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 ...
>>>"The expression “strange fire” (hr`z` va@) seems imprecise . . .
Your cut and paste job of a definition did not address rw's major point about propriety in worship. (It looks impressive though!)
>>>I'm not Jewish. I don't prepare a blood and incense offering to the Lord.
Was anyone asking? You're kind of forcing the literal here, aren't you?
>>>. . .the thing that was literally the symbol of the final sacrifice of the life of Christ. And done for posterity.
Agree to some extent. Certainly it was a Levitical type but wasn't it also a prescribed modus operandi for the instruction and edification of those then and there present.
>>>>We in fact CAN do whatever we merrily choose that is not expressly forbidden as long as it does not conflict with the tuggings of the spirit, which dwells in the heart of every believer.
So the believer is to be directed by feelings and tuggings of an unreliable inner nature which is part time under the sway of carnal man, part time under the influence of the Holy Spirit? Furthermore, when under the control of the old sin nature it may not be immediately apparent (ie. coveting a new blue BMW sports car is sinful but may not be construed as such at the time; the schizo mother in Texas felt led of the Lord to do the most heinous of acts). Feelings or "tuggings" are unreliable. That is why we are to walk by "faith" -- the knowledge of Scripture and its use by the Holy Spirit.
Are you Jewish?
Tsk, tsk!
Just because rw used the OT to illustrate a point doesn't mean he is Jewish. Otoh, someone may sincerely ask are you pentecostal/charismatic?
For instance, I have little discussions with my college roommates sometimes about people dressing up for church. I believe it is our culture that demands dressing up, not God's Word, and that we should only dress up if we are felt led to by God, not just because it is the "thing people do." But, they see it as an honoring God thing...I see it as tradition.
Please... no more.
It's Church of Christ stuff. They consider using "tools" to produce music to be a sin. I was worship music leader at a Christian church, which, for sake of argument, can be seen as a split from Curch of Christ.
The entire "no instruments allowed" thing has been discussed incessently among me and some of my aquaintences. I'm gonna go on record that neither side is wrong. That is, if your conscience dictates that one is the correct course, and that is the one you follow, you are doing right and not sinning, as per Romans.
The old testament is clear about the use of instruments, as I have pointed out before in this thread. And there is nowhere the new testament prohibits it. God gave us brains and raw materials. That's how we get the church buildings we worship in and the instruments with which we make a joyful noise.
Now, if I was to paint a naked lady on my bass, that might be a horse of a different color.
Now that I think about it, maybe we should just all go back to durges and be done with it.
>>The best way I've heard this argued is by the example of Go'd's commandment in building the arc.
He said to make it of gopher wood which would exclude say pine or any other wood for that matter.
To make melody in your heart excludes making melody with say a organ or any other instrument for that matter.
Do you see my reasoning?
Is it flawed?<<
Yes. Are you not allowed to make melody with your mouth either? The melody that flows from your instrument, be it your mouth, your guitar, piano or tuba IS the melody thet flows from your heart.
Your voice is one of many instruments, just as your skin is one of many bodily coverings. But like your mouth, it is permanently attached. 8^>
Phillipian 1: 15-18
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.[c] 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
I think you read to many "dont's" between the lines of statements that are about what to "do."
But that is just me...
Most definitely, me too.
There are two covenants, btw. One completed the other...
I asked the question about him being jewish because of his comments about Zechariah 10. It was about the blood ofering, a very unique thing. To apply that to music worship, when the reason for what happened in Zechariah is debateable and can be used to support either side regarding music worship.
I went to an Assemblies of God church for 18 years. Never spoke in tongues. Got out when I saw matriarchy being promoted, and heard a false prophesy from the pulpit - In 2000 all the computers are gonna crash (They didn't).
I went to a Christian church for about seven years. I now go to a "semi-baptist" church.
I'm with you on that one. But I will not show up in dirty jeans. It IS a respect thing. I like to tell people that I think about 85% of what americans call "Christian" is really cultural.
Weekly worship service is a good example - be it Sunday or Saturday.
Ah yes, the old "Sprinkle, Not Dunk" church ;0)
it's most definitely a "dunk" church. We have a baptismal right off the front of the sanctuary. The sprinkle thing is a little of a pet peeve of mine. You sort of struck a nerve. 8^>
LOL... the church I grew up attending (A full-fledged Baptist church) was also a "Dunk" church...
Just wanted to make sure ya weren't one of those hell-bound heathen sprinklers ;0)
8^>
And thanks for caring!
;0)
I might show up in jeans.....if they are nice jeans as long as I have a nice shirt and shoes.
But, that is due to tradition, not Biblical command, so we need to try to make it less of a exclusionary point.
The abridged version of the article can be found here:
http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/alice_cooper_interview_unabridged_part_1200304/index.php
The full interview, including his conversion story, can be found in the book "Rock Stars on God". I had to order my copy, but it is worth it, IMO. You might be able to get your library to Interlibrary Loan a copy for you.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0972927697/qid=1102531328/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7350451-1122356?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
I have shown up in jeans, but normally I dress up at least somewhat. My husband always wears a dress shirt and often a suit (but not always a tie). Not out of tradition but out of respect for God. I don't judge fellow believers by their dress, although I do know people who do.
rock 'n' roll
noun ref. to a specific style of popular music is attested from 1954, from rock (v.2) + roll (v.). The verbal phrase had been a Black Eng. euphemism for "sexual intercourse," used in popular dance music lyrics and song titles since at least the 1934s. Shortened form rock first attested 1957.
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Hoochie Coochie and Praise the Lord!
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