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.
Monday, August 27, 2012
The First Time I Met You I Hated Your Guts!
The preacher was standing tall telling the story of how he came to know and love one of his customers at his job during the week. After six months of coming into her store, she finally said to him "when I first met you, I hated your guts". He responded, "yes, I know". But he was there to do a job, and he did it. The customer said she hated him because she thought "nobody can be THAT nice". He never said a cross word to her and he always smiled while doing his work. For six months this went on. She then realized how wrong she was. It took six months? To find out a guy is actually a reasonably good guy?
I have people tell me quite frequently what a nice guy I am. To myself I often think just the opposite. I jokingly say, "please don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to maintain". I'll be honest, a lot of things get to me and really piss me off. Just me saying that will piss some people off because they don't approve of the word 'piss'. And for that reason, they will not like me anymore after reading this. I have not fit into their religiosity. They think it is vulgar. They are quick to point out what is wrong with others, and to me? That is an indicator of extreme insecurity. But in my defense, I'm really not that nice of a guy. In fact, if I look at what the Bible has to say, it says the heart of man is uncontrollably evil.
Take political ads for example. Each candidate boasts of their insecurities by the attacks they make on the opposing candidates. The side that is the most negative and smearing is the most insecure, and usually wins the race. They drive their campaigns by hate. They want the public to be so mad at the other candidate that they want to spit nails.
Then there is the church, in general. They have taken it upon themselves to dissect what sin is or isn't. In their efforts to portray the Love of God in Christ, they have invited hate upon themselves. I am not talking only about the right wingnuts of the church either. They exist far to the left as well.
Now there are groups that are saying quite clearly that "if you don't agree with me, you are driven by hate". And those groups are also to the right and to the left.
So, go ahead, hate me. I might not be a nice guy, but I choose to love everyone. But that does not mean I like everyone. Some people will still call me a hater. That is because they hate themselves.
I have people tell me quite frequently what a nice guy I am. To myself I often think just the opposite. I jokingly say, "please don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to maintain". I'll be honest, a lot of things get to me and really piss me off. Just me saying that will piss some people off because they don't approve of the word 'piss'. And for that reason, they will not like me anymore after reading this. I have not fit into their religiosity. They think it is vulgar. They are quick to point out what is wrong with others, and to me? That is an indicator of extreme insecurity. But in my defense, I'm really not that nice of a guy. In fact, if I look at what the Bible has to say, it says the heart of man is uncontrollably evil.
Take political ads for example. Each candidate boasts of their insecurities by the attacks they make on the opposing candidates. The side that is the most negative and smearing is the most insecure, and usually wins the race. They drive their campaigns by hate. They want the public to be so mad at the other candidate that they want to spit nails.
Then there is the church, in general. They have taken it upon themselves to dissect what sin is or isn't. In their efforts to portray the Love of God in Christ, they have invited hate upon themselves. I am not talking only about the right wingnuts of the church either. They exist far to the left as well.
Now there are groups that are saying quite clearly that "if you don't agree with me, you are driven by hate". And those groups are also to the right and to the left.
So, go ahead, hate me. I might not be a nice guy, but I choose to love everyone. But that does not mean I like everyone. Some people will still call me a hater. That is because they hate themselves.
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