I can't take "praise" music

[gtsecc]

I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.

[AveMaria]

Nah, you're in good company, I can't tolerate most of it either. And I stopped feeling guilty about it. a few years ago.

[gtsecc]

Nah, you're in good company, I can't tolerate most of it either. And I stopped feeling guilty about it. a few years ago.

I do.

If I am Christian:

1. Why don't I have a fish on my car?

2. Why don't I have a WDJJ bracelet?

3. Why do I hate praise music?

4. Why do I care less if someone is gay, bi, straight, asexual, or puts their pants on one leg at a time?

5. I read Harry Potter.

6. I had an impure thought about someone’s girl friend in church while I was ushering.


But, not to derail my own thread - I really don't like praise music. It absolutely baffles me that someone folks have a "born again" experience and then start listening to this **** and I suppose they go and burn their Beatles albums. Heck, our rector is in a Beatles cover band.

[Ceccia]

I don't like it either.

Same with those churches that use a projector to put the lyrics to a cheesy pop-folk song up, and they don't have any hymn books, or any kind of paper with musical notation on it...so if you're not a regular follower of this type of music, you just have to stand there wondering what in the world everyone else is doing and not being able to sing along until the last verse. That just iritates me.

But yeah, "praise" music makes me want to scream and claw my ears off. It's so generic and corny and most of the pieces use about three chords in the whole song.

But to each his own :)

[PaladinValer]

Praise music is too "touchy-feely." It sounds more like "Buddy Jesus" than "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." It's almost hypnotic in the sense of how it is written; the same, dry lyrics over and over again.

I'll take a hymn any day over "praise music" :)

[AveMaria]

Not to derail your thread...but...I don't have a Jesus fishie on my car either, but I do have an Episcopal shield decal. Never personally saw the point of WWJD bracelets and coffeemugs either. And I not only love Harry Potter, I've even written HP fan fic, for grins!

Should I call and reserve my table in Hell now?

And now back to P&W music.
Part of my general loathing towards the genre is that I'm sick and tired of people assuming that because of my age, I must love the stuff. Wish I had $5 for every time I've been told "You know, there's a contemporary service with a praise band, I'm sure you'd enjoy it much more than the traditional service!" So on some levels, I'm almost unwilling to give any new P&W a chance.

Then I'm not big on the theology of many of the P&W songs. I'm pretty sure thats been discussed ad nauseum on these forums, though.

Of course, when I'm in traffic or at home, I'm most likely to be listening to classical, opera, sometimes a bit of jazz, hymns, and the occasional bit of showtunes - I'm an oddity in my generation, it seems.

As far as some people having a conversion experience and suddenly throwing out their music collection, I have seen it happen. Heck, I have an Aunt who won't buy anything unless it is Christian (which usually means, found in a Christian bookstore). She also goes to a Christian hairdresser, Christian financial planner, and got her new puppy from a Christian Dogbreeder. I think it must all be sort of feeling a sense of belonging?

And I love the fact that your rector is in a Beatles' cover band.

[pmcleanj]

According to Theodore Sturgeon, ninety percent of everything is, uhm, "shoddy". Which means that 10 percent isn't.

Ancient office hymns, medaeival hymns, the great reformation hymns -- these enjoy the benefit of having had 1500, 1000, 500 years for worshippers to figure out which ones are which, and to preserve and reprint only the ten percent. Even the relatively sappy Victorian hymns have had several decades of filtering.

The main problem with Praise Music is that the ninety percent is still current. Don't let that blind you to the rest.

[LADY DI]

I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.


Don't feel guilty, I too don't like "praise' music either.The other day at work they had that playing and I was hoping someone would say something about it--they did, it got changed in a hurry--I can't listen to it--so I know I couldn't work to it.

[LADY DI]

I do.

If I am Christian:

1. Why don't I have a fish on my car?

2. Why don't I have a WDJJ bracelet?

3. Why do I hate praise music?

4. Why do I care less if someone is gay, bi, straight, asexual, or puts their pants on one leg at a time?

5. I read Harry Potter.

6. I had an impure thought about someone’s girl friend in church while I was ushering.


But, not to derail my own thread - I really don't like praise music. It absolutely baffles me that someone folks have a "born again" experience and then start listening to this **** and I suppose they go and burn their Beatles albums. Heck, our rector is in a Beatles cover band.


1. I don't have a fish on my car either.

2.I don't wear a WWJD braclet either--and I notice those who do-don't ask themselves that question either. :)

3.I don't like praise music either.

4.I judge no one--that's between them and God.

5.I love Harry Potter books and the movies!!!

6.God will forgive your "impure" thoughts--I'm married, I don't look at anyone anymore--for real, I'm totally in love with my husband :D

:blush: When I went though my "born again" experience--I was 19 and that was in the 80's--I was into the "hair bands"--well I got into all the "Christian hair bands" ( yes, there were christian hair bands )---well that didn't last too long, thank God--now when I hear that stuff--all I can think is how cheesy it was!!!
Hey, I love the Beatles!!!!! Your Rector sounds cool!!!:cool:

[ahab]

I agree that a lot of modern praise can be self centred and sentimental, but there is a good deal of modern praise and worship music that is very much very much “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” as well, and there are a number of traditional hymns that are rather wishy washy too. The point is where would one place Stuart Townend’s “In Christ Alone” and Michael W Smith’s "Angus Dei" ? Hymns or praise?

The point is worship in heaven may well be repetitive (Rev 4) If the focus of our attention is on God and we praise Him and sing to Him about His glory and majesty, and we sing spiritual songs to God and to one another then I don’t see it matters what style. Worship in Indian or African churches tends to be a different style to that in the UK anyway. The younger generations can worship God in different styles, and after all the people of God have worshipped throught the ages with shouts hand lifted and faces to the floor, in tongues and David danced with all his might. How often do we as Christians worship in spirit and truth? When we worship do we meet with God and get a revelation of God or is it a performance?

[AveMaria]

Ack! What if the younger generations don't want this modern newfangled stuff?

[ahab]

Well what if God does?
What if God is doing a new thing amongst the young generation, and the young don't want all organs, old hymns and robed choirs all the time?

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

And for those young who do?

[TomUK]

According to Theodore Sturgeon, ninety percent of everything is, uhm, "shoddy". Which means that 10 percent isn't.

Ancient office hymns, medaeival hymns, the great reformation hymns -- these enjoy the benefit of having had 1500, 1000, 500 years for worshippers to figure out which ones are which, and to preserve and reprint only the ten percent. Even the relatively sappy Victorian hymns have had several decades of filtering.

The main problem with Praise Music is that the ninety percent is still current. Don't let that blind you to the rest.

I agree. Most 'worship' music is awful, theologically bad and generally depressing, but there are a few genuinely good ones out there and i think it would be a shame to be without some of those of those songs which are truely inspiring and enriching. I go to a quite high anglo-catholic church, but once every couple of months we might sing the odd graham kendrick or spring harvest song, and i personally don't see a problem with it (still accompanied by the ol' organ, or course!). Naturally be wary of modern music, but don't dismiss all of it 'off the cuff'.

[ahab]

The issue is what is praise and worship? If we say it is a response to God in love and thanksgiving and adoration of who He is and what He has done then an organ or a guitar makes no difference whatsoever. If its scriptural the Holy Spirit agrees with the word (often from Psalms and Revelation) I can't see how worship has changed between the OT and now. Of course they bowed down and trumpets played and cymbals and other instruments and they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads, but no guitars or organs.
I have a preferences of course, but surely we can worship God with or without robed choirs or bands or in hymns or spiritual songs.
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" Rev 5:13

[pmcleanj]

The point is worship in heaven may well be repetitive (Rev 4) If the focus of our attention is on God and we praise Him and sing to Him about His glory and majesty, and we sing spiritual songs to God and to one another then I don’t see it matters what style.

This is where I would absolutely agree with you. Quality and suitability matters -- not style. In fact, to lump "hymns" into a single catagory is musically ingenuous. Ancient Office Hymns are not circuit-camp hymns -- they have as much similarity to one another as Lutheran Chorale has to Christian rock. (I married into a family that considers "Sweetly and Tenderly Jesus is calling" and "On Christ the solid Rock" Traditional hymns, because they predate their denomination -- songs that my congregation considered suitable for parish weekend camps and picnics, but certainly not for Sunday worship!

I've heard Praise music described by a traditionalist as "One thought, two words, three hours". I found that not only pejoritive, but historically uninformed. If one doesn't like repetition, then why is one promoting singing the nine-fold kyrie? And Taize chant is reknowned for its simple, meditative style -- in other words, for being repetitive.

But let there be balance. It isn't a matter of younger generations versus older generations. Plenty of young people love and revere the ancient office hymns, and more power to them! and plenty of elderly people enjoy Keith Green and Brian Doerkson. It's harder for music directors to blend a broad range of styles, but they do it with the repertoire of 1500 years without flinching. Why not for the repertoire of the last 1600 years?

[Ceccia]

I don't think anyone's saying that Praise music should be banned and is evil, etc.

And yes, if that sort of music speaks to your soul, great! :)

Of course it's possible to worship God with any style of music.

We're just talking about personal preference. I personally can't stand to listen to it, and I especially can't stand to sing it. I think it sounds awful and I prefer traditional hymns/anthems/compositions.

But that's just me. :)

[ahab]

Of course it's possible to worship God with any style of music.
Yes thank God Amen! And yes, if that sort of music speaks to your soul, great! Enjoy! Except that it doesn't necessarily speak to ones soul any more than hymns. Surely the point ultimately about worship is God, praise to Him in the Holy Spirit and not just signing hymns or songs that are 'nice' or sung nicely. Is it for us or for God?

[CSMR]

Most 'worship' music is awful, theologically bad and generally depressing, but there are a few genuinely good ones out there and i think it would be a shame to be without some of those of those songs which are truely inspiring and enriching.
Yes, this is my view. I find it amazing how many praise songs praise God but also feel the need to put in a good word for man - how much we love Jesus, how we are going to follow him in everything, etc. etc..
The tunes and harmonies are often nonsense or non-existent too.

What are some good ones? A few come to mind:

Salvation belongs to our God (old words, new music)
Before the throne of God above (ditto)
The servant king
As the deer panteth for the water

Any other favourites?

[Songspinner]

Different strokes for different folks I guess..Personally i like some of the folky contempry music ( I went to a new service yesturday that just had a guitar and bongos...great mellow sound) But my first love with always be the more traditional stuff. For the most part I agree withpmcleanj that 90% of contempary worship music is in desperate need of being pruned!



I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.




Would we call anyone who doesn't like traditional music an elitist? We may question their taste, but the pont of worship is to bring you closer to God...and if contempary worhip gets it done...more power to you...just keep it away from me!

As for my favorite contempary songs...

Refiner's Fire
I am a child of God (always brings tears to my eyes)

And pretty much anything by Steve Bell :bow:

[Songspinner]

I've also heard it said that most singer's don't like plainsong because it gives Glory to God...not the singer

[Cjwinnit]

2. Why don't I have a WDJJ bracelet?

What would Jesus do? He wouldn't wear a WWJD bracelet that's for sure....

[gtsecc]

His bracelet says, "WWID?"

[ahab]

:) His bracelet would say WWFD:)

[gtsecc]

What Would France Do?

[ahab]

:) excellent

what would Father do

[Cjwinnit]

:) excellent

what would Father do

What Would Dad Do? (WWDD) :)

[seebs]

I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.

There was a thread once, on another BBS, titled "Jesus sex songs", making the observation that a lot of this music sounds just like vapid pop love songs, with the name "Jesus" filled in the blank.

I admit to not being very fond of praise music, either.

(Not debating, just chatting amiably!)

[julian the apostate]

here is the deal, i have been ecusa for a short time

one of the nicest things about anglicans is the lack of emphasis on doctrine

so i am at mass yesterday traditional hymnal-singing and loving it and so on

and had one of the questions i had wondered about anglicans answered at that moment

i used to wonder where in the world do anglicans go for theology and doctrine

the hymnal stupid

what a wonderful church you have

[julian the apostate]

ps

wouldnt put a fish on my car if there was money involved in it
see same for wwjd bracelets and voting republican
and have a deeply held personal conviction that the world is older than 10,000 years


do wear a cross, and the pope's cross thing, and an immaculata medalion so i dont feel totally pagan

i once made a christmas desert that i told my kids was called byzantine bread (poor innocents)

i decorated it with the cho ri (sort of a P with an X on the stem)

which is what constantine put on his shields for the battle of the whatchamacallit bridge that changed history-- in this sign conquer and so on

[Ceccia]

Is it for us or for God?
Both. :)

I'd say the primary function of it is to praise God, surely.

But that's not to say that music doesn't speak to people's hearts too. i think that's the secondary purpose.

And I think that God appreciated and enjoys ALL types of music offered to Him! :)

And I think He gave us so many different styles of music because He knows that we all were made to like different things, have different musical tastes, etc. I don't think it's "wrong" to not enjoy a certain genre of music and not want to sing it or hear it.

There are so many ways to worship God. :) And I think that's fascinating.

[Monica02]

What, exactly, is praise and worship music? How is it different from old hymns? Is it liturgical music? Psalms? Is it just contemporary music? I asked on another non-Catholic forum and did not get a very comlete or clear answer. I am no musician so, please, no overly technical terms.

[UberLutheran]

I like a lot of the 20th century hymns, especially Ralph Vaughn-Williams, David Hurd, and Marty Haugen; and the Taize and Iona communities have come up with some beautiful chants -- but I could go the rest of my life without hearing praise music and feel quite happy!

If I am Christian:

1. Why don't I have a fish on my car?

Well, I have two: a Darwin fish and a Jesus fish. It takes all kinds of fish to make an ocean, and I figure the two might as well learn to get along!

2. Why don't I have a WDJJ bracelet?

Because Jesus would probably tell us to pray about the situation at hand and give it over to God.

3. Why do I hate praise music?

Because we have a basic sense of good taste.

4. Why do I care less if someone is gay, bi, straight, asexual, or puts their pants on one leg at a time?

Because we know that Christ died (and rose again) for them, too -- and that we're all sinners in need of a Redeemer; and because God is perfectly capable of sorting these kinds of problems out without our interference, or our telling people what they need to do.

5. I read Harry Potter.

I read Winnie the Pooh in Latin.

Crustulum, crustulum, crustulum cru,
Canis aenigmata, canis ac tu?
Crustulum, crustulum, crustulum crum,
Cerebrum meam est fatiga-tum.

6. I had an impure thought about someone’s girl friend in church while I was ushering.

Does anybody here really believe that Jesus was fully human, and lived for 33 years among us, and never once had a sexual thought (or went to the bathroom)?

[CSMR]

What, exactly, is praise and worship music? How is it different from old hymns? Is it liturgical music? Psalms? Is it just contemporary music? I asked on another non-Catholic forum and did not get a very comlete or clear answer. I am no musician so, please, no overly technical terms.
It's not liturgical, definitely more hymn-like than that. Songs in the place of hymns that are more informal in nature in some way. That's the best I can do as a definition.

[AveMaria]

Perhaps one of our choir-types will come along soon and be able to explain the difference? Until then, here's a humerous (and not very accurate or technical!) explanation:

****
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.


"Well," said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."


"Praise choruses?" said his wife, "What are those?"


"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.


"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.


The farmer said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you: 'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:


'Martha Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows,
the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn,
are in the corn, are in the corn, the CORN, CORN, CORN!!!'
'Oh, Oh, Oooooooh, yes, it's true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn,
yes, it's true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn,--
weeeell, it's true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn!!! Alleluia!'


That would be a praise chorus."


Amazingly enough, that same weekend, someone from the big city church attended that farmer's small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.


"Well," said the young man, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."


"Hymns," said his wife, "what are those?"

"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.


"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.


The young man said, "Well it's like this: If I were to say to you, 'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:


'Oh Martha, dear Martha, hearest thou my cry.
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by,
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.


For the way of the animals who can explain?
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God's sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.


Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.


So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn.
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry,
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn. AMEN'


^_^ ^_^ ^_^

[Bingley]

Well, if praise songs are what I think they are we have both. I can't really read music (or sing if it comes to that) but we do have the music in the hymnal so I can at least make a stab at it if it's a hymn I don't know;) . And I like the way the hymnal says who wrote the hymn and when they lived. There is just something so cool about singing something knowing our brothers and sisters in Christ who lived 100, 200, 300 or 400 years ago also sang it.

Now, when we come to something new in the praise song book, most of the congregation just pretends to sing it and lets the choir do the work. It's horrible, embarrassingly bad.

The thing is, the people in the choir are good at singing -- that's why they're in the choir. But when we have a new hymn or song they get a chance to practice it and run through it several times, and they have the music to refer to. The rest of us, on the other hand, who are not so good at singing, are expected to be able to sing the song by ear after just (if we're lucky) hearing the first verse sang once. Does this make sense to anyone?

[ahab]

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,” Eph 5:18-20

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:15-17

Both hymns and spiritual songs to God and to one another, in general whatever the style. :clap:

I wonder if people are ever moved by the spirit to raise hands or bow down or clap, shout, jump when worshipping God?

[AveMaria]

I think several of us are basically speaking a different language, when it comes to matters of religion.

I just re-read this thread, as well as some similar ones on other forums, and realized one thought kept recurring: That there are many ways to worship, and the way in which God leads me to worship does not involve raising my arms, that's perfectly okay.

After all, what is worship? (I could go onto a etymological tangent, but I'm a bit tired for that, perhaps tomorrow?) I do, however, think it's important to remember that the concepts of worship and prayer encompass a wide range.

As I sat here, re-reading this thread and contemplating worship, my eyes fell upon my well-worn and well-loved copy of the Book of Common Prayer. And I wanted to share a few excerpts from the 'Prayer and Worship' section of the Catechism, found in the back of the prayer book.

Q: What is prayer?
A: Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.

Q: What are the principal kinds of prayer?
A: The principal kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition.

I'll go ahead and briefly explain these kinds of prayer, for the benefit of anyone reading who comes from a different denominational background.

Adoration is "the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God's presence."

Praise is the offering of homage, in the context of worship.

Thanksgiving "is offered to God for all the blessings of this life, for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God."

Penitence is the confession of our sins and the making of restitution, with the intent to amend our lives.

Oblation is to offer ourselves (our lives and our efforts) to God, in union with Jesus Christ.

Intercession is to bring the needs of others before God and pray on their behalf; Petition is the presentation of our own needs. Both these are a request that God's will be done.

Anyhow, I'm afraid I don't have terribly much of a point, but I thought this might help clarify where some of us might be coming from.

[ahab]

Hi AveMaria,

Thats great, worship to God is the whole of the way we live our lives, but my point is that God's people have throughout the scriptures and the ages manifested their singing praise and worship in such things as lifting hands and shouting and dancing signing in tongues and jumping etc. That someone does lift their hands doesnt mean they are worshipping God any more than someone who the Holy Spirit doesnt move to lift their hands, only God truely knows the worship in Spirit and truth. The I don't like and "I cant take "praise" music" is just personal preference. There are quite a few Christians and Anglicans who dont like robed processing choirs and organs but there is no reason to post "I cant take choirs" as God indeed can.
However as to traditions, some of the manifestations are scriptural and 'traditional' but some traditional things like incense and choirs of men and boys, I believe may be more man made tradition than scriptural.
Also 'low church' take the eucharist every bit as seriously and reverently as 'high church' even though it may not dominate a service or have the same ritual.

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,” Eph 5:18-20

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:15-17

Both hymns and spiritual songs to God and to one another, in general whatever the style. :clap:

I wonder if people are ever moved by the spirit to raise hands or bow down or clap, shout, jump when worshipping God?

Nope, not me, but then I'm a very unempathic character type. Horses for courses I expect.

[Wiffey]

It depends on personal preference. I love to go see Al Green in concert and hear him singing gospel music. He's a terrific performer. :cool:
But...
at church I want to hear the chanter chanting in Greek! For Liturgy I don't want to hear anything composed after the 4th century!:liturgy:

There's a time and place where each kind of music is appropriate...depends on your taste.

[julian the apostate]

Al Green

is quite possibly the greatest soul singer of all time

[thejesusfish90]

I go for both of the respective styles... some contemporary praise music from pentecostal sources has really touched me (Here I am to worship-Thankyou music)... but so has some very tradtional music (When I survey)... I believe that praise is all respective... No-one should be asheamed of not being encouraged by a particular branch of music-I personally am not fond of alot of christian rock (MXPX, Five Iron Frenzy) unlike all the other youth at my church, and most of them hate anything by hillsong (a big source of charismatic Praise music in Aus-wigglesworth you may have heard of them), though they unwittingly sing alot of it at church services... Though perhaps Gtsecc you may not have heard the best of contemporary Praise, which may have put you off it... I guess its all about what were comfortable with... Though I try to focus exclusively on the lyrics whilst singing at church... My youth pastor made a good point about worship at my youth group Bbile Study last sunday- Worhship isn't exclusively singing praise it is about life as well... Ie Worshiping god through your life and in song...

My Favourites:
In Christ Alone
Behold the Lamb of God (Nicky Chiswell-Aussie music writer)
Ressurection (Nicky Chiswell)
When I survey
Consider Christ
The Servant King (How great is this song CSMR!!!)
The Ends of The Earth (hillsong)
How Deep the Fathers Love
Rock of Ages (the christian one!! :p)
Here I am the Worship
Create in me a Clean Heart
Amazing Love
Meakness and Majesty

Yeah thats about it... Oh and Gtsecc my youth Pastor has offsring, Jebadiah and Greenday albums... though I am currently unsure as to the suitability of secular music in chrisitan life at the moment...

Your Brother in Christ

Chris

[Diane_Windsor]

Praise music is too "touchy-feely." It sounds more like "Buddy Jesus" than "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." It's almost hypnotic in the sense of how it is written; the same, dry lyrics over and over again.

LOL The "Buddy Jesus" always reminds me of the movie Dogma, which I think is hilarious! I agree, modern praise music is too touchy-feely, and most lyrics are really bad. One friend of mine wanted me to listen to CCM, and even suggested a singer-songwriter who played the piano. If suggesting that I listen to CCM was bad then comparing this artist to Sir Elton John is <taping mouth shut>:eek: !

No, I don't feel any guilt on not liking CCM, and loving secular music-I believe God Almighty blessed Sir Elton John, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, etc., etc. with great musical talent. It is a joy to listen to their music and ponder what a wonderful God we have.

I'll take a hymn any day over "praise music" :)
Same here. I have strong Baptist roots, and I absolutely LOVE those old hymns! Has anybody ever gone to the Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/)? It's a wonderful website full of hymns!

DW

[Epiphanygirl]

I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.

I'm with you! For some reason it sounds plastic and cheesy to me. Just give me the traditional hymns, more sacred to me !

[ahab]

I am not aware that there is any difference between praise and worship, except as implied here by modern as opposed to traditional hymns. Is for example "In Christ Alone" not really a hymn?

So I say I can stand "praise" music, both traditional hymns and modern songs
:clap:

[September]

I like both praise & worship and traditional hymns. For some time I found hymns rather dry -- but that is probably at least in part because I belong to a very tiny church (maybe 15 people at a service on a good day), and none of us musically talented. But I have really come to appreciate hymns in the past few years. I do still like praise & worship, there are times when it has moved me like nothing else has. And I do feel moved at times to raise my hands in worship. ;)

However, I am not real comfortable attending a church where it seems like the "worship band" is putting on a performance rather than leading worship, and where people clap after a song... =\ I attended such a church while on vacation this summer, and to me, it didn't feel much at all like worship. But that's a personal thing. I think that God can be worshiped through many different kinds of music.

[ahab]

I think that the worship ‘band’ are supposed to lead the congregation in worshipping God by being lead by the Holy Spirit. One could propose a processing robed choir as some sort performance as well. The point is as has been well said, if there are any manifestations like raising of hands it should be because the Holy Spirit has moved us to.

Just for another perspective, one of the advantages of modern choruses that praise God, for who He is, is that one can shut ones eyes and not get distracted and focus on singing to Him and coming into His presence. Also Paul and Silas were able to sing in prison even without a keyboard or a robe with ruffled collar.

[SirTimothy]

and where people clap after a song...

We have that in our local non-denom church on occasion. When the Holy Spirit really touches the congregation by the worship that the team has led, and they feel led to clap--not us, but God. It's part of making a joyful noise after all, isn' t it? ;)

Timothy

[ahab]

Hi MartianTJ

exactly:amen:

[ps139]

I really don't like it, and I feel sort of guilty about this. Shouldn't I be thankful folks make and listen to this music? Why do I generally like modern secular music, or hymns? I am simply being intolerant or elitist? I can't watch any of the "Christian" channels on television, and "praise" music drives me insane.


I feel the same way. I like one contemporary Christian band, and a few scattered songs, but the other stuff, its not my cup of tea. For some real praise music listen to something like "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" or "Ave Maria." !!

[RobNJ]

"Secular" music listeners don't like all the "secular" music out there, why should "religious" music listeners like all the "religious" music out there?



Then again, I've been known to have The Ramones, Gregorian Chants & Miles Davis on the CD changer...on random play ;)

[ps139]

Amen Rob!!!

[murron]

I've been thinking on this for days, rofl. I've finally given up trying to decide if I like or don't like praise music. So, here's where I stand.

I don't mind listening to Christian music on the radio. The station I have set in my car plays a nice assortment of Christian rock, not the metal stuff, more like the old Michael W Smith and Amy Grant type. I enjoy playing the Christian ballad genre on the piano. Spirit Song, Rise Again, Arms of Love, Friends...(gee I'm showing my age, eh?). When I was younger I liked Carmen and Petra.
One thing I can say I absolutely do not like is this full band set-up in church. I attened a "contemporary" Mass one Sunday and it took all I had to not run from the nave, holding my ears and screaming - guitars, drums, synthesizer...not my cup of tea in church.
During Mass I totally prefer the stately music. And even that, for me, has differences - some music I prefer on piano, some on organ.

[jason_the_ecumenicalist]

The whole evangelical christian culture make sme sick.

Too many personalistic "buddy Jesus" songs...what about his holiness?
see my worhsip post in the worship section.

The theology in P&W songs??? There is none. We simply sing abotu a God who is a personal friend. Where is some sincere reverance and fear for our hol God

The born again expierence??? That is the oldest tradition is the history of evangelicalism. An evangelical is defineed by tehre born again experience.

Christianity has becoem one big culture all together. (see my post in general theology on culture forming or culture transforming).

[ahab]

Hi jason_the_ecumenicalist

The problem is that I dont know whether anyone is really worshipping God in Spirit and truth, only God does. If you think God only accepts certain instruments and styles then I disagree with you. If evangelical worship makes you sick then don't bother with it but dont get confused about what reverence for God is.

[Andy Broadley]

Listen folks, I skipped about four pages of this thread, so please forgive me if I'm repeating other contibutors.

I like Praise and worship music.
I do have a fish on my car.
I don't have a WWJD bracelet (but I do ask myself the question)
I do like Harry Potter

Do I think the origional OP of this thred is wrong?

Not in the slightest. There are many Hymns that I love as well BTW.

Look, it takes all sorts of different people and tastes to make up our church.
If everyone thought the way you did, the church would be in trouble.
If everyone thought the way I did, the church would be in bigger trouble.
The fact that Jesus makes it OK for us to worship him in so many different ways that makes the church so great. I'm sure jesus is far more interested in whats in our hearts than how we choose to express it.

To take it one step further, I also like Christian heavy rock and heavy metal. I know an awful lot of people who do not. That's cool.

We should all worship in the way that brings us closest to our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes that will mean that you and I worship in entirely different ways and sometimes in the same way (if that makes sense - I think I know what I mean).

From the traditionalists to the metal heads, we are all just worshipping. No one is wrong.

[thejesusfish90]

AMEN ANDY!!!!

:Thumbs Up: :Thumbs Up:

Jason... While some evangelical Charismatic have some pretty awful theology, and really are a bit happy clappy for me, there are still many many new songs out that are so beautiful in their expressions of biblical truths.... have you heard Here I am to Worship By Thankyou Music? The music is certainly contemporary and I'd classify it as being in the charismatic catergory, infact this song was sung at this big pentecostal church I visited (Hillsong-largest church in Aus)...This is just one example of a song I'd classify as charismatic yet theologically strong... Just because its new and charismatic, doesn't mean its Automatically disrespectful, poor in theology, and ireverant.... If we only sang reverant songs... then how would we be expressing the reverent, YET intimate and close relationship we personally have with god through Jesus...

Your Brother in Christ

Chris