Now is a time of great decision
Are we to stay or up and quit?
There's no avoiding this decision
Our town is turning into sh*t
Posted on 01/28/2007 8:57:58 PM PST by Mount Athos
Only God knows what is Bono's heart, and that is as it should be. The issue is not about Bono personally, it is about the use of his music in church.
The risk in using such music is that the focus is too easily shifted from the Message (which is Christ) to the messenger, which is Bono.
If churches want 'rock' music, here is all the rock they need:
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood,
from Thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see Thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee."
It only makes sense that U2's music is played for church services; after all, at the U2 concerts I've been to, he preached to the crowd. Note to "Ego" (AKA Bono): Confine preaching to churches and U2 music to places other than churches.
Bach and Handel wrote church music. They never had any problems getting their music played in church. Mozart, now...
The world.....slowly sinking like the Titanic.
And then there is Gloria
"Gloria"
I try to sing this song
I...I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips
I try to sing this song
I...I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I'd give it to you
I'd give it to you
Gloria...Gloria...
At the risk of sounding like an "old fogey" (whatever that is), I do think maintaining traditions is very important in church. I see nothing wrong with inserting modern music that has a religious message in a service on occasion - although I remember when they started doing it at my church back in the seventies - I was a teenager at the time & it turned me off, seemed out of place.
I love hearing the old music, it sets me in a reverent mood when I still hear it today (which is rarely), I loved it when I was younger too. I could imagine all the people that had listened to that music before me & it was comforting, knowing that the church was a rock I could depend on & would never change, even as I would go through my life & changes myself. I knew I could go to church and get grounded again.
The message of Christ never changes, it is as relevant today as it was from the beginning. That's what "Rock of Ages" means to me. I fear that young people today don't have that foundation of tradition & security. They see a world that is constantly changing (eggs were bad for you yesterday, but good for you today). They hear conflicting messages at home, school, television, popular music and movies. Church should be the one place that stays solid and comforting - not desperately seeking acceptance.
I remember the old church of my youth fondly, but I stopped going to it after I grew up and went out on my own - by that time it had gone "modern". Sitting in the pew, before the services, watching them setting up - with electric guitars, drums, etc - I felt I was in band class. Then, my classmates would get up & perform (many of them badly) in their hippie outfits & hairstyles and it just felt cheap to me even then. Cheap & sad - I imagined Christ having to change with the times - and even then I realized it was a ploy to attract the "youth". Society has been coddling to the youth ever since & I can't say we have been uplifted for it. Not at all.
I'm with you, it won't work - what will the bored youth demand from their churches next to keep their attention?
And now ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Father Henny - "Take my wafer......please. It's good for you. For a whole host of reasons."
We've gone from JS Bach to Bono. Sigh...
The reason to use a hymnal is that there is a process for governance. Songs that are theologically flawed or simply non-biblical are screened out and one can rely on the hymns that make the cut to compliment and not contradict the liturgy and the teaching of the church. The 1940 US Episcopal (Anglican) hymnal is a model of how this should work.
Even much of the "praise music" that is out there is narcissistic and theologically flawed. The use of U2's music simply takes problem further by a degree.
Bono is broadly a leftist, but I believe that he is generally sincere and that his heart is at least inclined in the right direction. However, a Eucharistic service based on his music is simply wrong.
The mainline churches, including the Roman Catholic have made a mistake in pandering to populist sentimentality in their music. This sentimentality has leached out into the ad hoc theology practiced (at least at a local level) in most of these churches and denominations. The evangelical churches, fully bible based in their teaching, are equally at risk by this phenomenom, and would benefit from a reintroduction of traditional music.
The church must instruct, and not simply absorb the secular. Solid theology, supported by reverent music, performed competently, will attract and keep people in church.
I'm with you. When I was singing in a praise and worship team at church, we actually (gasp) sang the words of "Amazing Grace" to the tune of the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
I like it much better with that tune because,frankly, though I love the words of AG, I hate the tune. I have just OD'd on it. What can I say? When you sing a lot of the same songs over and over, some can get stale.
And while I'm on my pedestal, let me say that probably 75 percent of songs in any of those old hymnals are horrible. Just because it's being sung about God and Jesus doesn't make the music good. As Martin Luther once said, "why should the devil have all the good music?"
What's next - a Madonna-thon?
&&
Good grief! Don't give them any ideas!!
So will they also replace the traditional symbols of Christ's body and blood, bread and wine, with milk and honey so they can get in touch with their femininity?
Every time I pass by an Episcopal church anymore, I shudder.
When this idiot went into political propagandizing, I boycotted anything from the group (I used to love listening to them).
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Ditto -- on both counts.
Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
&&
Since I have tried it am I entitled to knock it? It's annoying and most definitely not uplifting, IMO. I love to dance and always will, but I don't do it as a form of worship.
Society has been coddling to the youth ever since & I can't say we have been uplifted for it. Not at all.
**
Well said!
Free acid and reduced price T-shirts too?
Warning: Don't take the brown Eucharist!
Bo no!
Does wearing sunglasses all the time count?
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