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Ohfercryinoutloud.

Look........you so miss the point, it's unbelievable. I have no doubt you are a sincere and passionate believer. I also have no doubt you haven't the slightest understanding of music or contemporary praise and worship.

I've been playing guitar since 1969 and have been a lead guitarist in evangelical churches for over a decade, so I think I'm qualified to address the topic.

Let me first tell you what I tell my praise and worship team members (I'm not the worship leader, but as A) the lead guitarist and B) pretty much the oldest guy on the team, they listen to me...): I tell them that if we do our jobs properly, the congregants won't remember a single thing we played. We are there to usher them in; to help them enter into worship of the Lord. I don't stand on that stage several times a week......every week.......for years......free.......giving up untold hours of rehearsals and performances for my ego. If I wanted to feed my ego while slinging my axe, I'd be in some metal band downtown (and I have the chops to do it).

I'll never be an evangelist, preacher, or missionary. I know my limitations. However, God gave me a certain gift, and I choose to use it to glorify Him. His Son took a bullet for me 2000 years ago and I owe Him my life. This is how I pay Him back (even though He doesn't demand or even ask that of us). I do it because I choose to give to Him, period. In short.......I'm playing to an audience of one, when you get down to it.

Contemporary Christian music is based heavily upon the evangelical movement that emphasizes a personal relationship with God; with the Lord. It's an intensely personal and VERY real relationship. The use of "first person" so much in such contemporary songs reflects this; you sooooooo missed the point. On the other hand, mainstream, denominational churches are withering on the vine and dying out by the thousands because they just don't get it.

Stand, get your hymnal, and sing along with the old lady on the organ or piano........right. Been there, done that. Tell me how worshipful you feel while doing it or afterward.

Then come see a service like ours....or any thousands of churches around the world like ours.......and YOU tell me the difference. You are looking for incredibly picky little arguments that attempt to say we do this because we're a bunch of self-centered spoiled children; while the noses-in-the-air traditionalists turn their backs, face empty pews, and sing old hymms (that were VERY often based upon popular music of their day.......including drinking songs; fact.....look it up).

No thanks. I can praise the Lord with a band that includes three electric guitars, acoustic guitar, drums, two or three keyboards, flutes, trumpet, percussion, and a group of phenomenal singers. We're loud and proud of it.

We have the most powerful message on this earth......the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Lord.....and I'll be damned if I'll play it like some wimp. I crank it up, wail it out to whoever will listen....and hit them square in the chest with the POWER of Jesus' message. He wasn't a wimp......and neither will my music for Him ever be.

By the way.....as a result.......our church is growing so fast it's unbelievable and we're seeing people saved by the hundreds ...hundreds......every month. Guess that doesn't matter to the 'purists'; seeing people saved just doesn't count to them, I suppose.