“Icon in music” [bad music is not worshipful]

Pontifications ^ | 12/01/2004 | Pontificator

[HarleyD]

I have to agree. On an earlier post some months back I was arguing for contemporary Christian music. That was before I attended an outdoor concern. The music was so loud we had to buy earplugs which they happily sold for $2. Not only that but the few times some of the artists would talk I questioned their scriptural understanding. It was one of the worst experience I encountered and really changed my perception of Christian music.

Sorry, but I cannot see how sitting in an audience with ear plugs on as loud music for which you can't understand the words brings glory to the Lord. Give me the old hymns any day. I'll even take the Gregorian chants.

[Frumanchu]

I thing that most Calvinists will agree with much that is posted here. IMHO modern Christians want God to be a big buddy, and not God.

Exactly. I got very caught up in the "Praise & Worship" contemporary music movement. Once I started paying closer attention to the words however, I realized how anthropocentric a lot of the music was. While I was leading worship music at my church, I found it increasingly difficult to choose music (and, unfortunately, even hymns from their hymnal) that were appropriate expressions of worship and not echos of some sort of group therapy affirmations.

[jude24]

Sorry, but I cannot see how sitting in an audience with ear plugs on as loud music for which you can't understand the words brings glory to the Lord.

"If it's too loud, you're too old." Kidding, of course.

Audiology is going to be a growth industry sometime in the next 10-20 years as my generation pays its dues for loud rock concerts and walkmans.

Still, it's not a moral issue, but an issue of taste. Christians do poorly when they confuse the two.

[jude24]

I realized how anthropocentric a lot of the music was

Hardly a new malady to afflict Christianity. "I have decided to follow Jesus" isn't exactly contemporary, but most hymnbooks contain it.

Modern praise and worship music runs the gamut, from bordering on the heretical to the inane to the simplistic to the weighty. There are some gems in there; as I sit waiting for my class to begin, "God of Wonders" comes to mind.

[Lexinom]

Indeed, this reflects the cultural shift from objectivity to subjectivity, "have it your way".

[Frumanchu]

There are some gems in there; as I sit waiting for my class to begin, "God of Wonders" comes to mind.

Excellent song. Caedmon's Call has written many a good song. MercyMe also...I Can Only Imagine struck me as a very worshipful song despite the abundance of "I-Me-My"

[good_fight]

I/me versions of modern liturgy practiced in some ECUSA

I attended a noon weekday Eucharist in a city I was visiting on business last month. I knew the minute I walked in it was an extremely liberal church, but I was very shocked to find that they had altered the liturgy dramatically.

I expected "Blessed be God: Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. And blessed be God's Kingdom now and forever." That's the standard feminist revision that crops up in many churches.

This also caught my ear:

Priest: God dwells in you.
People: And also in you.

Interesting. And, of course, the Creed had to be dispensed with. So divisive, all that doctrine. But what came next actually shocked me.

They omitted the confession and absolution. Just skipped over it. Bothersome concept -- sin -- isn't it?

[q_an_a]

morning prayer is where you skip some parts of the liturgy, but even then they have confession. It is time for some to wake up about who they accept as priests. All do not have a right to serve - only those called. It this happened and the Bishops acted accordingly, we would have less problem. But not is this generation.

[good_fight]

I forgot the next worst part! Instead of "Prayers of the People" they had what I'll call "Shares of the People". They went around the room group-therapy style and shared what was going on for them. One guy's dog had died. I'm not unsympathetic, but couldn't this had been mentioned as a petition in the regular, orderly form of the prayers?

When it came time for me to "share", I just quietly remarked that I was glad that I could share in the precious Body and Blood of Christ despite anything else going around me.

I'm sure they thought I meant I was going to soldier bravely on despite the dead dog.

[HarleyD]

Er! What's that you say sonny! :o)

Perhaps I’m a bit nostalgic but I remember the Christian concerts of the 70s such as Phil Keaggy. They were generally small, the artists would take time out to share their perspective and love of God, there might be ushers in the crowd to answer questions for nonbelievers who you were encouraged to bring along and the music generally reflected the person’s testimony. We recently attended an Avalon concert last spring which was reminiscent of the early concerts I’ve attended. While the music during their concert was loud it was not unreasonably so, they presented a solid testimony and it was a good experience.

Another concert we attended (the one with the ear plugs) was not that way at all. It was a “glitzy”, ecumenical show with little (almost no) mention of our Lord Jesus-just "God". You literally could not hear the lyrics of the songs and one of the artist boast of “getting loud”. I took my younger son with the hopes that he would hear solid, talented men talking about their love for our Lord Jesus. All we really got was noise.

I’m not labeling all Christian artists as bad nor am I going to judge them. But I don’t believe singing a chorus 25 times over and over again is edifying to your Christian walk. And if you can’t understand what is being said and there is no testimony, what’s the point? It really becomes an entertainment value-not a Christian experience. And that's what music in many of our churches has become-entertainment, not worship.

[stainlessbanner]

Yikes! I actually saw those guys in concert one time. BTW: Metal Rocker Dave Mustaine has begun following the Lord

I'm undecided on Christian pop-music in a service. I personally don't care for it, but then I don't care for drippy pipe organs much either. Choir is fine with me.

[stainlessbanner]

I enjoyed some of the artists on Billy Graham's shows - especially the Man in Black.....Johnny Cash

[balk]

Thank you very much for this article. I'm sure I would not have seen it if not for FR.

I believe it is a good thing that people can worship within their comfort zone. Whether it's in a beautiful traditional church with an awesome pipe organ and choir, or in the secret and small confines of a house in Shanghai with nothing but your own voice and maybe a guitar, we need to give our praise to God. Only God can judge the way in which we worship, and if we're doing it from the bottom of our heart and from our soul, He will love it.

Think of this example. If your son or daughter sings for you, praising your name, whether accompanied by an organ and choir, or by electric guitars and drums, do you not feel loved and appreciated? And does it matter to you how proud they are that you are their father or mother? I would venture to say the prouder, the better.

Does that mean that a worship team is proud of itself? To the contrary. A worship team is doing the work of the Lord, giving the congregation a means through which they can give their thanks and praise to God.

This article does not discuss how worship teams convene at conferences like "Urbana" to remind themselves of their duty to Christ. The primary issue that worship teams must be aware of is the human ego and how it can obstruct the congregation and itself from truly worshipping God.

The bottom line is, if the style of the music (endless guitar solos, etc.) or the loudness of the music (worship shouldn't make you deaf) or really flashy clothing distract from the overall purpose of worshipping God and putting Him first, then the worship team may not be doing God's work to the best of its ability.

I never dreamed that I would be part of a worship team. I get stage fright in the worst way: I shake and my face turns red involuntarily! I was content to take from the service and be on my merry way.

But then someone found out that I knew how to mix sound on a PA system. Someone asked me if I would try helping with the sound system. I enjoyed helping.

After a year or so, someone heard my singing and asked me if I might try backup singing. I wrestled with the idea for a long time - for I had been given an extensive musical education by my parents, which I had rejected years ago to pursue my career. Besides, why embarrass myself up there anyway?

My wife dared me to do it, promising that she would join too so that I wouldn't be alone (what a lady!). So here I am, another year later, playing accordion and acoustic guitar (electric if I could!) in addition to singing. The friends we have made in the process have been priceless. And most of all, we enjoy the extra time we take practising every other week.

The important thing is, God gives us gifts to use for His purpose. He gives others financial abilities, political abiities, scientific or athletic abilities. He gave me musical ability. He has called me, through various people, to use it or lose it.

The church that I attend has a mostly Chinese congregation. They've been around for almost a hundred years. There are two services. One is in a sanctuary and is a traditional service with hymns and creeds, spoken mostly in Cantonese. The other is in English in a gymnasium with a worship team, modern songs on an overhead projector (we mix in some hymns as well) and an American pastor who is a gifted orator. I enjoy both kinds of services, especially our joint services when we celebrate special occasions.

But you can guess which service I prefer. I like the fact that numerous university-age young adults attend the English service with modern music.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that this service is "casual", because we follow an order, have communion and take it as seriously as anyone else. But if you speak the language of young people, including the musical language, then can they not better understand the message that God wants them to hear?

There is a question about whether the lyrics of modern Christian songs would be pleasing to God, or whether they are simply self-serving. I'll end this post with a few examples that we sing regularly that you may not have heard:

Heart of Worship
by Matt Redman

When the music fades and all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You
All about You, Jesus

King of endless worth, no one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours
Every single breath
---

Here I Am To Worship
by Tim Hughes

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
So highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

[jude24]

And that's what music in many of our churches has become-entertainment, not worship.

Some of the more post-modern ones, yes. But the more traditional churches are not without their problems, either.

"What are these churches now if they are not the tombs and sepulchres of God?" - Friedrich Nietzsche

[Alex Murphy]

They are (were?) a band.

"Were". Most definitely "were". Stryper formed in the mid 80s and stopped recording (ie couldn't get a new record contract) by 1992. The band briefly reformed for some live concerts in 2000 and 2001, but that was the last time they ever appeared together in public. They reformed again, this time touring with original lead singer Michael Sweet, to promote a "best of" compilation album released in 2003.

Healing prayers are still being requested for all.

[sionnsar]

This article does not discuss how worship teams convene at conferences like "Urbana" to remind themselves of their duty to Christ.

The author may be unaware of this. I have to say, until now I've never heard the term "worship teams" or of conferences such as "Urbana."

[balk]

Even though it's geared to students, I'm sure I would get a lot out of it. Usually the worship team leaders go and they bring back photocopies of the workshop materials... The next one is in 2006 at St. Louis.

It seems to be multi-denominational, but I'm not 100% positive on that.

[AnAmericanMother]

I think that a revival service is a little different. Somehow more contemporary music doesn't seem out of place in the Billy Graham Crusade.

To me (just my own personal opinion), much as I like Johnny Cash he would be out of place during a Mass.

It may be because, during the revival service, the purpose is to call individuals out to recognize their need and make a personal commitment to follow Christ. So naturally there is a focus on the individuals in the congregation.

In contrast, the Mass is focussed on the altar and on the Sacrifice of the Eucharist. So diverting attention from that mighty act to individuals (be they in the congregation or the choir) detracts from the purpose of the service.

[AnAmericanMother]

What you say about a "comfort zone" is absolutely true. A lot of our opinions about music in church are shaped by our training and our particular church, as well as just what we're just used to. (I have a couple of Church of Christ friends - the old C of C, not the UCC - that don't allow any instruments in worship, just the human voice. Don't know how common that is outside the South.)

With the caveat that too much noise and commotion detracts from the Eucharist (as I noted in the message above).

I do think however that there are some absolute standards in music (as there are in just about anything.) Music that is poorly written, poorly composed, or poorly performed is not our best effort to give to God.

To respond to your analogy, of course I would love my child's song of praise no matter what instrument it was performed on or how well (hey, I listened to some pretty dreadful stuff while my daughter was learning to play the violin!) And I'm sure that God loves and appreciates our praise although the best music on earth cannot compare to the perfect music of the heavenly choirs.

But although I love my children, I would be disappointed if they did not put forth their best effort but just went through the motions.

[rwfromkansas]

Praise and worship music is all the same.....dull, trite, lacking any depth whatsoever.

Unfortunately, we have to sing that crap at college chapel.

I would rather watch a stupid heretical Christian drama than sing this sappy crap.