Church. It is located

between ABS-CBN Studio and Iloilo National High School.

 QUESTIONNAIRE

Researcher – Made Questionnaire on The Perceptions of Young People on Praise

and Worship Songs and Hymns: Compare and Contrast

Name:______________________________________
(optional)

Age:______ Gender: Male Female

instructions: This survey will be used to gather information about the perception of young

people on praise and worship songs and hymns. Your answers will be kept confidential and

will not affect your status in the church.

I. Please check ( ) and rate yourself honestly based on your views towards

praise and worship songs and hymns using the following scales:
3. Strongly Agree 2. Agree 1. Don’t Agree

Age and Gender Influence 3 2 1

1. Praise and Worship songs are more pleasant to hear than

Hymns.
2. Hymns are more pleasant to hear than Praise and Worship

songs.
3. Praise and Worship song lyrics are more relatable to hear than

Hymns.

4. Hymn lyrics are more satisfying to hear than Praise and

Worship songs.
5. Praise and Worship songs encourages me to be more closer to
 God than Hymns.
6. Hymns encourages me to know God more than Praise and

Worship songs.
7. Praise and Worship songs are more singable than Hymns.

8. Hymns are more singable than Praise and Worship songs.

9. Praise and Worship songs encourages congregational singing

more than Hymns.

10. Hymns encourages congregational singing more than Praise

and Worship songs.

Theoretical Framework

According to Richard Gregory’s Top Down Theory, perception is not

determined simply by stimulus patterns. Rather, it is a dynamic search for the best

interpretation of the available data, which involves going beyond the immediate given

evidence of the senses.

Gregory (1974) believed that perception is process of construction. Data

gained by the eye is interoperated by memory. Perception is indirect as the brain decides if
we see it, not the eye.

PERCEPTION AS HYPOTHESIS FORMTION:

Perception is based on 3 things:

1)Sensory data (Conceptual Knowledge)

2)Knowledge stored in the brain (Perceptual Knowledge)

3)Inference or hypothesis about what is out there (Hypothesis)

Your brain develops hypothesis to deal with sensory data. The same object seen as a

greater distance should have a smaller retinal image. This process is needed because the

brain must make inference about the external environment based on frequently inadequate

info supplied by the senses.