justice14 wrote:
“God should be glorified in a church’s service regardless of ... instruments used.”
I can go with you that far.
justice14 also wrote:
“As long as the church focuses on sound theology and correctly discipling it’s members, how they choose to worship will follow in that.”
I can agree with that also.
Which brings me to something that very much troubles me about most of what I call generic non-denominational churches. I don’t find much, if any - if any! - sound, solid, theologically serious, filled-with-the-unconditioned-gospel-of-Jesus-Christ hymnody (the old way of speaking of what the congregation and/or choir/chorus sings). My question would be: Why do so many of the high decibel level, special lighting churches have such vacuous hymnody, i.e., songs?
And if you disagree, give me five or ten examples of the ones you most like or appreciate, the ones that are most sung at your church, and I will look at their content and react.
I would agree that the mega non denominational churches tend to be non traditional and less theological. They seem to be more loose on what they push as sound doctorine and more open to “new age” stuff where everything is ok (this is not the church I am talking about) And that is wrong.
I disagree that most non traditional worship churches are not theological though (when it’s not really a huge church and I do believe that there are some big churches that do it right as well. It’s just harder to find them).
Psalms 150; Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Again. Loud music =/= unsound Theology. How many “loud” churches have you been to? I don’t get the song comments. If the song is true. IE Jesus loves you, He died for our sin, He’s coming back, etc, it doesn’t have to be “deep”. Now if the songs have stuff like Jesus approves of your homosexuality, then yes. That is a problem. Where in the Bible does it say about being “deep” when you praise God? It says a lot about giving a joyful noise and praising him, but nothing about using deep theological songs to sing. Again, as long as the songs speak truth and not lies, God woill rejoice with us.
Also, like I said, If the leadership in the church is following a Christ filled theology, their worship leaders will go down the same path. If they don’t, a Christ like leader will correct.
Most of my church (1 guitar, 1 bass, 2 pianos, 1 Drum) does hymns (using those instruments). We also sing contemporary songs about God’s love, God’s sacrifice, God’s peace, God’s presence. And this is the norm for a multitude of non traditional churches. They are fine.