Praise Music

From a listserve

        For those who want to pit "bad" contemporary music against "good" traditional music, you can refer them to the most traditional source of all for church music: the Psalms.

        I find that the word "we" appears in 64 verses, throughout 37 of the 150 Psalms.  So certainly, communal concerns are well represented.

        The word "I" also appears in the Psalms.  In 562 verses throughout, oh golly, let's just say "most" of the Psalms and spare me some counting.

        Interestingly, phrases such as "you are..." in which God's attributes are proclaimed can also be found.  Stuff like "you are...holy, my rock, my fortress, hiding place, deliverer, my help, my God, God, great, righteous, near" and so on.  No doubt God doesn't need to be reminded of these things, though it's nice for me to be reminded in the "reminding".  But maybe that's too individualistic.

        Okay, I think I'm done.  Now I can get on with the business of repenting for my snide, superior attitude and tendency towards disdain for people who may only be afraid that other generations won't be blessed by the music of their heart which has fed them so powerfully.

        And let me also confess why I'm passionate about this.  I grew up with hymns, and they work for me, and I delight in four part harmony.  But a few years back I stumbled into my first opportunity to worship in my native tongue - my native musical tongue that is - which is basically modern rock (or whatever).  It's no small thing to worship in the language of your heart.  I emerged from that service with a question burning inside me; "Who would I be today if I had been able to worship like that for the last five years?"   So, I pray that everyone has the opportunity to worship in their native tongue, no mater what musical language they sing/speak.  

        Blessings!

        Tim

Response

Here's what I have heard as complaints against praise music.  Again, this is what I have heard and not my viewpoint.  

- too repititious (same complaint was made about Handel's Messiah)
- too superficial
- too loud
- compromises the gospel (that's an interesting one considering many of them draw from the psalms for inspiration)
- adapts to the culture too much (the same thing was said about Luther's stein-swinging tune for "A Mighty Fortress is our God")
- "what's wrong with our music" (same complaint was made against Isaac Watts who stated that there were no good tunes to sing to in his day)

This will make for some great discussion. Thanks for bringing it up.


I really think that sometimes we (Christian leaders in the USA) are all guilty of doing too much naval gazing.  We shoot the proverbial fly with a canon (and I am not referencing any emails in this regard...this is just a general observation...).  Here's how I see the music issue: Are the folks who are leading music a true ministry team?  In other words, are they praying, loving, supporting, caring for one another?  Do they see their ministry as God-given?  Do they see themselves as leaders of worship?  Do they have a passion to help others have a relationship with God that others cannot live without?  Is there fire in their bellies?  Are they reading the Bible and praying?

I for one am tired of all the folks who whine about one kind of a service style or another.  I think we better all have great variety of music on Sundays to reach a great variety of folks - or we are doomed to worship for our own sakes alone.  We have to be "all things to all to reach all."  Music and worship must be indigenous to your community.  If you really are listening to the people in your community and to God, then your worship will be used by God.

Personally, I think we need to hear what God is saying to us in our community.  Diversity and change are key.  

For me the bottom line on music and worship is this: Is God allowed in - front and center?  And are peoples' lives being changed?  In other words, what difference does it make that we worshiped?

I got this email this morning from a woman who was with us last night for some foot washing on Holy Thursday: "Tonight was VERY special - a great message and music - a tops for Maundy Thursdays in my life.  Thank you for being willing to go with the Lord's
leading in every area of your life.  Praise God!"

So keep up the good work y'all!  And remember, this is supposed to be fun.