Worship Music

[InHisService]

What do you think about worship music.. is it too trendy? how should we worship?

 

[Linus]

The New Testament doesn't tell us anywhere to worship God with anything other than our voices. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 both tell us to sing to God, But nowhere are we instructed to use instruments as a form of worship to God. Therefore I do not believe It should be practiced at all.

Although many of the Old Testament psalms were written for instrumental praise and probably sounded quite beautiful.

 

[jay1_z]

The bible speaks of numerous different ways of praising God. Clapping, singing, yelling, even laughing are ways of praising him. "The Purpose And Power of Praise" by Myles Munroe is an excellent book that talks about this. I don't have the book in front of me but I'll get it tonight and show you two the scriptures.

 

[musicman17]

I think that worship music is becoming trendy - and by trendy I feel that it is conforming to styles of music that are currently mainstream. This is an approach to worship music that I feel is unwise for those who are worship leaders.

The focus on the music has become too strong; we have forgotten the purpose of the music. If you don't believe me, read an old hymn and then read the lyrics to a modern worship song. 75% of the time, the hymn will be talking about God. 75% of the time, the modern worship song will be talking about the worshipper.

When I was in highschool I was the worship leader for my school's chapel service. We kept all out music in a filing cabinet and stored them alphibetically so that we could choose the sheet music that we would use each week. We tried to keep the cabinet updated with both new songs and our old favorites so that we weren't singing the same songs each week.

Do you know which folder was the thickest by far? The "I" folder. I'm not kidding. For every song that started with any other letter, there were five songs that started with "I". I'm not saying that a song cannot be about us, but there is something wrong when we are constantly telling God what we either want or what we can do for him. If you read the Psalms, they are (generally) about praising God for who he is. Worship music should steer back towards this approach, otherwise we are in danger of losing focus on what is important

 

[Rex]

As long as the music is for good cause and not just another get quick scheme I am all for it!

 

[Stenskjær]

As long as the music is for good cause and not just another get quick scheme I am all for it!

Agreed

But I get your point musicman17

Yet, I have several times experienced how much stronger a spiritual effect is obtained when a good worship band plays an old God-oriented hymn in preference to a more modern ego-oriented worship song.

Therefore I believe that the modern, ego-oriented worship songs will slowly get less popular in favour of the good old hymns, as worshippers around the globe commence craving for more spirtual expiences in preference to an promotion of their own ego and it's relation to the LORD. I belive so becuase of that fact that the mordern worship songs may have been great for worshipping some years ago, when they were written, but now the effect of them kind of inflated (can you say that in english ) as the amount of them grew.
I believe that henceforth the amount of old praise hymns to be sung will grow and the amount of new praise song to be written will grow too.

 

[Linus]

As long as the music is for good cause and not just another get quick scheme I am all for it!

As am I, Rex.

But Christians must adhere to every teaching of the new Testament. If there is a command we must follow it, but if there is no commandment we cannot just make assumptions and go with them (in other words, speak where the Bible speaks and keep silent where the Bible is silent). I feel that this applies to the way we worship the Lord as well. The scriptures I mentioned above tell us to sing and make melody in our hearts, but do not command us to use any instruments. That is why many congregations do not use instruments in their worship services. Our singing or other musical ability do not matter to the Lord. What matters is what is in our hearts when we wroship Him.

 

[Green Gaia]

Linus, are you Church of Christ by any chance?

What about classical music such as Bach or Beethoven?

 

[Linus]

Linus, are you Church of Christ by any chance?

Yes. As a matter of fact I am. Good call.

What about classical music such as Bach or Beethoven?

I think It is very beautiful music, and when it was written was probably intended as praise to God. But I don't know. I was in choir all four years of High School and I have sang my fair share of instrumental worship songs, but I sang them with the attitude of entertaining others rather than actual praise to God.

 

[Green Gaia]

Yes. As a matter of fact I am. Good call.

I thought so. I was raised in the Church of Christ, and one thing that always stuck in my mind about it, was the fact that they forbid muscial instruments.

I think It is very beautiful music, and when it was written was probably intended as praise to God. But I don't know. I was in choir all four years of High School and I have sang my fair share of instrumental worship songs, but I sang them with the attitude of entertaining others rather than actual praise to God.

I see what you're saying. But if the intention of the music was to praise God, then would it be OK?

 

[Linus]

if the intention of the music was to praise God, then would it be OK?

I don't know. I am not sure if instrumental worship would be acceptable to God or not because I do not know God's mind. All I know is that it is nowhere are we commanded to praise the Lord with instruments. All we are commanded to do is sing and make melody with our hearts.

 

[Stenskjær]

Hmm

But if it does not bother God, whether instruments are played or not, and only makes the worship experience better for the woshippers, then what's wrong about doing it?

God rejoices in our happyness and joy, then why should he have anything against us having an even greater time worshipping him with music, rather than without?

 

[Linus]

But if it does not bother God, whether instruments are played or not, and only makes the worship experience better for the woshippers, then what's wrong about doing it?

I didn't say anything was wrong with it because I don't know If anything is wrong with it. Like I said I don't know God's mind and what he likes and doesn't klike. I did say that I don't think it should be practiced, but only because it is not commanded of us.

God rejoices in our happyness and joy, then why should he have anything against us having an even greater time worshipping him with music, rather than without?

I can't imagine that He would, but we are not told to do so, that's all. The New Testament is about doing what we are commanded not making assumptions. The Bible doesn't say NOT to use instruments in worship services, so why can't we do it? Well why can't we eat hamburgers and drink soda during communion? THe Bible doesn't say not too, but that doesn't always make it right.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to condemn everyone who thinks it is appropriate. All I'm trying to say is that I will not practice it.

 

[SUNSHINESTESY]

im lost- how do u chat on here??? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP

 

[Rex]

im lost- how do u chat on here??? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP

You are chatting. Rather than message being lost they are eternal.

 

[Xzist]

Church of Christ here too !! hey!

 

[Linus]

Sweet. Do you believe in/ practice instrumental worship, Xzist?

 

[Xzist]

Nope. We speak where the bible speaks, and we're silent where the bible is silent.

 

[Linus]

Amen, Xzist. Where do you worship, by the way?

 

[Xzist]

I worship at the Old National Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia. you?