Church Music Musings....

[Guest]

I know this is a "loaded topic" that can be approached from different angles. On the controversial end of things, there is the Traditional V. Contemporary church music styles which is a problem in many churches. Under "Traditional" are the old great hymns that have been around for one hundred or more years. Or if you happen to be from a southern culture; "Traditional" may mean "Southern Gospel."

Here in Ohio, Southern Gospel was the standard musical style till about 10 years ago in Pentecostal and most Baptist ("Bible-Believing") churches. This was due to a large migration of southerners to Ohio in the 1950's and 60's who "came up here" to work in factories (it surely beats those cruel coal mines)....

My Dad (passed on to the Lord) was from Kentucky and the church I grew up in was largely comprised of these migrants to Ohio. The denomination is "The Church of God of the Mountian Assembly" -- the Appalachian Mountains, that would be!

Dad married Mom, who is from "up here." I was born in Ohio too. I'd say about 1/3 of the parents of the "Ohio kids" in my age group (b. 1956) have an Appalachian ancestry. Around 2/3 of us have Appalachian parents (both parents coming from "down home" as they say).....

In any event, and it may be sad to say in a way, but the church I grew up in almost "split" over music styles. About 10 years ago the pastor, who was himself from "down home," introduced contemporary music to the church. He's about my age, in his mid-50's. He recently left the church to go into another ministry in another state. He told the church God was leading him there which I believe. However, had he stayed he would have probably been "elected out" as pastor because of opposition to contemporary music....
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Changing pace here: Though I rarely went to a church, I didn't go to any church regularly from about 1982-2005. I still don't go every week but have been going often to one Methodist church that has contemporary music -- exclusively. They do sing traditional hymns but it's put to modern "Christian Contemporary" music. They have an occasional "I'll Fly Away" (set to Third Day chord changes)....

Anyway, last nite I was visiting one of the worship leaders, my neighbor, the guitarist and singer for the church. He's 34 (I'm 51). I brought some Phil Keaggy CDs and one by Kerry Livgren, his first solo "album" after becoming a Christian and leaving Kansas (an early prog-rock band). My neighbor commented:

"This stuff is so OLD! I wonder what looks we would get if we played something like this in church? I bet their jaws would hit the floor!" (laughs).

So....in his church "contemporary" is the counterpart to my Mom's church's "southern gospel"... it's the new tradition....(is losing its "contemporary")....

And....I don't especially like contemporary Christian music! Of course, I don't have to listen to it in church because it is so loud it makes my ears ring (I wait outside in my truck till the singing is over...as soon as the booooming bass stops, I go in, lol). Not that it would make much difference in that: you can't hear anyone singing except the worship team! (I'd prefer to hear what we used to call "congregational singing"...when the congregation, you know, sings...and you can hear them...and yourself)!

Am I complaining? Yes, I suppose so. But I don't hold anything against these folks any more than I'm upset with my Mom because she thinks God has only annointed certain Appalachian chord changes and Scots-Irish singing....

I do like and enjoy singing some contemporary songs, don't get me wrong! But as a musician (guitarist) I find most contemporary Christian music "generic" and generally, bland and boring. The lyrics and song styles are often more like a love song than like, well, how can I put it? "Worshiping the God Who made the Universe" (???). Maybe I'm getting old (yes, ok, I am) but the music just doesn't move me. "We worship you Lord" is a common lyrical theme...Um, right, we know that! (I feel like I'm singing to myself or to us that this is now what we are doing)...Of course, I knew that! Perhaps God, He doesn't need a reminder that we are worshiping Him now, does He?

It's my age, I reckon. Not all of the songs are un-moving. Some are excellent, even. On the "faster" songs I don't know what it is. I feel like I'm at a youth rally or something.

Ideally, a church that had ALL styles of music would be the best, imo. You know, some real southern gospel (Statesmen Quartet, Blackwood Brothers, not just this new Bill Gaither stuff, lol)... some serious progressive rock...a country twanger... A Mighty Fortress Is Our GOD! ...an acapella "special" from somebody... Anything by Charles Wesley!!! ... a Crosby, Stills & Nash sounding something... a song for the little tiny baby young-young folks kids... one or two (tops) contemporary, haha... then the sermon.

Actually, I don't like more than about 3 songs...I want to hear the Bible!!!

AND NO ONE CLAPS...(this is a new thing in church since the 1980's), bless my heart! Clapping is for when yer entertained, imo, (I do it for performers at concerts I pay for...it lets them know you liked what they sang). Anyways....

Back in the day when someone sang a really moving "special" (solo) we said stuff like, "Praise the Lord" and might wind up in a real move of the Spirit. When the congregation was done singing, same thing...we didn't applaud ourselves!! We kept right along worshipping the Lord and didn't need to tell ourselves (or God) we are doing that now. "O HALLELUYAH!!!" (Clap, Clap, Wow, we did a great job: I just don't get this folks), lol

Nowadays, the annointing of the songs in worship....Well, it STOPS when everyone claps, sits down, and somebody asks would I please pass the pretzels, (thank you/yer welcome) -- while I'm still standing there with my eyes closed with hands raised and about to shout "GLORY TO GOD!"....(oooooops, better not now!!!!)......
Rick

[Guest]

In the AOG church that I grew up in, the clapping was a "praise offering to God". I have heard similar phrases in other AOG/charismatic churches as well. As far as the Baptists/non-denoms go, I have no idea why they clap after the contemporary songs... and it does seem to be after the songs that have a really good electric guitar or drum solo. Maybe it's clapping for the worship team? I usually feel weird clapping after a song, unless I visit my home church or another like it.

I like to wait to enter the fellowship we are going to until a few songs have passed (usually the first couple are pretty fast and heavy on the bass/drums). I don't think it's evil or bad or anything, I just don't like the "my insides are shaking" feeling... I guess that's why I never really liked rock concerts either. There have actually been some services (not where we are now) that we have had to take our children out of because we were afraid that the music would damage their sensitive eardrums. That, to me, is unacceptable.

My favorite setup would be... one or two acoustic guitars, an electric piano, and jimbay or some light drums. Ahhh... that would be great!

As far as the types of songs, I'm not a huge hymn fan myself (maybe that's part of being in a younger generation - I'm just 27). We sang a lot of hymns at a fellowship we were a part of back a few years ago and I felt like we were just singing a few sermons in a row. And then listened to a spoken sermon. I do like more contemporary songs, because for me, I can really sing it to the Lord. But there do seem to be some really silly ones too... I usually just sit or don't sing during those (The Happy Song (I could sing unending songs, because of Your great love...... everybody's singing now; 'cause we're so happy....) kind of frustrates me when it is sung during a service.

Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter. I don't think it would necessarily influence where we fellowshipped, unless we felt it was dangerous to our (or our children's) ears.

[Guest]

There are worshipful "old" Christian songs or hymns, and "old" songs of personal commitment, and there are "contemporary" worshipful songsand "contemporary" songs of commitment. It doesn't matter to me whethe they are "old" or "contemporary" as long as they have beautiful tunes and are songs of real worship or personal commitment.

Unhappily, there are "old" songs that goofy, silly, or express sentimentalism ---- songs which do not help people or strengthen their faith. The same with many "contemporary" songs. There are songs from both genres that are tuneless or which have repetitive tune segments which are in no way uplifting. I don't want to sing them; I don't want to listen to them. I'd much rather listen to some beautiful classical music.

I cannot make out the words of some contemporary songs, and am unable to distinguish them from some forms of light rock.

I agree with a lot of what you said, Rick, with two major exceptions:

Anything by Charles Wesley!!!

I think Charles Wesley wrote the greatest hymns of all time !!! and

Actually, I don't like more than about 3 songs...I want to hear the Bible!!!

When I am caught up in adoration of the Altogether Lovely One, when the spirit of God is catching up the whole assembly, I want it to go on and on. I don't care about some sermon that a pastor has been paid to bring forth.

It's a different matter, of course, if there is a body ministry in the church where people speak what the Lord has inspired them to share, whether a few words or testimony, or an exposition of Scripture, or an inspired, inspiring, call to commitment.

[Guest]

I have to agree with the Mennonite writer who described most of the contemporary songs as "7-Eleven" songs: seven words repeated eleven times. No need to do any thinking with most of them, and probably few will be remembered twenty years (or less) from now, while Amazing Grace will probably be sung until the Lord returns.

The question that should be asked regarding the music is whether any of it complies with Paul's instruction:

Colossians 3:16 (New American Standard Bible)

16. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

[Guest]

Paidion & Homer,

Amen (you are right), I agree.
And I shouldn't be posting when I'm low on sleep...as I tend to be nit-picky!

Yet it remains that I can't go into this one church till the music is over & have to leave when it begins again. I suppose as long as I choose to go there I need to "live with it" (and not complain).....Amen.

Btw, I went there on a Sunday morning once and it wasn't nearly as loud. Maybe I can become a Day Person some time & go then? lol

Rae,

I think it's great you are watching out for your child's hearing. Parents at the church I mentioned don't do that (nor for their own)....Good job!

Rick

[Guest]

LOL at Rick C's post! HAHAHA sounds like me and I am a bit older than U...Yeah, church is different then yrs back.

Ok, well, one church I attended actually passed out doughnuts during worship, " No thanks"...Its horrible, and I have not been attending church and at this point have more peace.

[Guest]

Our pastor describes the 3 biggest complaints he receives as "Wine, Women & Song"

Should we use real wine or grape juice at communion?
Should women be allowed to have any official part of the service?
Songs – Contemporary or Old-School?

What amazes me how adamant people can get on either side of each issue.

I always quote this saying whenever the topic comes up but that doesn’t seem to help. "I love humanity - It's the people I have a problem with"