Lipstick on a pig....
And regarding this comment
One virtue of Gospel music, unlike most other contemporary expressions, is its focus on God.
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Perhaps the focus in the words is on God, but, from what I have seen, the focus seems to be more on the performer’s vocal gymnastics. IMO, this form of music is disrespectful and disruptive in the worship space.
As opposed to the Ave Maria?
I'm a lousy singer. However, if you asked me to go up and lead the congregation in "Soon and Very Soon" I could do it and I could get the crowd to join in. But if you asked me to lead the congregation in "How Great Thou Art" I'm pretty sure the only thing the folks in the pews would be doing is covering their ears.
I never really get the snobbery I see hear among FR Catholics when it comes to liturgical music. I believe all of it has its place and if you have a strong preference for chanting or traditional or Gospel or Guitar or whatever, find a church that does too. I personally like it mixed up a bit, which is good because that's what my local parish does. But the truth is, I wouldn't switch churches over music, it's not that important to me.
Hum. Where are these words found?
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD.
For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.
I've seen many person sing songs like "There ain't no grave" the music director sang in our church. He put his heart into it and you could tell. Another person a woman would sing "He will roll you over the tide" which is a song about Stephen. Our preacher had enough discernment to understand when a sermon was needed or let the music be the service. He had his quirks also. No drums in the church.
Most persons you see singing Gospel Music that are jumping around, dancing etc, are doing so because The Holy Spirit within them leads them to do so. Why not celebrate The Gospel? Why not celebrate in praise before The Lord? My region has many Gospel Singers or Southern Gospel as some call it. A man named Rev J Bazzel Mull known to many was one of the first in the area to bring it to radio then TV. His sponsor for years was a very shall we say controversial man. LOL. A Southern Gospel group called The McKameys are in my county and have been singing at least two generations now.
Up Kentucky way there was The Bishops who were around in the 1990's. One penned the song "I'm gonna move on up to glory" and yea he gets kinda excited when singing it :>} Why shouldn't he?
One of my favorites is out of North Carolina a group called The Primitive Quartet and they do a song called "I'll never walk in the valley again". It's sang A cappella. It's recorded live and in the background you hear people shouting Amens and cheering. If I have any say I want it played at my funeral.
Elsewhere in slightly different forms of singing there are ones who can make sermons into songs like "Carmen" and his song "America Again". He hits the nail on the head in less than six minutes. He not only gives a sermon but a U.S. History lesson with it.
When my dad passed I picked out the music for his service. I wanted songs that both meant something to him and ones that sent a message to those attending his service. I put together the number of songs the director asked me to do. It went like this.
Pre service
Are you afraid to die with a Billy Graham message lead in by Rick Shaggs
I don’t feel at home in this world anymore Ricky Skaggs
Down to the river to pray
Help Me Larry Gatlin Kris Kristofferson
Amazing Grace Judy Collins
Lazarus Come Forth The Bishops
Service
Darkest Hour Emmylou Harris Rick Skaggs
Green Pastures Harris & Skaggs
Jesus Hold My Hand Vern Gosdin
Dad knew the songs all real well except for maybe "Lazarus Come Forth" which IMO is highly appropiate for a funeral. Jesus Hold My Hand was a song dad sang around the house when I was a young kid and one we both played together on our guitars when I was an adult.
Prayer and Gospel Music has helped get me through many a dark time. Music had as much to do with The Lord finding me as any sermons I'd heard. Some of the music in my life came from unlikely sources. Willie Nelson is known for his Outlaw reputation and country music. But he's at his best in Gospel music. The album The Troublemaker is traditional Gospel Hymns. Kris Kristofferson wrote and sang a song that has a real good message called "Why Me" or Why Me Lord he did another song with Larry Gatlin called "Help Me". "Lord help me walk another mile just one more mile..."
I like music but I also look at the words for the message. One man from a very successful rock band penned a song many groups in the Christian Music field have also recorded. It's called Carry On My Wayward Son which was a song about his own journey to salvation. He influenced several others in the band as well. The mans name is Kerry Livgren.
Music of praise {a term I'm using to cover the entire spectrum of music to worship and praise The Lord} for the most part aside from Lyrics is a matter of ones own personal taste unless the lyrics itself are blasphemy. As for all music I can enjoy secular or Music of Praise to The Lord. My favorites are Bluegrass/Gospel, Southern Gospel, Older Pre-1990's Rock, or old pre 1990's country music. I learned to play six string on Gospel Music. Many songs have held special meaning for different periods in my life. Some I will always listen too.