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 ...
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.
>> 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.
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.
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.
>> 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. :-)
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
>> I hate loud, rock-ish music
You old fart!
(I’m right there with ya, buddy. :-) )
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.
Ha...sounds like we go to the same church.
Congratulations on quitting smoking. It’s very difficult.
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.
As do I. It’s supposed to be “praise and worship” time not “raise the rafters” with drums and guitar solos time!
Well, the Scripture does say, “Make a joyful noise...”. ;o)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
If it's too loud, you're too old. ;-)
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