Christian music veteran Michael W. Smith has raised concerns about the direction of modern worship, cautioning that attention can sometimes shift from Jesus Christ to the person leading from the stage.
After decades of leading worship around the world, Smith said worship leaders should be careful not to allow recognition, performance or celebrity culture to become the focus. He also suggested that modern worship may, in some respects, have “lost the reverence.”
His comments were not presented as a rejection of contemporary worship. Smith has also spoken positively about seeing younger generations passionately pursue God.
At the heart of his message is a call for worship leaders, musicians and believers to examine where the attention is being directed.
The stage, music, lighting and platform can all serve a purpose, but Smith’s warning emphasizes that they should ultimately point people toward Christ rather than the person holding the microphone.
The message reflects the words of John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”