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In fact, what has made me the most nervous over the years is when I have been leading hymns and look around at the "dead" looks on all the peopls faces, even those that are strong proponents of hymns over "modern praise music."

Amplified rock should wake them up!

I think that more and more Christians will leave these "contemporary" churches to the superficial and find new church homes which truly revere the Lord. I must admit your posts have been somewhat reasoned but check out the others on your side of the discussion. Chad says he has a new heavy metal song called "Jesus is f****king cool!" Others stereotype traditionalists as "church ladies," "Pharisees," "bigots'" or "the pastor's wife". Read their posts. That is YOUR side in this dispute. They have composed some of the most blasphemous posts I have read -- all in the name of Christian freedom. I frankly believe they worship "another Jesus". But that is whom you have decided to rally with. Look what it produces!

Reverence the Lord? Not these!

The rest of us are out the door while you folks tune up and rock on!

Oh please. No one here has said anything blasphemous. You exaggerate so much.

I can't speak for the others but I know which Jesus I worship.

I worship the King of kings and Lord of Lords with freedom and liberty of spirit; not restrained by the bonds of legalism and tradition both of which I believe grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder Him.

Your accusation of blasphemy reminds me of where the Pharisees accused Jesus of such because He was different than what they thought He should be. And no, I am not calling you a Pharisee. I am saying that you have a similar mindset.

I can assure you that I worship the one true Son of God.

MAT 16:13 ¶ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
MAT 16:14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
MAT 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
MAT 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
MAT 16:17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

I understand your concern with popular "Christianity" and I agree with you that many (like me) are moving towards traditional, even fundamentalist churches.

Let me give you the lyrics to a Christian Rock song and you judge it accordingly:

Artist: Jonah33
Album: Jonah33
Song: Faith Like That

I Have Heard about the Days of old
About the men who followed You
And how they saw the Supernatural
And became the chosen few

So I come before You now
Tearing off my earthly crowns
for this one thing I have Found

I want Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want Faith Like That

I'm not Looking for a miracle
Signs and Wonders are things thereof
I caught a glimps of what You want from me
and what I have is not enough

I read the story one more time
of Those who gave to You Their lives
With no fear or compromise

I want Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want the Faith That can move any mountain
and send them to the sea
I want the Faith that can break every stronghold
That keeps you, keeps you from me

I want Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want Faith Like That

I want Faith Like That
To see the dead rise
or to see You pass by
Oh I, I want Faith Like That
Whatever the cost
I'll suffer the loss, Oh I
I want Faith Like That, a Faith like that

Artist: Blindside
Album: Blindside
Song: Teddy Bear

I'm here
You've got me
Have no fear
Savior that's me
On a stable rock I'll place you
You can rest
That I will personally will see to

You called out my name
I heard you
You're healed

What happens now?
You're healed
But still I'm disappearing somehow
In your cry I'll always be near
But in your laughter I don't disappear
I'll gladly wipe away your tears
But I'll never become your teddybear

Don't throw this away
I'm no teddybear

I'm here
You've got me
Have no fear
Savior that's me
No favors that's no what I came for
If you had any idea what I've got in store

You called out my name
I heard you
You say I'm feeling fine
You say no deal
But I'll always be two steps behind
In case you change your mind
In your cry I'll always be near
But in your laughter I don't disappear
I'll gladly wipe away your tear
But I'll never become your teddybear

Think through whatever you decide to do
Can't make you but I ask you please don't fake
When you come before me
I know you don't like when you don't see me with your physical eyes
But I tell you what you think you see can be lies

I frankly believe they worship "another Jesus".

I'm glad you said that, because it's really the Mother Of All Insults to the rest of us, and until now I've been holding something back: I frankly believe you are selfish and self-centered, so much so that you would presume to dictate to other Christians the parameters by which they may be allowed to reach out to young souls who need Jesus. You would tie their hands if you could, and let's be honest - it all boils down to one thing: You don't like that kind of music.

Your arrogance, in light of your complaints about people lacking humility, is ironic.

Chad says he has a new heavy metal song called "Jesus is f****king cool!"

Uh, dude, it's called cynicism. If you really believe Chad has a song with that title, then it's no wonder you cannot understand the viewpoint of others on this board.

Do I agree that it was appropriate? Probably not. But then again, I'm not Chad, and I'll not judge him for it. In total, I certainly agree with Chad's viewpoint on this subject more than I agree with yours, and I don't believe I'm alone on this.

The rest of us are out the door while you folks tune up and rock on!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. ;-)

You are completely missing the point. You seem to have your mind made up. Some would call it opinionated, others would call it steadfast.

I will say this: I believe all styles of music have their place in worship service. However, I do tend to break them into two groups: performance music and congregational worship music. I saw Hillsongs in the Seattle area a few years ago. They led a worship service. I really enjoyed their "performance." However, my comment to my wife afterwards was that it felt more like a concert than a worship service. Yes, sometimes even I can see SOME modern Christian music that way.

Then you have the Michael W. Smith "concert" on DVD called worship. It seems like a worship service more than a concert. He leaves out his performance numbers. It is an amazing thing to "watch."

Basically, I think you need to lighten up on this whole issue because what really matters with this whole thing is what is in the heart of the worshiper. And you and I cannot know that. We can only speculate. But it is really none of our business in the long run. If a person really don't like the style of worship in a church, and it is a real problem, they should try to change it or change churches.

This is true whether the music is hymns or modern rock or anything in between. Anyone who demands that one group or another is just wrong or unscriptural is A) Judging others in a way the Bible clearly tells us not to (in other words, their attitude is a sin); or B) A control freak.

I personally really bristle at the latter.

BTW, yes, some of those other posts do bother me as well. You won't find it from the other group for the same reason you wouldn't find it from the Pharisees in Jesus' day. That is, it is not the particular area in which they may be tempted.

On the other hand, their area of temptation may (I repeat, "may") be that they err in the direction of "appearances" or sort of "worshiping" the tradition itself.

In other words, different camps are vulnerable to sin in different directions.

C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity sort of touched this when he said the Prostitute may be closer to heaven than the judgemental prudish tea totaler that goes to church every week.