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Why Men Have Stopped Singing in Church
Patheos ^ | May 8, 2013 | David Murrow

Posted on 01/11/2014 8:08:33 PM PST by Benito Cereno

It happened again yesterday. I was attending one of those hip, contemporary churches — and almost no one sang. Worshippers stood obediently as the band rocked out, the smoke machine belched and lights flashed. Lyrics were projected on the screen, but almost no one sang them. A few women were trying, but I saw only one male (other than the worship leader) making the attempt.

(Excerpt) Read more at patheos.com ...


TOPICS: Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture; Worship
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To: Benito Cereno
Consciously or not, I would suspect it comes from the leadership. The choir is either singing anthem style or performance style. If it's the latter, then through a combination of either complex rhythms and/or grandiose stage performances, the message is being sent that the singing is for the "professionals", and that everyone else should just listen and appreciate it, but not join in.

The same thing has happened in our sports stadiums. A while back, it used to be "Please stand and join us in singing the national anthem". There wasn't a lot of fanfare over this or that professional being brought in as a solo act, and everyone joined in to what was either the background music or an anthem leader that knew his/her role was to lead everyone else in singing that song. But today, sadly, most people stand silently, some perhaps mouth the words, but for the most part, the singing is left up to some ego-centric soloist who always carries the tune in some unusual way, making it nearly impossible to try to sing along with them.
61 posted on 01/11/2014 9:28:35 PM PST by zencycler
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To: squirt; Freedom'sWorthIt; PJ-Comix; MinuteGal; Irene Adler; Southflanknorthpawsis; stayathomemom; ..

To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord (LSB 406)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfvU7vGqUPM

1. To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord,
To do His Father’s pleasure;
Baptized by John, the Father’s Word
Was given us to treasure.
This heav’nly washing now shall be
A cleansing from transgression
And by His blood and agony
Release from death’s oppression.
A new life now awaits us.

2. O hear and mark the message well,
For God Himself has spoken.
Let faith, not doubt, among us dwell
And so receive this token.
Our Lord here with His Word endows
Pure water, freely flowing.
God’s Holy Spirit here avows
Our kinship while bestowing
The Baptism of His blessing.

3. These truths on Jordan’s banks were shown
By mighty word and wonder.
The Father’s voice from heav’n came down,
Which we do well to ponder:
“This man is My beloved Son,
In whom My heart has pleasure.
Him you must hear, and Him alone,
And trust in fullest measure
The word that He has spoken.”

4. There stood the Son of God in love,
His grace to us extending;
The Holy Spirit like a dove
Upon the scene descending;
The triune God assuring us,
With promises compelling,
That in our Baptism He will thus
Among us find a dwelling
To comfort and sustain us.

5. To His disciples spoke the Lord,
“Go out to ev’ry nation,
And bring to them the living Word
And this My invitation:
Let ev’ryone abandon sin
And come in true contrition
To be baptized and thereby win
Full pardon and remission
And heav’nly bliss inherit.”

6. But woe to those who cast aside
This grace so freely given;
They shall in sin and shame abide
And to despair be driven.
For born in sin, their works must fail,
Their striving saves them never;
Their pious acts do not avail,
And they are lost forever,
Eternal death their portion.

7. All that the mortal eye beholds
Is water as we pour it.
Before the eye of faith unfolds
The pow’r of Jesus’ merit.
For here it sees the crimson flood
To all our ills bring healing;
The wonders of His precious blood
The love of God revealing
Assuring His own pardon.


62 posted on 01/11/2014 9:37:22 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Lutheran pastor, LCMS)
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To: Benito Cereno

>> An old hymn, such as It is Well With My Soul, packs an entire sermon into four verses and a chorus.

Yep, and that’s one reason why Mrs. Tick and I prefer the “traditional” worship service\ over the “rock band” “modern” service.


63 posted on 01/11/2014 9:57:57 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: Benito Cereno

I’m a very good singer. But I don’t sing church music. Most of the songs are horrible and the melodies sound like someone through a dart at a note board.

Now, this is Christian music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnvtmPfRUGY

Sad that Eddy overdosed.


64 posted on 01/11/2014 9:58:16 PM PST by VerySadAmerican (".....Barrack, and the horse Mohammed rode in on.")
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To: Benito Cereno

I’m a member of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and this sort of thing couldn’t possibly happen in our church. Our entire liturgy is done in chant, and the hymns are led by the choir (all acapella). Our liturgical music can have different tunes, but you will NEVER hear a “rock liturgy” or a “folk liturgy” in the Orthodox Church.


65 posted on 01/11/2014 10:01:02 PM PST by Doug Loss
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To: 1riot1ranger

>> you want to sing. get thee to a church of Christ

Yep, grew up in the CofC. The a cappella singing is very nice.

I kinda like the Methodist piano now, however. :-)


66 posted on 01/11/2014 10:01:21 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: 1riot1ranger

Amen - ‘nuff said. Here is the hymn mentioned in the OP, It is Well, sung a cappella by a trio of sisters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmUGekcTuLM


67 posted on 01/11/2014 10:01:38 PM PST by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
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To: GeronL

>> I hate loud, rock-ish music

You old fart!

(I’m right there with ya, buddy. :-) )


68 posted on 01/11/2014 10:03:27 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: Benito Cereno
Being a professional audio tech (30+ years) and teacher of same, I always stress having a written policy about volume for both worship and concerts.

As stated by others and from my own personal experience as a singer, I don't sing if the volume is so loud I can't hear myself. I don't want to thrash my voice.

I recommend 80 to 90 dB (depending on the makeup of the congregation) for worship where congregational singing is desired.

That seems to be a good volume for people to join in and be able to hear themselves sing.

When it comes to a concert or presentaton (choir/soloist) 90 to 100dB, though I've enjoyed higher. I personally take earplugs to concerts to protect my ears. Maybe not important for a person who attends concerts on occasion, but since I am exposed to high volumes on a regular basis, I take extra percautions to protect my hearing.

There are professional audio techs who mix with earplugs (expensive, molded, flat response) after the first couple of songs. They are the first to arrive and last to leave and therefore have the longest exposure to high (potentially damaging) volumes.

69 posted on 01/11/2014 10:08:23 PM PST by tv_techie
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To: Viking2002

Ha...sounds like we go to the same church.

Congratulations on quitting smoking. It’s very difficult.


70 posted on 01/11/2014 10:21:57 PM PST by Girlene (Hey, NSA!)
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To: Benito Cereno

A number of years ago I attended Christmas Eve services at a friend’s church. Music consisted of traditional hymns performed with pipe organ and choir. But they purposely blasted the congregation deaf. Of those few who had started singing none persevered.

I was furious with the director’s arrogant treatment of the congregation vowing never to return to that church. And I haven’t.

When a church forgets that its music is the congregation’s praise to heaven, then that church is becoming nothing more than a circus sideshow.


71 posted on 01/11/2014 10:51:38 PM PST by DakotaGator (Weep for the lost Republic! And keep your powder dry!!)
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To: GeronL

As do I. It’s supposed to be “praise and worship” time not “raise the rafters” with drums and guitar solos time!


72 posted on 01/11/2014 10:59:36 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: AndyTheBear

Well, the Scripture does say, “Make a joyful noise...”. ;o)


73 posted on 01/11/2014 11:01:50 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Benito Cereno
Needs more Sacred Harp.
74 posted on 01/11/2014 11:02:56 PM PST by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

My husband loves the superfun rock band church we go to. He grew up Lutheran and rarely went to church until we started going to the very modern church.

In our area (San Jose), the modern evangelical churches have more conservative beliefs. The churches that have more traditional services like the Methodiist have very liberal churches.


75 posted on 01/11/2014 11:03:01 PM PST by luckystarmom
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

My neighborhood parish back in Michigan was St. Cecilia. St Cecilia, by the way is the patron saint of musicians. At the top of the hour, we would be treated to a pre-recorded Bell-Ringing version of A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. I can hear it resonate even now. Some families would use the sound of the bells so their children knew when to head home. This before the kids learned to read a clock. That song is tailor-made for a loud blustery organ with a confident, aggressive organ player. The bass vibrations are meant to be felt by each parishioner.


76 posted on 01/11/2014 11:05:47 PM PST by lee martell
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To: WeatherGuy
I’ve been equally moved in church by singing traditional hymns myself as well as celebrating God in the beautiful music/voices of others.

Me, too. There have been more than a few times when I couldn't sing because I had tears streaming down my face because the presence of the Lord was so strong and genuine worship and praise was taking place.

77 posted on 01/11/2014 11:07:21 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: 1riot1ranger
you want to sing. get thee to a church of Christ

Amen! I believe much of the problem is that we have lost sight of the fact that worship is intended to be something we give. Our spoiled society has transformed worship into just another opportunity to be entertained.

78 posted on 01/11/2014 11:49:49 PM PST by awelliott (What one generation tolerates, the next embraces....)
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To: 1riot1ranger

We attend a Southern Baptist, but I have to agree that no one sings like (non-instrumnetal) Church of Christ. We could learn a lot about congregational singing form them!


79 posted on 01/11/2014 11:52:43 PM PST by BwanaNdege
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To: GeronL
I hate loud, rock-ish music

If it's too loud, you're too old. ;-)

80 posted on 01/11/2014 11:57:01 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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