The View from Here May 10, 2014 The Great Debate: Church Music

10 May

The View from Here May 10, 2014 The Great Debate: Church Music

bjackson New book published 0 0

At the risk of absolutely stirring up a hornet’s nest, here’s a discussion place on the topic of contemporary Christian music, etc. You may post your favorite artists, etc. and refer others to it if you’d like. You may express your opinions as long as you are grateful for the gift of music, its artists, its composers. You may criticize opinions, but not the writer. You must recognize that in all of this, God is to be praised and honored, for He created music, in all its forms, for His Glory.

Ferne Tudor Franz

45 mins · Edited ·

About church music…..Okay, I’m going to mention these as I find them: “Praise & Worship” music which repeats itself interminably; “new revelation” (absolute red flag; the last Revelation was written 2K years ago); the overuse of the words “I”, “me”, as if we want to give ourselves the glory. Repetitive mantras (you heard me! New Age music with just enough implication of God in the lyrics to make it seem Christian), which elevate emotions, and encapsulate the singers and… hearers into a false sense of heaven’s presence; sensual lyrics equating our relationship with God in sexual terms. If Jesus isn’t magnified and honored as our holy savior and king, I’m not joining in! * If when we meet together in fellowship, we aren’t stirred to be something more outside the walls, but we become dependent on “higher elevations” in emotional states inside the walls, something’s out of alignment… I’ll be glad to show some examples after some of the readers simmer down enough to question me. I know this may offend some Christians, somewhere, but hope that it opens eyes and/or encourages people who think something’s “not quite right” in the music of their place of fellowship, to start really reading their Bibles, and asking questions. There are bad old hymns, and great modern songs, but we shouldn’t be afraid to really delve into all the songs, pray, and consider what the lyrics mean, and whether they’re truly scriptural. *Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, for unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called, “Wonderful! Counselor! The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace! Hm… sounds like a good song… we can Handel it!

Larry Madigan likes this.
Nancye Morgan Boyer I also really dislike the very repetitive songs in the praise and worship genre (there is one that comes to mind immediately but I will refrain from mentioning it at the moment). I also don’t like when a church refuses to use any of the old hymns simply because they are old. I really believe that whatever the style, if the lyrics are not Biblically grounded then the song shouldn’t be used.
Jan Ramey-Fredrick l like what you’re saying.
Larry Madigan Love it! We can Handel it! Methinks you are blessed with the gift of discernment.
Ferne Tudor Franz It’s my favourite part of “The Messiah”, along with “Worthy is the Lamb/Amen”
Betty Jackson I’m trying SO hard to like what I’m singing on Sundays, and really do see some merits. We are so fortunate in Brevard Cty. to have lots of opportunities to sing “high brow” and other things as well, and to enjoy concerts etc. If we want the church to continue
after us “old fogeys” leave it to their charge, we need to look at the bigger picture–of the culture which will continue after us with hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs. They’ve been educated with Sesame Street, repetition, loud rhythms and electronic instruments, and they will BE the church in twenty years. I have no doubt that someone twenty years from now will swing the pendulum back after discovering a hymn book and Sacred Solos, and things will change again. God is definitely working in the music industry, and there are some very gifted artists who encapulate the essence of the gospel.We have people leaving because of the music, but others are quickly taking their place and moving the work of Christ forward. It’s really not, after all, about what pleases us, but rather what glorifies God, and for many years there’s been precious little passion, enthusiasm, and emotion in our churches. Now, we are filled with people who are truly giving of themselves in worship, and that’s a good thing. Meanwhile, we need to remember that change is always difficult, and this world is rushing toward the second coming of Christ when all things will indeed be made new. And in heaven, I plan to sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts!” ad infinitum, and I’ll be there will be raised hands and loud clapping too! Thanks for bringing up the debate.
Sharla Jackson Making us think. Love it. Thanx