Young and Pious: A Rock & Roll Story (A Christian Music Story)

Rolling Stone Magazine ^ | 8/31/2006 | Stephanie Keith

[Fighting Irish]

Photojournalist Stephanie Keith's first Christian rock show was in 2002, when she walked into a Kansas City coffeehouse and saw a punk band playing staunchly Christian tunes. "It seemed like such a contradiction in terms," she says, remembering the incongruity between the band's brash sound and its intensely Christian message. Over four years, Keith attended dozens of major Christian rock festivals -- including the New Hampshire's Soul Festival, Pennsylvania's Creation Festival, New Jersey's Autumn Blaze event and Virginia's Acquire the Fire fest -- many of which showcase the abundance of Christian punk, emo and hardcore bands. The twelve photographs that follow capture what she witnessed within the tight-knit world of Christian youth culture -- from the prayer tent to the merch table, to the front row.

Mt. Union, Pennsylvania, July 2nd, 2005. Teens enjoy a band at the Creation Festival, one of the largest Christian rock events in the country, which lasts four days and draws upwards of 80,000 people. Stephanie Keith: "[The bands'] direct focus is to get people into worship mode -- putting their hands up in the air and swaying and getting into God."

[Fighting Irish]

Um, excuse me...how do you know?

What? That there are no PA systems in heaven or that you won't be singing out of a hymnal?

....either way, brah...you gotta be kiddin'

[Fighting Irish]

"Jesus is their personal savior. He's almost alive to them."

If you recall, the story is done by a photographer. I ignored everything she said and went for the pics. ......her eyes saw the truth .....

[Fighting Irish]

Please don’t stop! I’d like more such Christian threads started

Okeeedokee then!

[dinoparty]

If there is singin' in heaven, be sure it will be beautiful music (maybe even out of a hymnal!), not some guy with a weak whiney voice and microphone headset moaning on a stage.

[JZelle]

I know he did others, just check Amazon. Elvis has one that I really like too.

http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Ultimate-Gospel-Presley/dp/B0001FBT9K/sr=8-1/qid=1157056402/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3413494-9409406?ie=UTF8&s=music

[Fighting Irish]

If there is singin' in heaven, be sure it will be beautiful music (maybe even out of a hymnal!), not some guy with a weak whiney voice and microphone headset moaning on a stage.

Oh.......man will there ever be singing in heaven!

It will be awesome!

No weak whiney voiced worship leader.

It will be the Lamb .... the creatures....the elders.....and all the saints. Singing one song together and everyone will know the words from all languages without hymnals.

It will be a song you have never heard ... but we'll all know it....

.....and you'll sing it for millions of years and never get tired of hearing it.......

No preacher will interrupt to take up an offering.....

No one will sing any "specials"....

...and we'll all be singing with new voices ...... and never tire of singing.... Holy, holy, holy to the Lord of heaven and earth!

It's going to be awesome.

[VOA]

Yep, "The King" did some good gospel.
It wasn't until a few years ago that I heard that all the Grammys he won
were for gospel:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/14/ep.elvis.gospel/

[Bat_Chemist]

Your post reminded me of when I was in college (long, long ago) mowing lawns with my Aunt and the song "Any way you wnat it" (by Journey) came on. She turned it up, looked at me, smiled, and said, "I LOVE Cheap Trick!".

Kids laughing at you lets 'em know you're only human.

[2banana]

How do you know Paul would agree with using this kind of music?

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

[Chewie84]

I love Contemporary Christian music. My favorites are Rebecca St. James, Barlow girl, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and the Newsboys.

[unlearner]

It is good that you base your reasoning on scripture, rather than human wisdom. The issue here comes down to whether it is correctly applied. We must "rightly divide the word of truth" because, among other reasons, "many deceivers are entered into the world." (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 John 1:7)

Remember that Satan quoted scripture to Jesus, however Christ recognized the counsel of Satan was outside the will of God even though it appeared to be consistent with what the Bible said. Likewise we, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, must discern the will of God. We must test the fruits. We must test the words. We must test the spirit.

The passage you quoted does give us a pattern for adapting to the culture around us in certain ways. For example, language. God made language. He divided the languages. He united them in the Church. He intends that the gospel be preached and converts be won in every language. Certainly there are more ways in which bridges to various cultures can be made.

On the other hand, there is also a clear teaching that we are to be distinct and separate from the world, and the message of the gospel does contain a necessary offense to those who are going to be stumbled at the truth.

Do not pray like the heathen. (Matthew 6:7) Do not put material things first, like the Gentiles. (Matthew 6:32) Do not be controlled by lust like the Gentiles. (1 Thessalonians 4:5) Do not go along with what Gentiles want us to do: living a life of "lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries." (1 Peter 4:3)

These issues have a bearing on such "personal" choices as what we wear and what we eat.

Consider also Romans 12:2 which instructs "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

The scripture you quoted contains Paul's illustration of his own life as a pattern of godly living. Look closely at Paul's motivation. He set aside his personal preferences, his own likes and dislikes, in order to win more people to Christ. He may have had the right to marry, but he did not because he felt he was more effective in serving God single. He may have had the right to demand financial support from the churches he ministered to, but he chose rather to work night and day, providing for his own financial needs, so that even in this matter no one would have any excuse for rejecting his message, unless of course they rejected it because they rejected Christ.

Does the Bible speak with regard to the kinds of music we sing and listen to? It does. Does God like all kinds of music? What does the Bible say?

Some Christian rock proponents claim that music is amoral, and only the words can be evaluated. There is no scriptural basis for this claim. Contrarily, Paul points out the nature of music is that it contains meaning in itself (though difficult to quantify) as he compares music to speaking in various languages in the church. (1 Corinthian 13-14)

A visiting speaker at a church I used to attend made the argument that music was amoral. I was talking with him after the meeting and he brought this up. I said I had to disagree. I asked him if he thought there was no possible type of musical performance which would be unacceptable in church. He immediately backed away from his position.

There are many possible illustrations which could be made to prove my point. For example, why not allow a child, with no training in playing the piano, to go in front of the congregation and bang on the piano and everyone revel in their style of praise. After all, the scripture says, "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have perfected praise." (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16)

No. Paul instructed to "let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40) Contrary to the assertion that Paul would support Christian rock, I am persuaded Paul would have admonished believers to abstain from something which has an innate appeal to the sensual, the carnal, the worldly. He would counsel to submit to the leaders of the local church whose job requires them to discern between good and evil (music) and protect the sheep from the evil. (Hebrews 5:14; 13:17)

Personally, I spent many years listening to rock music. It lost some of its appeal, but not all. If I were just basing my view on how I personally feel, the idea of Christian rock has a certain appeal. However, I have come to realize that it does not serve to build me up spiritually even though there can be an illusion caused by being emotionally stimulated. The key is discernment. Discernment is the first and most important qualification, according to the Bible, for music leadership and ministry.

[Fighting Irish]

It amazes me that here we are in the year 2006 ... mostly through 2006 actually... and the same arguments against music are still slithering around preaching circles.

Music in church, for the most part anyway, has evolved and matured to such a level that it is almost unrecognizable. Yet, there are still pockets of christianity that believe change is amoral or "selling out".

Are your churches relevant? Are you making new converts? Are you seeing lives transform?

Musical worship is nothing more ... and should be nothing more than singing prayer. So it comes from someone with purple hair ..... you must get past the skin and bone. Worship is supernatural. It is not of this world. It is from the other side if you just open your eyes.

She stood at the entrance of the holy tabernacle with a young bull that the priest had just slaughtered, a bushel of flour, a skin of wine and her three year old son. Tears were rolling down her cheeks because she was going to leave her only son with the priest. She had been here several years previous and had wept bitterly praying that God would give her a male child. “If you give me a son I will give him to You for his entire life,” she promised God. Being barren was a horrible disgrace for a married woman. Now, she had a child – a male child.

She kept her vow and gave him up.

Grateful for her son, Hannah lifted her voice and began to sing a prayer to the Lord (1 Sam 2:1- 10). It was a prophetic song that exalted the Lord – a combination of prayer, praise and prophecy all intertwined. This prophetic prayer-song was not sung by a “prophet,” or an “intercessor” but a humble homemaker who sang by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As the wind of the Spirit of God blew through this holy woman, her prayer-song revealed the future and declared the Messiah’s kingdom.

This is the power of songs of prayer.

In the scriptures one of the original Hebrew words for prayer is “tephillah” (tef-il-law’).i In general terms it means “supplication to God” but also means “intercession, supplication for another.”

This tephillah is intercession prayer or supplication expressed in song. The Hebrews often sang their prayers (Isaiah 1:15). There are Hebrew and Greek words for prayer that suggest a direct petition or short, sharp cry of a distressed heart (Ps 30:2; 2 Cor 12:8) sung out in supplication.

Last August, a good friend of mine stood on the platform in Manila, Philippines in front of over eight thousand worshipers that had gathered for the worship seminar the Holy Spirit arose inside of him and he began to pray singing. Several thousand worship ministries had come forward for impartation. He sensed a tremendous presence of the Lord. All of the sudden there arose from those at the front a crescendo of prayer singing. He was deeply moved in his spirit as he heard the melodic cry from this crowd of worshipers. I am convinced this prayer or praise singing is a key opening up an artisan of the Holy Spirit in any situation.

One of the Hebrew words for praise “tehillah” and is one letter different from the Hebrew for prayer – “tephillah.” This word means praise, a song or a hymn of praise. It is found several places in scripture.

“He has put a new song in my mouth—praise (tehillah) to our God” (Ps. 40:3 NKJ)

“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises (tehillah) of Israel.” (Ps. 22:3 NKJ)

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise (tehillah). Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Ps. 100:4 NKJ)

This is spontaneous praise that is sung to the Lord in which God is enthroned. It is also a doorway into His presence.

A lady approached me after a Heart of Worship seminar I was teaching. As we talked, she made an interesting confession: “When I pray I often sing my intercessions. I would say to myself, ‘Stop that. You are not part of the worship team.’”

It is interesting how our analytical western world-view separates the acts of worship into prayer, prophecy, praise, worship, music and dance. In our minds we are not to step out in these areas they are only for the “gifted ones.” But, in the Eastern world – the context of Jesus and the Bible – these expressions overlapped and were part of every believer’s life. We all are too pray. We all are to worship. We all are to sing prayers and praise to the Lord. Not just those that have “talent.”

One of my friends said the reason we have dance teams, worship teams and intercession teams is because the Christians are not dancing, worshiping or interceding. We have relegated that to specialists and they do it for us. But, we all are to sing, dance and pray.

The Holy Spirit is a singing spirit. He initiates and inspires ‘spiritual songs.’ (Eph 5:19). When we begin to pray it doesn’t take long and we automatically want to chant our prayers. This is not a musical mode of horizontal ministry but a mysterious quality that is vertical and supernatural.

There is an instance where two men in the New Testament were engaged in singing prayers – Paul and Silas. “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25 NKJV). They were not only singing and then later spoke their prayers. Their prayers and songs were all mixed up into “pray-singing.” As they were praying they began to sing pouring out their hearts to God.

The word “hymn” in the Acts passage references the Paschal hymn of Psalms 113-118 that Jesus and the disciples sang at their last Passover meal (Matt 26:30). Though their bodies were beaten and bleeding, Paul and Silas were raptured with transcend emotion which resulted in vertical prayer songs. These two witnesses were elated by the Spirit of the Lord singing their praise and intercessions.

I want to encourage you to sing your prayers to the Lord. Let the songs of the Holy Spirit arise in you with the passion of intercession and praise. It all blends together. It is all good.

[time4good]

Well said, Fighting Irish! I grew up in this and have seen the good and bad in this. Having worked backstage at Creation in late 70's, early 80's, sponsored Christian concerts, etc, and watch Contemporary Christian music since its early days, I'm glad to see things maturing and God's Spirit being faithful as always to seek those who truly worship Him in spirit and in truth. I was sad during the 80's and early 90's when CCM got caught up in the production of it and compromised the message but there have been faithful servants true to the message. I always pray they don't let their guard down against Satan who loves to make these men and women fall in front of the kids looking for sincere examples.

[unlearner]

"It amazes me that here we are in the year 2006 ... mostly through 2006 actually... and the same arguments against music are still slithering around preaching circles."

Show me one thing I said which contradicts the Bible. Is the Bible outdated? Furthermore, at what point did I supposedly argue against music? That is like saying because someone argues against idolatry they are against worship, or because a prophet said to tear down the high places he must be for desecrating the temple. I am all for music, just not Christian rock.

"Music in church, for the most part anyway, has evolved and matured to such a level that it is almost unrecognizable."

I am unsure what you mean by this. Is this a good thing?

The scripture says, "if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air." See 1 Corinthians 14:6-12.

"Musical worship is nothing more ... and should be nothing more than singing prayer."

Prayer and worship can be expressed through music, but so can teaching sound doctrine, something which is painfully sparse in most Christian rock. And that is by design, because the supposed praise to God and favorable spiritual lyrics are merely a pretext for the age old philosophy of "whatever feels good, do it". (See Colosians 3:16 and 2 Timothy 4:3.)

"So it comes from someone with purple hair ..... you must get past the skin and bone."

Why is it the onlooker's responsibility to get over these things? If they are truly irrelevant, why do these people feel the need to make their hair some unnatural color? Apart from God's Spirit, man is only capable of looking on the outward appearance. This excludes immature believers, carnal churchgoers, and unbelievers from being able to "just get over it." The Bible places the responsibility of our appearance squarely on who is responsible, ourselves. We, and women specifically, are commanded to dress modestly and with meekness (not demanding that I have everything my own way).

1 Timothy 2:9

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.

1 Peter 3:2-4

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

At worst, purple hair (and so many other external trappings which go along with it) is merely a manifestation of a spirit of stubbornness, rebellion, and self infatuation - in a word carnality. At best, it is a mark of childishness - something to be expected of a little girl who is fascinated with makeup, face painting, colorful fingernail polish and glitter. Rather than admonishing observers to "get past" it, you might be more effective in admonishing those who dress themselves this way that now that they are grown it is time to put away childish things.

"Grateful for her son, Hannah lifted her voice and began to sing a prayer to the Lord (1 Sam 2:1- 10)."

Finally, you resort to scripture. Yes, true worshipful song is often heartfelt and spontaneous, as opposed to prefabricated, rhythm driven, hypnotic, programmed pagan music often marketed under a Christian label by some of the same corporations peddling profanity and perversion laden secular music.

There are a variety of good cultural infuences of music. There are classical European styles. There are classical Latino styles. There are other melody led expressions from the tropics. Just like there are a variety of gifts, there is also a variety of good music. Rock music is different from these cultural infuences. ALL musical styles can be adapted to accommodate a rock beat. Beat driven music is carnal. It is fundamentally different from melody led music.

Melody led music is predominant in civilized cultures. Beat driven music is predominant in pagan and, so called, primitive cultures. Rock music took hold in pop culture after being imported from pagan cultures. Our culture is now markedly more pagan than it was before rock music became popularized.

For every instance of ecstatic experience which could be put forward as evidence of the spiritual nature of Christian rock, you can find many more in Voodoo music, Hindu music and other cultures where idols are worshiped, and worship is often accompanied by nakedness (or lewdness), sexual perversion, demonism, and even cannibalism. So ecstatic experience does not build a case at all for the spirituality of Christian rock (in a positive sense).

"There is an instance where two men in the New Testament were engaged in singing prayers – Paul and Silas."

Another good, Biblical example. Paul and Silas were not experiencing the comforts of a cushioned pew seat. They did not have drums and electric guitars. They were not lipsyncing to their ipods. They could have easily avoided being in the prison if they had not put Jesus first in their lives. Yes, this is a good example of spiritual songs. It is however unlike the type of music sweeping compemporary Christendom. On the one hand you have feel-good music, and on the other you have praise God even though I am suffering music. One one hand you have, do what feels good to you philosophy. On the other, you have a serve God no matter what the cost mentality.

"It all blends together. It is all good."

It would be easy for me to go with the flow, but this is not true.

What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness? And what concord does Christ have with Belial? or what part does he who believes have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? for you (plural) are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord.
(from 2 Corinthians 6)

When the Baal worshippers and Elijah had a show down, the prophets of Baal cried out and jumped and prayed and worshipped and even cut themselves. They worked themselves into a frenzy. Can you not can see a distinction between godly worship, praise and singing, and that which belongs to the world?

[Fighting Irish]

Feel better now?

[Fighting Irish]

I am all for music, just not Christian rock

Before you uncased your high powered gospel gun perhaps you should have read more carefully.

I am not talking about commercialized rock in the christian genre.

I'm talking about worship, musical, instrumental worship.

If you cannot discern the difference then we have nothing further to discuss.

[unlearner]

"I am not talking about commercialized rock in the christian genre. I'm talking about worship, musical, instrumental worship. If you cannot discern the difference then we have nothing further to discuss."

First of all, the article you posted is about Christian rock music. Secondly, you made some derisive comments about those who had criticism of the genre, while describing it as "worship music" yourself:

Call me when the subtle vitriol has played itself out ...

I just thought it was cool in that Rolling Stone did a piece on worship music.

It amazes me that here we are in the year 2006 ... mostly through 2006 actually... and the same arguments against music are still slithering around preaching circles.

The commercialization is only part of my criticism. The other has to do with the nature of rock music itself.

Yes, I can discern the difference between music which is driven by the beat rather than led by the melody. The "worship, musical, instrumental worship" types of music are very vague descriptions and can very well include music which uses a rock beat, and usually does in most modern churches. Whether preprogrammed or spontaneous, beat driven music may produce an emotional high, but it does not produce a Spirit led life.

I am not trying to be offensive. No one likes to be told they are wrong. Most of us tend to get defensive when someone criticizes our actions or words. This is especially true when the thing being criticized is an important part of our lives.

Let me put my point another way. I take you at your word that you love Jesus. If you love Jesus, you will love other believers.

1 John 5:1-2

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Look at how Jesus approached the custom of divorce in His day. The religious leaders tried to justify their wrong doctrine on this subject. He replied by asking what God commanded. Notice that He did not ask what God permitted.

Mark 10:2-9

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They replied that God permitted divorce. Jesus essentially taught that divorce should only occur when God commanded it. Such was the case with Herod who had married his brother's wife (while the brother was still alive). Not only is divorce permitted in such a case, it is required because of fornication.

How does that apply to music? Well music is an essential part of the life of believers, both in the church meetings and in our personal lives. My question is does God COMMAND us to sing and listen to rock music?

I have never heard anyone who openly claimed there to be a scriptural basis for requiring believers to sing and listen to rock music.

Why is this important? If there are believers who are stumbled by rock music, particularly the use of it in the church meetings, then why is something that is optional being forced on believers who are stumbled by it?

It becomes clear in this case that rock music is being used by those who care more about their love for it than their love for other believers and therefore their love for God. Some believers who sing and listen to Christian rock are unaware of it being a stumbling block to others, and in many cases cannot distinguish between melody led music and beat driven music. This is why it is important to develop discernment, especially for those who are music leaders.

[Fighting Irish]

First of all, the article you posted is about Christian rock music. Secondly, you made some derisive comments about those who had criticism of the genre, while describing it as "worship music" yourself:

The term "Christian rock" was penned by a non-believer making an attempt to relate her opinion on a style of music she is foreign to. The closest thing in her vocabulary was ... christian rock. I know some of the bands in the article and they are - in fact not just rock bands but invite worship into their concerts. They hook the kids in with music that relates to them and their generation then use the opportunity to introduce them to the kingdom.

The commercialization is only part of my criticism. The other has to do with the nature of rock music itself.

I have been involved with some very large ministries in my professional career. Let me tell you from experience, there is as much a dog and pony show AFTER the musicians leave the platform and the professional speaker takes the STAGE. Just as much ear tickling and emotion twisting.

Yes, I can discern the difference between music which is driven by the beat rather than led by the melody. The "worship, musical, instrumental worship" types of music are very vague descriptions and can very well include music which uses a rock beat, and usually does in most modern churches. Whether preprogrammed or spontaneous, beat driven music may produce an emotional high, but it does not produce a Spirit led life.

...and I believe the music God wants is off the written page. Beat, melody and style take a back seat to the spirit behind the music.

I am not trying to be offensive. No one likes to be told they are wrong. Most of us tend to get defensive when someone criticizes our actions or words. This is especially true when the thing being criticized is an important part of our lives.

I have taken no offense at all. I am actually excited when arguments like this come up.

.....fornication.

How does that apply to music? Well music is an essential part of the life of believers, both in the church meetings and in our personal lives. My question is does God COMMAND us to sing and listen to rock music?

He asks us to sing ........ period.

What I get offended by is someone telling a young person they cannot sing to God within their culture. If it helps them connect to heaven who are we to critize it?

I'm sure God could have used a more dignified creature to remind Peter of his failings ... but He used a rooster.

I have never heard anyone who openly claimed there to be a scriptural basis for requiring believers to sing and listen to rock music.

Not once have I said we have to worship God in any particular style.

It becomes clear in this case that rock music is being used by those who care more about their love for it than their love for other believers and therefore their love for God. Some believers who sing and listen to Christian rock are unaware of it being a stumbling block to others, and in many cases cannot distinguish between melody led music and beat driven music. This is why it is important to develop discernment, especially for those who are music leaders.

...and if hearing "Just As I Am" 400 times a year is a stumbling block to me?

It is the responsibility of worship leaders to help everyone connect in church. That is a tough job because we all have our "favorite" songs...styles...singers....tolerable volume levels. Music is and always will be subjective. It take a real gift to get humans past their fleshly likes and dislikes and get them all focused - together in the same room - to focus on God.

Which brings me to my point.

God does not hear as we do. He doesn't even care if we can sing well or sound like a screeching owl.....He listens to the song of the heart. He asks that we sing with a joyful heart .. period.

Who are we to pass judgement on anyone connecting with their saviour? When did we become supreme enough to see into the heart of the worshipper?

Sure we can know their fruits ... but even a sinner can connect with God at some point in their lives.

I did.

So did you.

[RightOnline]

Have NO idea where you two have gone to church, but you're so far off base it's unreal.

I'm the lead guitarist for a sizeable evangelical church here. This church is rather well known regionally for its praise and worship music; a mixture of gospel, soul, Latin, rock.....more rock.......folk, you name it. VERY contemporary Christian music. We know our purpose for being there, and it isn't to entertain you.

...and, I'll add, I'll put the musicianship of our team against any band, anywhere, any time. I am blessed with being able to play with such consummate musicians and singers, and I guarantee you no one gets 'bored' during praise and worship.

[RightOnline]

I say with all due respect............you need to get over yourself.