Psalm 150 (KJV)
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Let me first preface this blog entry by saying I love traditional hymns and songs. My absolute favorite song is the 3rd verse of It is Well. I come from a blessed background of traditional music since I got saved 1979. I will always want to attend a church that will sing these songs.
However, after much research, (biblical, and historical) prayer, and asking alot of questions, I must admit that some "convictions" I have held may actually have been personal preferences. I use to believe that persons spirituality could be measured by the adherence to standards. A Christian woman was in disobedience if she wore slack, pants, or jeans. Men who did not wear a tie and even a suit to church on Sunday must be lazy spiritually. There are others but I would be straying from my point.
One of the biblical sources that had a big influence on me was Psalm 150. I believe that if the psalmist were alive today writing music, he would not be well received in traditional music churches. He write about praising God with stringed instruments and organs. No problem to the traditionalist. But he writes of psaltery (guitar), harp. Then not only cymbals (percussion, drums), but loud ones. He even writes about dancing. None of these acceptable to the traditionalists.
Finally, in the course of my study I have come to at least eight thoughts that I may expand on in future blog entries
1. All music ever made was contemporary at one time.
a. Most traditional of today was contemporary in the 17th through 19th centuries
b. “The church” has rarely ever receive most contemporary music in it’s own generation.
2. Every generation has songwriters than want to use their gift of music for their generation not the previous ones.
3. The piano and organ were at one time considered to be worldly wicked instruments.
4. The drum is arguably the most controversial instrument today.
5. Much of the traditional music, and its standards did not exist before the 17th century.
6. This issue is more about taste and feeling than biblical.
7. To “switch” to contemporary music does not make you more spiritual in of itself.
8. In the journey of Progressive Sanctification (becoming more Christ-like) it will require courage to change and grow biblically, no matter where God leads us.
11 comments:
If one were looking to go on such a journey and wanted some resources to investigate, what would you recommend. I'm looking for Biblical balanced information.
A two good resources that will be helpful to start are:
1. Who Stole My Church by Gordon MacDondald (available at just about any Christian Bookstore)
2. The Ministry of Music by Dr. Milo Thompson (maybe a little harder to find)
I hope this is helpful.
BOB BlAIR QUOTED " One of the biblical sources that had a big influence on me was Psalm 150. I believe that if the psalmist were alive today writing music, he would not be well received in traditional music churches. He write about praising God with stringed instruments and organs. No problem to the traditionalist. But he writes of psaltery (guitar), harp. Then not only cymbals (percussion, drums), but loud ones. He even writes about dancing. None of these acceptable to the traditionalists."
So why is it now that you have just found this Bible verse? So are you saying that you were taught incorrectly in your "traditional church" that you where blessed to grow up in?
So why is it now that you have just found this Bible verse?
That is the great thing about the Christian life, at no point in this life do we know it all. I of all people do not have all the answers, but when an issue arises one has to consider the possibility that a comfortable position has to change. This Psalm became more meaningful as the music issue was becoming more prominent in my life. Believe me this has not been an easy decision for me. I still struggle with hearing "different" music in the worship service. But this is not about what makes me comfortable, but what help others become more effective in their worship. I am learning that the change to contemporary music does not mean I have to like it. Just that I know others are being blessed by it.
So are you saying that you were taught incorrectly in your "traditional church" that you where blessed to grow up in?
No church is perfect. All churches have their strengths and weakness. While I was taught great bible truth, and bless by great music (traditional), these churches made the same mistake as those in Fanny Crosby, Ira Sankey, and even George Handel's day. Each of these great songwriters were not appreciated and even scorned in their day. How many of us have since been bless by their songs.
There is no difference in the criticism they receive than that of todays songwriter?
it seems as if you are using the excuse that they where ridiculed in their day, fanny croby and ect. , that is. why do you think that the more contemporary music allows people to worship better? can you back this up Biblically or is this your own personal opinion?
Milo Thompson's e-mail address is milothompson@aol.com for anyone who wants to contact him about obtaining his work "The Ministry of Music."
can you back this up Biblically or is this your own personal opinion?
I believe Matthew 13:57 about a prophet not being appreciated for their ministry and title by those closest to them. All through history (bible agrees) many gifted Christians were ignored or scorned because they stepped outside the "norm" of the day.
I also believe the best advice on how to handle this was given by Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39. God will ultimately judge, and He will know who encouraged His work and who discouraged it.
With so much biblical and historical precedent, one should be very confident about their stand biblically. A personal preference for safety is great. But if it is not backed up by biblical reference then that becomes dangerous ground. What is you biblical reference for standing in the way?
I teach a course entitled "Music in the Church" at a Christian college in Memphis, TN, and this topic is one that always receives much attention and discussion.
In the argument over "contemporary" versus "traditional" music, one must consider the history and development of church music in the United States, which reaches back to the Protestant Reformation. Without typing a short essay here, I am willing to share some of my research and class notes with you (and others) if you are interested.
Brad Foust
How do you discribe traditional and contemporary? is it from music instrument context or worship context or singing context? Thanks.
That's a good question. According to Robert Weber, a worship leader and songwriter,the terms "traditional" and "contemporary" are worship terms. Furthermore, he states it is not possible to blend the two. For example, if you are engaging in worship using contemporary music but still hold to a traditional worship arrangement, your worship is traditional. It is all about "flow" and "connection," and any break in the flow or connection, such as time for announcements or a greeting, negates the main focus of a contemporary service.
Musically, the discussion concerning "traditional" and "contemporary" worship (I am using quotes because the terms are relative) ultimately comes down to style. Dr. Barry Leisch, author of "The New Worship," speaks at length on the subject of style in church music.
Here's a question I would like for everyone to consider: is there such a thing as a "sacred" music style? Are there music styles that should be considered off limits for worship? Check out my blog for my "Music In The Church" course at:
http://www.mu101.blogspot.com
Contemporary “Worship” Music
I am fully aware of the difference between praise and worship music. To worship is to revere, to bow down in spirit, admire in awe; and to praise is an appreciation, commendation, or hallelujah. Both have a place in our churches. I believe the Bible teaches that both are proper.
That said, allow me to express what I feel today’s Sunday Morning Contemporary music advocates are failing to recognize. God deserves more than a “Pop Music” or “knee slappin” attitude from us during Sunday Morning Worship Service. I’m not referring to the lyrics, the subject, or instruments used; but the mood which, in many cases inspires jiving, body motions, and results that imitate secular music concert movements. This in the same service where pastors orate mightily in a “holy” tone of voice and use inflections that simulate heavenly auras. These pastors know the value of awe and holy seriousness when delivering heavenly messages. They use no knee slapping and grooving. They use no “rap” forms of speaking. They know the awe and respect in worship of which an Almighty God is worthy.
During praise services, e.g., youth meetings, camp meetings, concerts, evening praise services, or in the home, or during private music listening sessions, contemporary religious music can be used to satisfy musical tastes that have been cultivated by years of listening to secular, pop scene renditions.
The argument that many have been won to Christ through the use of contemporary music, therefore should be used during Sunday Morning Worship Service, is not appropriate. Winning the lost should be through witnessing, and living observable Christian lives, then hearing the spoken word that explains the meaning of and way to obtain salvation. If the only effective tool to cause the unsaved to hear the “Word of God” is through baiting them with contemporary music in order to draw them in the front door of the church on Sunday Morning, then something is desperately wrong with such a church. The unsaved are not coming to worship, they are coming to a hear secular sounds that incidently contain religious words. And those individuals who insist on contemporary music during worship services may be worshiping the sounds, atmospheres, and moods engendered by the popular, secular music of the day. If musically great hymns and gospel songs make the unsaved turn away then perhaps poor performance has something to do with it. Incidently, many of the contemporary religious music performances fall far short of musical excellence.
To those who would remind me that some hymn tunes, when written, were originally popular secular tunes of the day I would respond: there is a very wide diversity in the present culture between secular “down and dirty” and “easy listening and lyrical” tunes. Both can be called popular tunes of the day but there is a vast difference in the mood that is set by their use. Too much of the contemporary religious music styles employed during Sunday Morning Worship services in our present age come close to the “down and dirty” genre.
On a personal level, I have often observed many young people and adults alike looking at each other as they are swaying and clapping to the secular beat of contemporary praise music during the Sunday Morning Worship service. There is no way I can judge what their thoughts are at the moment, but, through experiences of a lifetime, I have observed the same bodily movement responses and moods as I performed in night clubs during my early adult life.
Do advocates of contemporary music use during Sunday Morning Worship services also desire to see the sacrament, scripture reading, praying, and preaching performed in a secular contemporary mode? The logic with which the argument is made would dictate the desirability of such performances. Should the art on the walls and atmospheres in our sanctuaries be similar to that in the city’s pubs and gathering places in order to draw the unsaved to our churches? Why only music?
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