Comments on: Does contemporary christian music belong in the local church worship service? http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:15:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: ARKAY847 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13892 ARKAY847 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:49:57 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13892 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? Thnk about it. Don't have a closed mind to logic. 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?

Thnk about it. Don’t have a closed mind to logic.

]]> By: ARKAY847 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13891 ARKAY847 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:51:49 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13891 Jack "How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are" . . . . . . are words coming from a person who is experiencing a deep, close walk with Christ? A person with the Holy Spirit living within? It is not my purpose to judge you. However, I don't recognize spiritual depth when I read phrases like "How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are." We all reserve the God-given right to disagree, and I prefer thoughtful and mannerly debates over "put-downs." ARKAY Jack

“How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are” . . .

. . . are words coming from a person who is experiencing a deep, close walk with Christ? A person with the Holy Spirit living within? It is not my purpose to judge you. However, I don’t recognize spiritual depth when I read phrases like “How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are.” We all reserve the God-given right to disagree, and I prefer thoughtful and mannerly debates over “put-downs.”

ARKAY

]]> By: Liz Hartman http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13811 Liz Hartman Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:29:30 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13811 What interesting posts! I believe that a lot of christian movements have one by one fallen asleep. This has happened largely due to the family unit. Is it the church 's responsibility to train children? How about "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. Parents will one day give accountability for their actions. In the meantime, it seems that a lot of appetizers are being served and the main course is never served. I appreciate what the churches are trying to accomplish all in Christ name. May we all do a better job at home teaching our children and studying the Bible. What interesting posts! I believe that a lot of christian movements have one by one fallen asleep. This has happened largely due to the family unit. Is it the church ’s responsibility to train children? How about “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. Parents will one day give accountability for their actions. In the meantime, it seems that a lot of appetizers are being served and the main course is never served. I appreciate what the churches are trying to accomplish all in Christ name. May we all do a better job at home teaching our children and studying the Bible.

]]> By: Jack http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13565 Jack Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:04:56 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13565 How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are. You remind me of a church member who was aggravated that we didn't sing everything out of the broadman hymnal. He felt that choruses weren't of God. Songs like I See the Lord (Isaiah 6), Isaiah 43 , Made Me Glad, right out of the Psalms. You people are the ones who keep others from coming to church and finding out that Jesus loves them. You'd rather mold them into what you believe they should be instead of what God wants them to be. You make me sick. You pompous blow hards who think you know God's mind. Contemporary Christian Music is leading people to God that you wouldn't even let in your hypocritical church. God bless the artists who write and sing today's contemporary Christian music and God bless the churches who reach those that you won't!! How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are. You remind me of a church member who was aggravated that we didn’t sing everything out of the broadman hymnal. He felt that choruses weren’t of God. Songs like I See the Lord (Isaiah 6), Isaiah 43 , Made Me Glad, right out of the Psalms. You people are the ones who keep others from coming to church and finding out that Jesus loves them. You’d rather mold them into what you believe they should be instead of what God wants them to be. You make me sick. You pompous blow hards who think you know God’s mind. Contemporary Christian Music is leading people to God that you wouldn’t even let in your hypocritical church. God bless the artists who write and sing today’s contemporary Christian music and God bless the churches who reach those that you won’t!!

]]> By: Choc http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13346 Choc Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:56:44 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13346 I agree that there has long been a shift towards using a lot of "I" in many praise/worship songs, not only in CCM; that the most recurring subject of new Christian songs today focus on the personal response of the "I" towards Jesus Christ & redemption. Personally, I'm not comfortable either with this too-much emphasis on the "I" subject, but I'm not ready to agree with Dick Healy that such songs are just it: a mere narrative of "subjective experience" with God. Because if that is the case, let's judge that sweet, old hymn, "My Jesus, I Love Thee" as one of the many earliest examples of "subjective experience" songs invading what ought to be church worship focusing on the "objective work of God," and let us do so to the many other church hymns that sounds a lot like "My Jesus, I Love Thee"--you know, those with lots of I's in it? The statements of Mr. Healey, while he forwards a very good point of concern for all of us especially those active in the musical aspect of the Lord's work, sounds very much like how my 60-plus year old uncle commented against the music of today: "Frank (Sinatra), Matt (Monro), Nat (Cole)--ah, now that's music! Today? Bah, there ain't been no such thing as music after those guys!" Only that Mr. Healey gilded his with God. I am of the opinion, and I agree with Lee McGowan, that to declare that churches with "too much praise music" (so that these have given sentence to death the hymn and given power to the chorus) are not worshiping biblically is to be presumptious as to what is in the hearts of people, and thus, is to be judgmental! There's a lot of history in the development of music through the ages, and how it influenced the development of church or Christian) music. To limit our observations & analysis on a limited scope of time, population or phenomena would give us nothing more than a very limited picture of the truth--if that is true with professional or true research, then it is true in this case. It is true that many of our Christian artists have compromised the faith with their decision to reap the rewards of following the way of the world, but NOT ALL. It is true that many Christian songs smacks too much of self-scrutiny, but NOT ALL. NOT ALL contemporary Christian songs are anywhere near what Mr. Healey (and others like him) thinks, and so NOT ALL chorus-singing & praise-loving churches are unbiblical or akin to what happened with Aaron and the Israelites in Sinai. TO DECLARE SUCH JUDGMENT TO ALL SUCH CHURCHES OUGHT TO RANK THE ONE WHO JUDGES AS GOD, TOO...don't you think? Anyway, who has the final say whether when we sing hymns or choruses or praise songs, we are truly worshiping biblically? "...the LORD weighs the hearts." (Prov. 21:2) Let me say this to fellow Christians & musicians who play the guitar, bass & drums--let not such human judgments deter us from seeking the Lord Jesus Christ! He has put music in our hearts, and has ordained praise in our mouths that we may glorify Him with all our might! Let His doctrine fill our songs, and let the promise of salvation ring with our praise! I agree that there has long been a shift towards using a lot of “I” in many praise/worship songs, not only in CCM; that the most recurring subject of new Christian songs today focus on the personal response of the “I” towards Jesus Christ & redemption. Personally, I’m not comfortable either with this too-much emphasis on the “I” subject, but I’m not ready to agree with Dick Healy that such songs are just it: a mere narrative of “subjective experience” with God.
Because if that is the case, let’s judge that sweet, old hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee” as one of the many earliest examples of “subjective experience” songs invading what ought to be church worship focusing on the “objective work of God,” and let us do so to the many other church hymns that sounds a lot like “My Jesus, I Love Thee”–you know, those with lots of I’s in it?
The statements of Mr. Healey, while he forwards a very good point of concern for all of us especially those active in the musical aspect of the Lord’s work, sounds very much like how my 60-plus year old uncle commented against the music of today: “Frank (Sinatra), Matt (Monro), Nat (Cole)–ah, now that’s music! Today? Bah, there ain’t been no such thing as music after those guys!” Only that Mr. Healey gilded his with God.
I am of the opinion, and I agree with Lee McGowan, that to declare that churches with “too much praise music” (so that these have given sentence to death the hymn and given power to the chorus) are not worshiping biblically is to be presumptious as to what is in the hearts of people, and thus, is to be judgmental!
There’s a lot of history in the development of music through the ages, and how it influenced the development of church or Christian) music. To limit our observations & analysis on a limited scope of time, population or phenomena would give us nothing more than a very limited picture of the truth–if that is true with professional or true research, then it is true in this case. It is true that many of our Christian artists have compromised the faith with their decision to reap the rewards of following the way of the world, but NOT ALL. It is true that many Christian songs smacks too much of self-scrutiny, but NOT ALL. NOT ALL contemporary Christian songs are anywhere near what Mr. Healey (and others like him) thinks, and so NOT ALL chorus-singing & praise-loving churches are unbiblical or akin to what happened with Aaron and the Israelites in Sinai. TO DECLARE SUCH JUDGMENT TO ALL SUCH CHURCHES OUGHT TO RANK THE ONE WHO JUDGES AS GOD, TOO…don’t you think?
Anyway, who has the final say whether when we sing hymns or choruses or praise songs, we are truly worshiping biblically? “…the LORD weighs the hearts.” (Prov. 21:2)
Let me say this to fellow Christians & musicians who play the guitar, bass & drums–let not such human judgments deter us from seeking the Lord Jesus Christ! He has put music in our hearts, and has ordained praise in our mouths that we may glorify Him with all our might! Let His doctrine fill our songs, and let the promise of salvation ring with our praise!

]]> By: OSCAR http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13124 OSCAR Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:26:24 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13124 I have read this article and I think that most Christian contemporary music has left Jesus Christ our of the Picture by teaching people to call Him "he", "him" or "I". How can a true Christian experience thrue worship if in the Hymns he is not reminded of the payment for his sins througth the work of Jesus Christ Himself in a Hymn. When most people from modern contemporaty churches regard Jesus Christ as "him", "he" and "I" as in their contermorary modern hymns we know whe have a problem in our hands. I challenge moss contemporary musiciansand Chistian composers to write about SIN, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF AND GOD ANGER FOR SIN AND LOVE TO RESQUE THE SINNER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and HIS BLOOD. I have read this article and I think that most Christian contemporary music has left Jesus Christ our of the Picture by teaching people to call Him “he”, “him” or “I”. How can a true Christian experience thrue worship if in the Hymns he is not reminded of the payment for his sins througth the work of Jesus Christ Himself in a Hymn. When most people from modern contemporaty churches regard Jesus Christ as “him”, “he” and “I” as in their contermorary modern hymns we know whe have a problem in our hands.
I challenge moss contemporary musiciansand Chistian composers to write about SIN, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF AND GOD ANGER FOR SIN AND LOVE TO RESQUE THE SINNER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and HIS BLOOD.

]]> By: ARKAY847 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13112 ARKAY847 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:31:43 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-13112 "Using electric guitars, passionate vocals and drum kits beating out killer back-beats" . . . seems to me to parallel night club jargon I was exposed to as a kid! When I cannot distinguish rock radio station sounds from "Christian Contemporary" sounds, and words are indistinguishable, I believe groups are less effective than they think. Perhaps "Christians" are wrapped up in self image and the thrill of performance more than glorifying God! Yes, I'm a 74-yr-old retired church musician and high school choral director. Does that disqualify me from expressing a valid point? And all God's children said . . . “Using electric guitars, passionate vocals and drum kits beating out killer back-beats” . . . seems to me to parallel night club jargon I was exposed to as a kid! When I cannot distinguish rock radio station sounds from “Christian Contemporary” sounds, and words are indistinguishable, I believe groups are less effective than they think. Perhaps “Christians” are wrapped up in self image and the thrill of performance more than glorifying God!

Yes, I’m a 74-yr-old retired church musician and high school choral director. Does that disqualify me from expressing a valid point?

And all God’s children said . . .

]]> By: Dave http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-11291 Dave Fri, 02 May 2008 12:12:51 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-11291 I belong to large church in Metro-Atlanta that has excellent contemp. music, and a super communicator as its teaching pastor. People are coming to the Lord left and right, and people who haven't been to church in 20 years now attend every Sunday, and mature believers are being fed . .. all at the same time, despite all the other churches around us who criticize all the time. How many folks are coming to the Lord in these other 'traditional' irrelavant churches? How many other churches are there that have waiting lines to get into the worship service? Some churches need to put a fence around, charge admission, and say "this is how church was done in the 50's and 60's". Anyhow....don't get me started. Dave I belong to large church in Metro-Atlanta that has excellent contemp. music, and a super communicator as its teaching pastor.

People are coming to the Lord left and right, and people who haven’t been to church in 20 years now attend every Sunday, and mature believers are being fed . .. all at the same time, despite all the other churches around us who criticize all the time.

How many folks are coming to the Lord in these other ‘traditional’ irrelavant churches?

How many other churches are there that have waiting lines to get into the worship service?

Some churches need to put a fence around, charge admission, and say “this is how church was done in the 50’s and 60’s”.

Anyhow….don’t get me started.

Dave

]]> By: Matthew http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-7007 Matthew Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:28:48 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-7007 Wow! I am shocked at some of the comments in this forum. Thank you to Deftone, Rick and especially Lee! I am a worship musician at my church where the worship portion of the service is considered to be an integrel part of the message. I have been a musician most of my life and played alot of secular music, both original and covered and been inspired and have learned much from many musicians that don't play christian music. I was also an alcoholic and drug addict most of my adult life. I finnaly found my way to Christ and have come to believe that my God given talents were given to me to play worship music in order to inspire others. Since I started doing so I have developed an even deeper relationship with God and have had many people tell me of the healing they have experianced at worship. I challenge any of you fearfull people to find anything wrong with that!!! Do I like and listen to all Christian music? NO! Do I think all christian music is appropriate for worship? NO!!! There are so many artists out there right now who's love for Jesus and his message are so obvious and genuine and because of that so much music that speaks to people in the way I believe God intended. Rick mentioned the band Third Day who happen to be my personal favorite. In one of their songs they speak of the many forms of pain that we experiance in life and that no matter what it may be, all you have to do is "Cry out to Jesus" , in another they proclaim that "Nothing Compares" to the greatness of knowing you Lord! Finally I will quote from the latest song I am learning called "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle. "What a priceless gift, undeserved life, have I been given, through Christ crucified". I could go on and on but I hope you get my point! Feel free to comment to me directly if you want at mattmurdocknofear@hotmail.com thank you Matthew Wow! I am shocked at some of the comments in this forum. Thank you to Deftone, Rick and especially Lee! I am a worship musician at my church where the worship portion of the service is considered to be an integrel part of the message. I have been a musician most of my life and played alot of secular music, both original and covered and been inspired and have learned much from many musicians that don’t play christian music. I was also an alcoholic and drug addict most of my adult life. I finnaly found my way to Christ and have come to believe that my God given talents were given to me to play worship music in order to inspire others. Since I started doing so I have developed an even deeper relationship with God and have had many people tell me of the healing they have experianced at worship. I challenge any of you fearfull people to find anything wrong with that!!! Do I like and listen to all Christian music? NO! Do I think all christian music is appropriate for worship? NO!!! There are so many artists out there right now who’s love for Jesus and his message are so obvious and genuine and because of that so much music that speaks to people in the way I believe God intended. Rick mentioned the band Third Day who happen to be my personal favorite. In one of their songs they speak of the many forms of pain that we experiance in life and that no matter what it may be, all you have to do is “Cry out to Jesus” , in another they proclaim that “Nothing Compares” to the greatness of knowing you Lord! Finally I will quote from the latest song I am learning called “Sweetly Broken” by Jeremy Riddle.
“What a priceless gift, undeserved life,
have I been given, through Christ crucified”. I could go on and on but I hope you get my point!
Feel free to comment to me directly if you want at mattmurdocknofear@hotmail.com
thank you Matthew

]]> By: Rick http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-1910 Rick Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:46:33 +0000 http://all4jesus.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/does-contemporary-christian-music-belong-in-the-local-church-worship-service/#comment-1910 Wow, lotsa thinking errors in here. Where do we start? First of all, I have a tough time telling somebody when/where/how they can find God, and when/where/how they can't. Call me crazy, but the Holy Spirit works through a lot of different kinds of music, not just the ones that have been accepted by traditional protestant churches. Reverence can mean many things to many people; it's the heart that God is most concerned with. Personally, I've never felt the Holy Spirit at a more compelling level than when I've been at a Third Day concert. In case you're wondering, Third Day is a group of Christian musicians who play a modern blues/neo-alternative style of music. Basically, they rock, and I believe that God Himself is quite pleased at the praising that takes place every time they get together to praise with a few thousand other Christians. I whole-heartedly reject your flawed premise here. It's elitist, at best, and counter-Christian at worst. Wow, lotsa thinking errors in here. Where do we start? First of all, I have a tough time telling somebody when/where/how they can find God, and when/where/how they can’t. Call me crazy, but the Holy Spirit works through a lot of different kinds of music, not just the ones that have been accepted by traditional protestant churches. Reverence can mean many things to many people; it’s the heart that God is most concerned with. Personally, I’ve never felt the Holy Spirit at a more compelling level than when I’ve been at a Third Day concert. In case you’re wondering, Third Day is a group of Christian musicians who play a modern blues/neo-alternative style of music. Basically, they rock, and I believe that God Himself is quite pleased at the praising that takes place every time they get together to praise with a few thousand other Christians.

I whole-heartedly reject your flawed premise here. It’s elitist, at best, and counter-Christian at worst.

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