Music question

Before I go on, have you all been to some of these other threads? How many weirdos call themselves Christian and have no idea what scripture really says. And how many strange ideas that are out there. I think I may want to stick to this group where I belong.

Anyway, for the past couple of weeks our music during worship time has had some elements in it I am not too sitting too easy with. We actually were playing Adele's Rolling in the Deep as a welcome/pre-service song. Some have tried to say it is about Christ and His love, but I doubt it. But, I can handle this song I guess. However, I wasn't there the other day and one of the people said we sang a song by Kings of Leon called Use Somebody as an actual worship song. Now keep in mind I wasn't there to back this news up. Some of the words deal with needing somebody and I can see where we can substitute Jesus in for this part of the song. The point where I have a problem is some of the other songs that this group sings is blatantly sexual and seems inappropriate. Google Kings of Leon and Genius lyrics and you'll see what I mean.

I am not a fuddy duddy. I love heavy metal (christian type especially) but I would not use Judas Priest to worship with.

Where do we draw the line? Am I wrong to feel this way? I know we have to reach out to this lost generation of the human race but how far do we go before we have crosse the line?

Personally, there are some popular songs that have made it into our worship too that frankly, I don't think are remotely Christ-like, though they are popular in Christian circles. They sound 'spiritual' but some of the lyrics are anything but if you look at them closer.

See, that is what I tried to tell our worship minister. Just because it is a cool song and it is popular on the radio doesn't mean it is a "worship" song.

It is empty worship which means it is not from the spirit which is what He wants from us, true worshipers.

It's not about the style, although that really does help, it's about the message.

There are times for praise songs, there are times for worship songs, there are times for welcoming songs, there are times for reflective songs. But they all should have some basis in belief in Christ, that's including old hymns because some of them are worthless as well.

Thanks for answering.

I posted a poll on this topic in the non-denominational forum. Here is the link if anyone wants to comment and/or vote. I posted it there since it was for anyone.


http://www.christianforums.com/t7636217/

I think this comment may give us a clue. I think that heavy metal, christian or otherwise is appaling, because of the spirit that gave rise to it which is totally satanic. There is nothing beautiful about secular heavy metal and its words. I don't even call it music. It is more a cacophany of sound. As christians, we don't need to copy it.

What my comment shows is that we are in the world of personal opinion so we need discernment to sort out the good from the bad. Unfortunately as the church has by and large relegated the supernatural to the "not required" bin as we can work out everything for ourselves, so what God thinks is rather irrelevant.

This only shows we are building our church, not his. We focus on being popular or relevant, or with it, or modern, or appealing or whatever adjective you can conjure up.

In my fellowship, we don't have praise or worship songs. We sing songs that reflect where we are in our walk with the Lord. ATM our songs tend to be expressions of how much we want to know Him and how much we love to worship him. They can be fast or slow, long or short, full on or reflective.

What is important is the words and our heart condition. According to scripture, worship is not singing songs. Worship is surrender and if the singers are not surrendered to the Lord, they are just mouthing words without any meaning or relevance.

Last week we finished with a song and the presence of God was so strong, we could not move. Everyone just sat or knelt in silence in his presence, soaking in the experience. The meeting started at 5pm and finished about 11pm.

Just shows you what can happen when you allow God to be in charge.

I prefer acapella music, though I'm not dogmatic about it.

However, whenever I've visited churches with instrumental music, I've observed several things:

1) People don't sing, they just listen.
2) Who may sing, barely does - and if they do few can hear them above the din of the band.
3) People seem more edified by what they're taking in rather than what they're giving.
4) The congregations are generally "shallow." Little in the way of fellowship; the auditorium empties quite rapidly.
5) The music isn't that spiritual, the lyrics not that edifying.
6) I tried to sing the few songs I sort of knew - but could barely hear my own voice above the din.

Don't like it.
Not impressed with it.

If you're going to ignore them because of their sexual lyrics why don't you ignore the Bible because of the Song of Songs?

As a former worship team member who played upright bass and bass guitar for several years at a 300+ member church, I know what it is like to lead a congregation in scripture songs, which were a more dominant form in years gone by. Today, I see a greater push by more Christians than not to make the church more relevant and lively, to draw in the sinner with the use of uptempo beats and secular noise making.

As I see it, the best Christian tunes are the sort written in the 70s by groups like Maranatha. Sure, they don't contain the mainstream secular feel, but they were written with worship in mind, not what we have now, what I call "mosh pit" praise services.

I don't attend church any longer because of the noise. I'm a little older now, I wear hearing aids, and I suffer with tinnitus (ringing ears) that started when I was in the military (artillery) due to ear damage, the destruction of hair cells in the inner ear. Today's kids wear iPod earbuds with volumes turned up to their highest, not realizing they may soon begin to hear a ringing that will never go away.

The church wants people to know the Lord heals, while at the same time provides plenty of opportunity for ear damage.

Well, there is a difference. The S of S is an analogy between Jesus and the Church (the Bride)/ God and His people and is within context of an appropriate relationship. They are also not used as a worship song as a whole. This group is about blatant inappropriate sexual activity. If S of S said that the groom sits and masturbates while his bride is on her way there then I would doubt that is actual scripture. See what I mean?

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you

I believe we should be careful when we try to be "relevant" that we don't compromise what we stand for and what we are called to be.

Is the ultimate goal to bring the lost to Christ? Sure it is. But if have to tailor our attempts to fit in with the world, what are we actually bringing them to? A watered down, "lukewarm" facade of religion?

In short, it should be about what the world "needs" and not about what it "wants".

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Without losing all control....