Drums in Christian Music

I have no problem with drums in Christian Music. I sometimes have a problem when they are brought into the Sanctuary for a "worship service."

My Dad was a classically trained percussionist (Eastman School of Music), and in addition to symphony orchestras, he played in jazz bands. He once told me that, "When the drummer is standing up, that is ART. When the drummer is sitting down, that is ENTERTAINMENT!" I feel comfortable with art in the worship service, but I feel very uncomfortable with entertainment in worship service. And this is why I no longer go to churches that have "contemporary" worship. When I see traps (drum set), I know this is not the church for me.

 

Psalm 150: Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

 

How does sitting or standing make any difference at all???

Does that mean when a pianist or an organist is sitting it is entertainment as well?

 

I see nothing wrong with drums of any musical instructment being played in Christian music.

As long as it Glorifies the Lord and his Word.


Jamie

 

I agree with Jamie.

Praise comes from the person's heart anyway, When a person uses his or her talents to praise God, then how is it wrong (unless they use them to sin!) And playing music to God is certainly not sin, no matter what some IFBs say.

 

The only issue I ever have with drums in a worship service is when they overpower everything else. When the drums dominate the sound, that's a problem because they distract from the service rather than adding to the service. I've been in services where the drums dominated and wondered whether the drums would stop before or after my headache started.

 

Amen.

 

Your dad must have been a very atheletic guy, to be able work a kick drum (or, depending on your rig, two or three) and hat, while standing up.

No offense to you or your dad, but that may be the single dumbest thing I've ever heard here (and I've been in threads with Aaron!)

By the way, we saw the Brian Setzer Orchestra a few months ago.

His drummer sits through the big band numbers, and stands during the trio/small group numbers.

Could you please explain to me the difference between the art of standing and the entertainment of sitting?

Personally, as someone who has played with several world class drummers, I believe it was both art and entertaining.

Likewise, the drummer from the old Christian band, Fighter, used a digital drum kit that allowed him to stand up, but I get the feeling you would not consider this art.

Next time my buddy, Lance Hyland Stark, comes to your town, go see him and tell me if what he does is entertainment or art.

He's been known to stand up, sit down, hang upside down, and even pick his drums up and walk around the room with them. Entertaining? You bet!

But he's also known for his artistry and is considered to be one of the finest session drummers around, having been hailed by Modern Drummer magazine, and performing with everyone from Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and Cindy Lauper, to Gary U.S. Bonds (with whom he is touring now) and Tico Torres (of Bon Jovi).

Now Playing: Tom Petty - "Pack Up the Plantation"

 

I can agree with this, but this can and does happen in all diffferent kinds of music, and performance/services, not just church services

I haven't seen it happen in a church service yet, but I am sure it can. Then it would be a distraction, but not wrong to be played.

Jamie

 

Well, I AM a classically trained percussionist (University of the Arts), and I think what Essene's dad meant that the use of trap sets used to mean you were playing jazz, folk or rock music, and for that, you sit. When a persussionist stands, that used to indicate he/she was playing in a concert orchestra or concert band, and that the music was somehow more "art" than entertainment.

However, today people hear percussion instruments played in Christian music all the time. At my church we use recorded accompaniment tracks for choir, and they usually have a full complement of instruments, and nobody says a thing. But bring percussion "live" into the church, and the older folks have a fit.

The real deal is how each kind of instrument is used. And for percussion, that includes musical balance a great deal. The music should work for the venue in which it is being played. And most church accoustics make drums sound louder than they are. So, tone it down! After all, isn't it the words and the tune that we want to come out the most? Use common sense, and I think you'll find far less objections.

 

There is nothing wrong with drums in Christian music.

 

I like drums too, as long as they arent too loud. SOme songs just call for them. When I can feel them beat in my chest, though, thats too loud for me.

 

The Salvation Army has had drums in their music since day one. I don't think anyone will be able to accuse them of conforming to the world.

 

This sounds awfully close to gnosticism.

 

Gnosticism - a group of ancient heresies, stressing escape from this world through the acquisition of esoteric knowledge.

There is some information at http://www.gnosis.org/gnintro.htm. That pagan religion has nothing to do with worshiping God.

Your response strikes me as being quite close to a rejection of Psalm 150.

 

Gnosticism in the first two centuries of the church consisted of the basic teaching that what is of the spirit is good, what is of the body (matter) is evil. Five principles of early gnosticism:
1. The human body is evil...the spirit is good.
2. Salvation is the "escape" from the body
3. Christ's true humanity was denied.
4. The body is evil, therefore, it is to be treated harshly
5. Breaking of God's law is of no moral consequence, since "matter" is evil.

To conclude that if something appeals to our likes and emotions (body, matter) is wrong and evil, is in fact a form of gnosticism. God created us to like drums, beats, cymbals, etc. To use gnostic reasoning of "drums are good if you stand, sinful if you sit" or "if I like how drums sound, it must be worldly (sinful)" is not only comical, but false teaching.

 

How so?

Psa 150:1 Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Psa 150:2 Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.
Psa 150:4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings.
Psa 150:5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. Hallelujah!

I agree with all of this. This does not say that if you enjoy these things they are therefore sinful. Does the psalmist differentiate praise and enjoyment?

 

Thank you Webdog!!
I've been looking for this.
This is exactly what I was thinking, but didn't know how to say it.

Just because something is nice, and pleasing to us does not mean it is a sin.

 

What do drums add to the singing of the saints? I am all for pianos, organs and acoustic guitars in a worship service. It just seems to me that the addition of drums and electric guitars is there to "pump up the volume", which usually ends up drowning out the singing. It's not that I think a drum or an electric guitar is some sort of evil instrument, it just bothers me when the music of the church sounds more and more like the music of the world.