On style of music.

Greetings in the Name of the Lord!

I have read a few of the takes on this issue of music, and I am intrigued by everything that has been said. I have to admit, there was a time when I struggled with music. that's not to say that I still don't have moments, but I really have a greater focus than before. While I pastor a small church in texas, I am also the co-worship leader for the church. there was a time when I was rather prejudicial towards the hymns of the church. I felt that they lacked something and that those who listened to them and wanted to sing them were old and outside the "culture" that we are in. I love the new worship "music" that is out there right now. But there was a day several months ago, when I was at the church praying and singing and playing on the piano, that I felt the Lord speak to me to look in a hymnal and find the song " How Great Thou Art". I did and began to read the words of the song. Immediately, those words began to rise up inside of me and burst within me. I began to play and sing the song. I began to weep. It stirred my heart. It took my mind off of me and placed it on God. In the end, Praise and Worship ( as well as other styles of music)should lead us to the Father. I find myself looking more at the lyrical content, than the music itself. I remember, that many worhsip teams would play Amazing grace , set to the music of " House of the rising sun". The results were nearly the same as playing it in the regular chord progressions. People still worshipped God. The fact is, that music will inspire and it will bring emotion. BUt in every case it should lead you to thinking and dwelling upon the goodness of God. If it doesn't, than don't listen to it. However, don't judge the music. Judge the fruit of the musicians. In the Bible that I read, it never says that we will know true disciples by the genre of music that they play or listen to. We will know them by the fruit that they produce. We all know who P.O.D. is ( at least most of us should've at least heard of them. They don't look the part of a Christian band and they don't get up on the stage and preach at people either. However how any of us knew that they come down off the stage and hang with people and witness to them one on one after their "set". Read their lyrics, the Bible tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Fruit and words go hand in hand. Style shouldn't matter. Any way just a thought. Agree/disagree it is all the same to me. I just wanted to voice a thought. thanks for reading.

So, what do you think are good principles on choosing good, sound music, whether it be secular or worship?

wondering on your opinions.

I agree with you bcpastor... if you are very observant you will realise that most of the contemporary gospel musicians do not place much focus on intimate worship--i stand for correction.The problem I have with modern christian music is that too much emphasis is placed on the intrumental experience the congregation will have than on the actual intimate worship experience God wants us to have one on one with him. So there are so many wonderful tunes out there, but they lack the power that backs a true worship experience.
My rule of thumb is that, dont care about the instrumental part, once you get soaked in the words of the music and in that intimate worship, instruments means nothing to you, the words and how you express them out from the deepest part of your heart to God is what matters.SO we have to be picky... listern to the words and ask God to guide you.

Ormly wrote:

Side question: Why do many in todays ministries wear black, like its a funeral they head up?

Now I am changing the subject....share an insight on the color black.

I have worked at a Crises Pregnancy Center for 15 years as a counselor. I have heard all kinds of stories, acts of human depravity. If you can imagine it, you can bet it has happened somewhere to someone. I often said I worked on the rim of hell, trying to get people to not proceed with their journey there.

Now do you know what those people look like? What do their eyes look like? Brothers and sisters, they have a black look in them..and I see this in the modern rock musicians, even the so-called Christians. When I became aware of this look, I resolved to not ever wear solid black anymore. Oh yes, I have been told I look good in black and with my grey/silver hair, it could be stunning! :-P Seriously, these people who are away from God have this black look and I, for one, want to be as far away from it as possible.

This has been my experience. If you want any scripture to back it up all I can point to is: Matthew 6:22,23: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

ginnyrose

I come from a background as a Christian rap artist (although I have since left that style of music), so I may be able to offer an insightful response.

I notice now looking back on my music, that every song was always to be "the best" rapper, or the best with the words, or the best beats. The whole genre, secular and Christian, is soaked with pride. And that goes back to the roots of the style. It was always "who can make the most clever and complex play on words".

My whole taste in music has changed since I started to follow the Lord seriously.

I think that a few things to consider when deciding about music is, how is it presented? does it sound like it is just copying the world and substituting Christian lyrics? and who are the band memebers?

I notice now, most new CCM band members are in there early 20s, some in their late teens. Why should I trust them to lead worship? I don't know anything about them. They are my age. I think it is best if you can find out information about who the people actually are first, so you can see if they would be trustworthy.

Just a few thoughts... :-)

This is a pretty good article regarding music today.
[url=http://a1m.org/page.php?page=template1.php&pageid=77f4e80f7784ece8a64e58009618a023]Article About Music By Steve Camp[/url]

I full agree with your post as well as crispy's and a few others. Music seems to be the fastest way into the heart of man.

I posted this on another thread. I hope it blesses you...

I hope you don't mind if I get in on this conversation. I'm a little new around here. This is also a little long, but I hope you read it. I ran a Christian Rock station for a while and it's a little different BEHIND the music than it is in front of it like the average person is.

Going back to the original poster's article, I think I agree with the original premise, but he has taken liberty in certain points.

Rock is distinguished from other music, as is punk rock, hip-hop, and other genres that have evolved parallel to or out of it.

The biggest problem I have found with much of modern music is that its first aim is to feed the flesh not the spirit. This can easily be seen in how arguments arise out of discussing it. The fact that it even has to be defended should indicate its pull on our lives sometimes.

The argument regarding music always ends in a stark debate. This alone shows the condition of our hearts. Some of us have become so enamored with music that it has even become an idol in our lives. There were many times in my own life, especially during the radio years that I was absolutely obsessed with the music. I couldn't get enough of it.

But this is the draw of music as a tool of the enemy sometimes; to draw us away from a relationship with God and into a place of self-centeredness. Remember Adam and Eve? Satan took the emphasis off of God and put it on them. He made Adam and Eve focus on what they wanted instead of being content with what they had. God had given them everything in the garden but the one tree. But the devil convinced them that that tree was the ONE THING they NEEDED! So, by him turning their focus to themselves instead of God, they disobeyed God and sinned.

The devil still works that way, and I believe he does it through music. Our focus becomes so much about the music and whether or not we will like it, that we can't even enter into God's presence anymore. We have taken the focus off of God where it belongs and put it on us, just like Adam & Eve did. And in doing this, we sin.

I have family members who won't go to a church unless it has "good music"! That's their test. Not the Word of God or the Spirit of God, but the music!

The test of music shouldn't be style, but the effect it's having on us.. If we can't walk away from it and say, "God I give it to you, I don't need it, it's not the love of my heart, YOU ARE Lord," then it has become idolatry and a stumbling block to us. Music is for God, not for us.

And let me throw this wrench in while I'm at it if I may, God doesn't NEED us to play music to be worshipped! Did you know that? Can you worship Him WITHOUT music? If you can't, then perhaps music has too strong a pull on your heart. God is concerned with the adoration that is offered from our hearts, not our instruments.

Let me say that again, God is concerned with a heart of adoration and worship than what comes out of an instrument.

Do you know why God could get more glory out of musicless worship than with it? Because often times with music WE get more glory from playing it than He gets from receiving it.

I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard through worship leaders I've worked with how they've been asked to play a conference, but when they get there they run into musicians who were haughty and uncooperative because they thought that they were the better musician. To some, it's a competition to be seen and noticed rather than invisible and surrendered.

I believe this is why hymns were big on WORDS and small on MUSIC. Because it was the words that led people to the throne of God, not the music. The music helped, yes, but it was what they were SAYING to God that led them there and not whether or not they liked the song or its style.

Notice that one focuses on God, the other focuses on "me". Like with Adam & Eve, if the devil can take my emphasis off of God and put it on "me" then he's won.

I implore with you, don't be like I was and let music become an idol in your life. If it has a hold on your heart then jettison it. Losing that intimacy with God is not worth the moment of pleasure.

TaylorOtwell wrote:
I come from a background as a Christian rap artist (although I have since left that style of music), so I may be able to offer an insightful response.

I notice now looking back on my music, that every song was always to be "the best" rapper, or the best with the words, or the best beats. The whole genre, secular and Christian, is soaked with pride. And that goes back to the roots of the style. It was always "who can make the most clever and complex play on words".

My whole taste in music has changed since I started to follow the Lord seriously.

I think that a few things to consider when deciding about music is, how is it presented? does it sound like it is just copying the world and substituting Christian lyrics? and who are the band memebers?

I notice now, most new CCM band members are in there early 20s, some in their late teens. Why should I trust them to lead worship? I don't know anything about them. They are my age. I think it is best if you can find out information about who the people actually are first, so you can see if they would be trustworthy.

Just a few thoughts... :-)

Taylor,

You make some very, very good points, and they parallel my expreiences too. The closer you get to God, the further from the world's image you get. "Draw nigh unto Me, and I will draw nigh unto you," the Lord says.

Your mind isn't enamored with things that feed the flesh and mimic the world.

Doesn't the Bible say: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you"?

God calls us to separation from the world not amalgamation or imitation.

I believe that's where allot of people miss it with the mixture: There's something of the world in their hearts that hasn't been surrendered to the Lord yet. They still cling to the world, but under the guise of Christianity. Then they wonder why signs, wonders and miracles aren't following them.

Perhaps it's because we have a divided heart.

It was so difficult for me to walk away from the radio station, but God told me clearly that I had a choice: deeper intimacy with Him or the radio station. I have to tell you, my heart wanted all God had for me. I was desperate for Him, and once I dropped the music, it was like the Holy Spirit flooded my heart and God became more real to me than I had ever experienced before. It was awesome.