Monday, June 24, 2013
So what if you don't like the music?!?
I fit in with the crowd that says they "grew up on a church pew". Well, not exactly, I was sometimes under the pews as a toddler kicking people. That is another story.
Growing up in church we sang out of the hymnal and the chorus book. My church was a little progressive when it came to music. By the late 1970's we still sang from the hymnal, but we also used those old overhead projectors to put the words up on a big screen. Eventually, that overhead projector gave way to Video Projector, and we used programs like Power Point to project the words to the songs, and even the scripture readings.
After the PowerPoint came specialized programs just for churches to project the words to the songs. The songs have changed over the years, and it has left a lot of people on the sidelines wondering what has happened. The styles of music have changed to include beats that even I did not have growing up.
Today, musical styles of every kind are being used in churches, and accompanying the singers you will scarcely find an organ. You will find bands of musicians, and at some churches, you might think you are at a rock concert.
But why the change? Isn't the old piano and organ and hymnal enough? Why does it have to be this way?
Think about this: Who turns 70 years old this year? Have you figured it out yet? The answer is very simple. As of this writing on June 24, 2013 - everyone that was born in 1943 either has or will turn 70 years old this year should they make it through the year. What does that mean? It's very simple really. Everyone born in 1943 has grown up in a culture that is heavily influenced by all sorts of music, namely, Rock n' Roll.
In the late 1940's, clarinetist Benny Goodman is said to have had the first ever rock concert at Carnegie Hall. We call that music today, Swing. By the mid-1950's we had Elvis. Fast forward to 2013 and we find Lady Gaga, Rhianna, Kanye West and Young Country leading the pack.
Clearly, from my perspective, the most controversial subject in the church is the style of music. Christians become intolerant of other Christians because of the music they listen to. They become intolerant of other Christians who want to hear the styles of music they most like played in church. Young against old. Southern Gospel against Rock and Hymnalists pitted against Contemporary Christian Music.
The church as a whole gets caught in the middle.
Here is the thing that we forget.
Are we pleasing God in all of this?
Does God really care what kind of music we use in our church services?
Does God really care if there is a band, piano, organ, or no instruments at all?
Here's the answer church: It's Not About You!
Why do we have a church? To glorify God? Certainly.
But what is greater than that? The church is on this earth to share the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, by whatever means possible.
Well, what does that mean then? Consider this, God is throwing this huge party, and he has invited everyone to come to that party, and God implores all of US to go out and COMPEL people to come to the party.
COMPEL. Compel. compel. Whatever means necessary. THAT is what we are supposed to do. It is very difficult to compel someone to do something, or go somewhere they don't want to go. It is very difficult to get someone to listen to music they don't like.
Where does that leave YOU? We've already established, it's NOT about YOU.
We all have plenty of time to listen to the music that we want and what we watch on television without having to be concerned with the various styles used in a church service.
For once, and for all, it is time for the CHURCH to get with the program!
Start by Loving God FIRST and BEST!
Continue by loving EVERYONE with that same intensity.
PREACH the Gospel (with whatever means necessary.
Make Disciples of ALL Nations and I add this one
- FORGIVE NO MATTER WHAT!
When Christians realize that the mission of the church is NOT about the liturgy, the hymns, the organ, the band, the video and so on....THEN the church can make a Fresh Start.
So what if you don't like the music?
Growing up in church we sang out of the hymnal and the chorus book. My church was a little progressive when it came to music. By the late 1970's we still sang from the hymnal, but we also used those old overhead projectors to put the words up on a big screen. Eventually, that overhead projector gave way to Video Projector, and we used programs like Power Point to project the words to the songs, and even the scripture readings.
After the PowerPoint came specialized programs just for churches to project the words to the songs. The songs have changed over the years, and it has left a lot of people on the sidelines wondering what has happened. The styles of music have changed to include beats that even I did not have growing up.
Today, musical styles of every kind are being used in churches, and accompanying the singers you will scarcely find an organ. You will find bands of musicians, and at some churches, you might think you are at a rock concert.
But why the change? Isn't the old piano and organ and hymnal enough? Why does it have to be this way?
Think about this: Who turns 70 years old this year? Have you figured it out yet? The answer is very simple. As of this writing on June 24, 2013 - everyone that was born in 1943 either has or will turn 70 years old this year should they make it through the year. What does that mean? It's very simple really. Everyone born in 1943 has grown up in a culture that is heavily influenced by all sorts of music, namely, Rock n' Roll.
In the late 1940's, clarinetist Benny Goodman is said to have had the first ever rock concert at Carnegie Hall. We call that music today, Swing. By the mid-1950's we had Elvis. Fast forward to 2013 and we find Lady Gaga, Rhianna, Kanye West and Young Country leading the pack.
Clearly, from my perspective, the most controversial subject in the church is the style of music. Christians become intolerant of other Christians because of the music they listen to. They become intolerant of other Christians who want to hear the styles of music they most like played in church. Young against old. Southern Gospel against Rock and Hymnalists pitted against Contemporary Christian Music.
The church as a whole gets caught in the middle.
Here is the thing that we forget.
Are we pleasing God in all of this?
Does God really care what kind of music we use in our church services?
Does God really care if there is a band, piano, organ, or no instruments at all?
Here's the answer church: It's Not About You!
Why do we have a church? To glorify God? Certainly.
But what is greater than that? The church is on this earth to share the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, by whatever means possible.
Well, what does that mean then? Consider this, God is throwing this huge party, and he has invited everyone to come to that party, and God implores all of US to go out and COMPEL people to come to the party.
COMPEL. Compel. compel. Whatever means necessary. THAT is what we are supposed to do. It is very difficult to compel someone to do something, or go somewhere they don't want to go. It is very difficult to get someone to listen to music they don't like.
Where does that leave YOU? We've already established, it's NOT about YOU.
We all have plenty of time to listen to the music that we want and what we watch on television without having to be concerned with the various styles used in a church service.
For once, and for all, it is time for the CHURCH to get with the program!
Start by Loving God FIRST and BEST!
Continue by loving EVERYONE with that same intensity.
PREACH the Gospel (with whatever means necessary.
Make Disciples of ALL Nations and I add this one
- FORGIVE NO MATTER WHAT!
When Christians realize that the mission of the church is NOT about the liturgy, the hymns, the organ, the band, the video and so on....THEN the church can make a Fresh Start.
So what if you don't like the music?
NOTE: I wrote this going on 10 years ago. Not much has changed.
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