Posted on 12/07/2004 12:06:09 PM PST by LouAvul
The growing clout of America's 100-million evangelical Christians is being heard loud and clear. Just turn on your radio, and you'll notice that a seismic shift in American culture is taking place.
Before, you could tune into different stations, which offered different music and different messages.
But now, as Correspondent Bob Simon reports on 60 Minutes Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT,, evangelical Christian music is flowing into mainstream media -- and changing it. In fact, Christian entertainment now brings in $4 billion a year.
Rappers and rockers are making hits and making money while spreading the gospel to national audiences. Christian groups can be heard on secular radio and seen on "The Tonight Show." Earlier this year, the group Third Day even played at the Republican National Convention.
"The fact that there are Christian themes now emerging in rock and that Christians are in rock is just representative of a spiritual desire or a spiritual hunger in our culture," says Cameron Strang, publisher of Relevant Magazine, a religious publication.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Because clapping is a public form of praise, to a person in this case. My going up to someone privately and expressing that I enjoyed worshiping God with them as they performed is not public. It is a matter between me, the person or persons, and God.
Right on target brother.
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
I'm all about shouting to the Lord.
FRegards,
The reason applause in church was not done was that it was approbation for the performer and not for the Lord. That was deemed as somewhat counter to worship
Now, forgive me while I go grab my tambourine.
Are you a laugher too?
Must have been a John Heinz Kerry supporter... : )
FRegards,
Sorry - I don't see the distinction. Whether you show appreciation for a worship experience publicly or privately, I still don't know why you think God would be offended by one expression of appreciation and not the other.
I also think God probably doesn't mind either way.
As someone who has been on the receiving end of these things, I can honestly tell you that I try to remember that the only reason I can do any of this is because of what God has given me (something He could take away at any moment), and the only reason I have been a part of touching someone's heart is that God has chosen to use me. I know that is true.
I suppose for your statement to be true you would have to know the heart of each person doing the clapping.I clap my hands as a praise to God not the performer. I also perform (Guitar) in humility. The clapping ain't for me friend. Every bit of the glory is to God. I play at his pleasure.
You don't like modern Christian music then? 8^>
What if that which you take for apostasy and lunacy is actually true worship of the Lord that is borne out of true love for Him? In Deuteronomy and in Matthew, Mark, and Luke we are told to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
What takes place over here, may look odd from where you sit, but I can assure you that when I clap in church I'm not clapping for the performers. When I raise my hands to God, I'm not doing it for the band or for the other people in the congregation.
You may not like how I worship, but unless you can point out, scripturally, that I'm off base then your opinion is just your opinion.
You played the preacher in Footloose, didn't you?
Oops, that was meant for Zechariah11...
And all God's people say "AMEN!"
I prefer Robert Duvall in the Apostle. I play mostly Bluegrass, I like some of the rock, and grew up on Mahalia Jackson who I think has the greatest voice ever. What a mess.
I dunno.. I'm still a HUGE Steve Taylor, Petra (Greg X.Volz era) and Rez fan.
I spent eleven years in a church that taught me that sitting on my hands was the ultimate form of worship. Indeed, the only form of worship acceptable to God. It was difficult, but I conformed.
Finally, I decided that this did not square with Scripture. Many of the verses that have been shared on this thread troubled me ("make a joyful noise," "lift your hands," "clap your hands," etc.). When I discussed this with the elders in our church, their pat answer was that down through (church) history, churches only sang hymns, and the only accompanyment was an organ or a piano. They did allow for an occassional guitar, but that was reserved for special occassions like the annual church camping trip. I wondered if that exception was because the piano was too heavy and awkward to load in the pick-up...
Anyway, I left there and over the following years found that people sincerely worship God in many different ways. My wife and I attended a number of evangelical churches and in time I even raised my hand a time or two. Today, I am 57 and I have never been so free in my worship of the Lord that I love.
My life verse is Galatians 2:20, which reminds me that Christ lives in me and I know that it is He who worships through me, whether I clap or raise my hands, or whether I kneel or sit quietly on my hands. It's all worship when He is the focus.
I loved June Carter in that movie as his mother. I like Bluegrass too, esp. Gospel.
I'm the same way. If the pastor has no more sense than to let his church be turned into a "pad" for rock wannabees, he probably isn't worth listening to.
My favorite Bible teacher is J. Vernon McGee of "Thru the Bible." He used to be a powerful pastor-teacher at the Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles. I remember him saying in one of his sermons --about this vainglorious music-- that his message could easily be destroyed before he ever spoke a word because of such. Well, McGee has long ago passed away.
I recently drove twenty miles to visit his former church, moved from the city to a quiet, peaceful suburb. As I got out of the car, some hundred yards away from the door, I could hear amplified, cacophonous rock music blasting out from the sanctuary. I had to shake my head and wonder. Poor McGee would be rolling over in his grave. Needless to say, I immediately got back in the car and drove the twenty miles home.
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