Where do/does you/your church stand on music?

You mean, like KJV-onlyism, there's traditional music onlyism?

 

Why is it that a Christian is only supposed to listen to Christian music?
They're not.

Do you read only Christian newspapers or watch only Christian television?
Nope.

Do you only shop at Christian stores?
Nope.

Do you work at only Christian workplaces?
Yup. (I work for a religious charitable foundation. But I'll be the first to tell you I took the job because it paid well).

My experience is that many people who listen only to the "old-fashioned hymns" do so because it makes them feel superior to us poor carnal Christians who cannot get victory over this "worldly music."
Agreed.

For me, I listen to classic rock, Good call! the best music ever written, IMHO. I agree, and have the ACDC/Journey/Rolling Stones CD's to prove it.

[ January 14, 2003, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

The church that I attend uses the older hymns, sometimes Sankeys, and the Lords Prayer is sung. An organ is used, but sometimes we have a preacher who `brings his own musicians with him`...guitar and bongos, this is not popular with some.

 

JohnV:

What I was getting at is that I have seen some churches claim that hymns and Southern gospel are the only "legitimate" songs to sing in worship, and that I have also seen some churches claim that "contemporary" praise and worship choruses are the only "legitimate" songs to sing in worship. I hope this helps.

 

Seeing as how, according to Jesus, man was not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath for man, I would surmise that music is there for us, not we for the music. Any congregation should use whatever musical method it feels comfortable in its worship. If a different congregation doesn't like it, then they're welcome to choose "more appropriate" music.

If a composer's ability to write new church music is a curse, may God smite me with such a curse, and may I never recover.

[ January 15, 2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

duplicate post deleted... sorry

[ January 15, 2003, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

The church i am serving uses country gospel and bluegrass primarily. I prefer hymns and the older stuff at services. Outside of services though, I listen to contemporary Christian music. (oh what an abomination..... )

 

Refreshed,

You never answered my question.

Is it wrong, then, to listen to the blues?

 

Wow, this is an oldie. I believe that if a Christian has peace about listening to blues music, then he should do so. Paul says that all things are permissible to the Christian but not necessarily expedient (my paraphrase).

As a personal note, I would not choose to do so personally and would not let my children. What someone else does in their own house is between himself and God.

Jason

 

Fair enough.

 

When I first got there I was kinda shocked, not used to an IFB church using modern music. It seems as if they may have toned down some recently, not sure if it was done purposely or not. They're leaning now toward more hymns it seems. That's just fine with me. Right now it's at a good combination of worshipful praise songs and hymns.
Gina

 

We sing primarily hymns and a few choruses. We have a few people that Will sing specials from time to time but we don?t do any ?Praise & Worship? stuff.

-Paul

 

My church is pretty good at having both. Some of the choruses are more quiet, but some are upbeat and fun. We sometimes have special services with drums so we sing the more upbeat stuff.

 

I am the de facto song leader at our church (no one else wanted to do it). Recently, God was dealing with me about the praise and worship service...seems that it became a routine and a time filler before the preaching. We sang out of the Baptist Hymnal, and it became more of a chore than a desire. So, I went to the local Christian book and music store, purchased some contemporary praise and worship songs, made some songbooks with the words to the songs in them, and began to mix the old with the new. The response was lukewarm at first (but a welcome change for some), but after a few weeks, the "that ain't my daddy's music" crowd began to enjoy it.
We still do that today, with keyboard and drum accompaniment.

 

If it's Biblical and glorifies God, let's sing it in an excellent way. I couldn't care less about styles or whether it's old or new. Some new stuff is really Biblical and some old favorites are so unScriptural that they make me physically ill.

 

The subject of church music here on BB is like the "never-ending discussion" topic in another category, LOL.

Bro. John, you have made a good point here, and I agree with you. But I would also like to add something else that I have come to believe about music in the churches. This is just my own theory, so I am not posting it as gospel. This opinion is based on my own experience of having worshipped in many different kinds of churches during my lifetime. In many churches, the style of the music being used directly relates to the musical preference of the majority of the congregation. Let me see if I can explain what I mean by that confusing sentence,lol.

Musical tastes run the gamut from bluegrass to classical. But when it comes to something as important as how they worship, a person will usually seek out a church whose music most closely coincides with their own preference. For instance, if I don't generally enjoy listening to classical music, I will most likely attend a church where hymns, rather than anthems or "high" church music predominates. If I enjoy country music, or folk music, I will most likely enjoy southern gospel. If I like jazz or rock, I will most likely prefer a church that uses CCM, and is more modern in its approach to music.

My personal preference in church music is the old hymns, most of which I know by heart. But I have worshipped in churches where every other style, including the old negro spirituals were sone, and have felt the Spirit of God in those churches also. I don't think there will ever be a consensus of opinion among Christians on this issue.