The Christian Thread

Speaking of rappers, have you heard of Shai Linne? He has AWESOME lyrics. Seriously the best ones I have ever heard.

I know many churches, particularly those with a wide generational span, have experienced "worship wars," those difficult times when people can't agree on what music is appropriate for church.  Hymns?  Too boring and traditional.  Contemporary music?  Too loud and irreverent.  Many churches even resort to holding two services- one with one kind of music, and one with the other.

All in all, I'd say such debate is dishonoring to God- why divide your congregation in order to please people?  Is that what church is for, to please people?

Note Romans 12:1-
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

God was never pleased with the offerings or sacrifices of Israel when they were entrenched in sin.  In fact, he abhorred them.

It's like if I beat my wife, keep her locked in a closet, and cheat on her, but then tell her I love her with all my heart- I make myself out to be a liar.

Before uttering a word of praise or singing a song during the worship service, Christians should survey their hearts and make sure they are not continually displeasing God.  Songs of praise and worship should be a reflection of what is truly in the heart, not used as a mask to hide our evil.

That said, the type of music is irrelevant:  Somewhere in Africa, Christians dance to a tribal rhythm and sing of God's gory.  Somewhere in America, a rapper is spitting rhymes about God's goodness.  Somewhere in England, headbangers are bobbing to heavy riffs and growls about God's mercy.

And that's fine by me.

As I wrote earlier, I stayed away from the church for a very long time and when I started attending services for a short period (with the woman who later became my wife) about 8 or 9 years ago, we went to one of the huge mega-churches that could easily accommodate several thousand worshippers.  The contemporary band and singers kinda threw me for a loop because I had been brought up with hymns and gospel music that was choir-driven and joined only by an organ.  The church I go to now is much, much more intimate but they also have a combo w/singers and perform very current songs of praise.  Some tunes are better than others but I miss the old standards that I was raised on.  (I would really enjoy some Neal Morse but that ain't gonna happen, I guarantee!)  In fact, I was chatting with the guitarist who seemed pretty hip but he had no idea who Morse was (although he did recognize Mike Portnoy when I added that he played drums for Neal's studio work.)  Yet I understand that younger people want music and a presentation that they can relate to and, like the video screens in the sanctuary, this approach seems to put them at ease.  I figure as long as it's well done then the progger in me can tolerate.

Cool thread

I've been absent from church for a while now- but Io plan to return very soon.

My church is rather good about music. We have a youth music group that plays for the evening service occasionally and are introducing more modern songs to the congregation. We don't have a drum kit (yet) tho. Mostly because we need someone who can play it properly and the need to buy an electronic drum kit. The acoustics of the building won't agree with the acoustic drum kit I'm afraid. But we do have someone playing drums on a keyboard

Epignosis wrote: progismylife wrote: It was a real encouragement to the church, to see young people become members. I think I'm the 6th person under 30 to be brought into membership in the past year.  Our church is very small, and has few people under 30. I am 25, and I play electric guitar with the pianist there- yep, just the two of us. But hey, you "non-going-to-church-types" - how would you like to hear prog in church? I have performed work from Neal Morse, Proto-Kaw, and myself in my church.  It's cool!

That's cool! There have been so many times when I've been tempted to play prog on the church organ, but I don't know how to play the songs.

I've been attending services at a relatively small local church for about four weeks now (I only backslid for decades) and what I find necessary (to me) about church is that it reinforces my faith and reminds me of what is important.  I don't always walk out feeling enlightened but just the act of going there and being in fellowship with other people is comforting and inspiring.

progismylife wrote: It was a real encouragement to the church, to see young people become members. I think I'm the 6th person under 30 to be brought into membership in the past year.

Our church is very small, and has few people under 30.

I am 25, and I play electric guitar with the pianist there- yep, just the two of us.

But hey, you "non-going-to-church-types" - how would you like to hear prog in church?

I have performed work from Neal Morse, Proto-Kaw, and myself in my church.  It's cool! 

consider it done Rob...  and feel free to drop me a PM anytime... I am a hell of listener.... and occasionally have a nugget of wisdom I pull from my ass. 

progismylife wrote: It was a real encouragement to the church, to see young people become members. I think I'm the 6th person under 30 to be brought into membership in the past year.

in spite of my feelings about religion and church ..the one thing me and my ex-wife did agree upon was the need for the kids to be exposed.. raised if you will in the church.  It is nice to see young people embrace the church... there are too many stories of people like me that had bad experiences and were turned completely off.


Edited by micky - March 17 2009 at 17:32