How is Loud Christian Worship Justified?

franky67 · Mar 11, 2011

Loud is "IN"

In movie houses, it's loud. Also at music concerts.

Not sure when this started, I suspect Hollywood sound engineers began to realize they could make the audience bounce in their seats if they dropped the sound way down in a dialog scene, and then when a sudden scene change came, like a shift to heavy traffic, crank the sound up to around 115 db.

It's the dramatic use of sound in the story. Realistic, latest thing.

They're even doctoring up the old, old movies the same way.

So Loud is "IN" Also in Christian worship music.

When the sound in worship is up to the threshold of pain, worship is lost in the sound. IMHO

Now, consider this, if the 25 year old christian of today, 40 years from now finds himself having constant ringing in his ears.

Does he pray a prayer to God for healing ?

Does God desire worship that does permanent damage ?

How does exposure to Decibels of 122 for an hour, or so, effect children of young Christians ?

Back to the original question, how is this justified ?

Leimeng · Mar 11, 2011

~ How is quiet Christian worship justfied? Where people cannot tell if you love the Lord? Where there is no emotion about what Christ did for you?
~ Actually, why are you paying attention to what other people do in worship? The time of worship is to be spent focusing on GOD, not other people. It is between you and GOD; NOT you whinning and complaining about how other people don't worship GOD in the manner that your own personality finds appropriate.
~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

(***Insert Personal One Liner Here***)

KleinerApfel · Mar 11, 2011

I've thought the same thing, Franky.

God isn't deaf - He can hear our worship without an amplifier!

As for films and TV - I often miss huge amounts of dialogue because the actors seem to be muttering under their breath, and then, yes, the music swells upwards and drowns out the last morsel I might have caught!

The Lord who spoke to Elijah in a quiet whisper will surely not measure our praise in decibels.

franky67 · Mar 11, 2011

Leimeng said:
~ How is quiet Christian worship justfied? Where people cannot tell if you love the Lord? Where there is no emotion about what Christ did for you?
~ Actually, why are you paying attention to what other people do in worship? The time of worship is to be spent focusing on GOD, not other people. It is between you and GOD; NOT you whinning and complaining about how other people don't worship GOD in the manner that your own personality finds appropriate.
~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

(***Insert Personal One Liner Here***)

Last time I checked, God is not deaf.

KleinerApfel · Mar 11, 2011

Hi Franky, looks like we posted at the same time!

franky67 · Mar 11, 2011

The Lord is my banner said:
I've thought the same thing, Franky.

God isn't deaf - He can hear our worship without an amplifier!

As for films and TV - I often miss huge amounts of dialogue because the actors seem to be muttering under their breath, and then, yes, the music swells upwards and drowns out the last morsel I might have caught!

The Lord who spoke to Elijah in a quiet whisper will surely not measure our praise in decibels.

Thanks, banner, I might raise some hackles with my post, but as I observe the passing parade, I just have questions, don't want to get anybody mad, really I don't, but maybe I might spur some thought, such as what happens to the little toddler's hearing who are exposed to these excessive sounds.

Where I worship they blow the Shoffar once in a while, it's loud, but not enough to hurt the ears.

~RENEE~ · Mar 11, 2011

we have a bible study on Tuesday nights one evening the youth had an outside ministry (not stating the name so don't ask) in to lead them in "worship" the "worship leader" (a woman probably in her 20's) was actually screaming she wasn't singing she was screaming. When we walked into the sanctuary Cecil ran out with his hands over his ears and crying. It literally hurt his ears that bad.

Now yes God is not deaf and loud noises does not hurt His ears but does He really want us to hurt ours for Him? Remember Jesus said don't tempt God. Could music this loud be tempting God?

franky67 · Mar 11, 2011

~RENEE~ said:
we have a bible study on Tuesday nights one evening the youth had an outside ministry (not stating the name so don't ask) in to lead them in "worship" the "worship leader" (a woman probably in her 20's) was actually screaming she wasn't singing she was screaming. When we walked into the sanctuary Cecil ran out with his hands over his ears and crying. It literally hurt his ears that bad.

Now yes God is not deaf and loud noises does not hurt His ears but does He really want us to hurt ours for Him? Remember Jesus said don't tempt God. Could music this loud be tempting God?

I wonder how many instances like this , young children are not considered.

Faulty · Mar 11, 2011

You haven't mentioned anything that would cause it to be considered unjustified, biblically speaking. You say loud isn't necessary because God isn't deaf. This is true, but God also isn't annoyed by any particular level of decibels either.

You dont like it. I don't like it much myself. However, how can I say that one who is load is not offering pure praise, or even one who is quiet as one who is offering something un-pure.

NaLuvena · Mar 11, 2011

I think this is a matter of preference more than what praise should be like.

I don't think we can ever identify all the praise that goes on in the world. If the waves, stars, birds, trees can praise God, then loud praise can be just as vaild as quiet praise.

Granted the people praising should consider others, but that is a totally different matter entirely.

Svt4Him · Mar 11, 2011

God's not deaf but He's not nervous either.

Alpine · Mar 11, 2011

Just got back from a Third day / Tenth Avenue North concert and my ears are buzzing and THAT was a loud concert but I've never been to a worship service that came close to that kind of loudness so I'm wondering what exactly you mean by loud?

Loud can mean different things to different people.

Cassidy · Mar 12, 2011

Depends on your age I think

whatfor · Mar 12, 2011

Sometimes loud is good, it drowns out my bad singing.

contango · Mar 12, 2011

NaLuvena said:
I think this is a matter of preference more than what praise should be like.

I don't think we can ever identify all the praise that goes on in the world. If the waves, stars, birds, trees can praise God, then loud praise can be just as vaild as quiet praise.

Granted the people praising should consider others, but that is a totally different matter entirely.

Up to a point I'd agree with you. There certainly is a biblical precept for praise being loud.

Psa 150:1-6 NKJV Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! (2) Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! (3) Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! (4) Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! (5) Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! (6) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

That said if it is so loud that it causes hearing damage or distress it does seem to fall foul of "love your neighbour as yourself" - the psalmist was more likely to have been talking about a loud noise being the result of playing instruments loudly and singing with great enthusiasm rather than simply turning the amplifiers up to 11.

xfisherman · Mar 12, 2011

We go to Church to praise and worship God.For me if the IM is too loud,I cannot concentrate. I would rather change to a Church without too loud music.One time I went to a Church where the drum was too loud,really cannot stand it.

JimB · Mar 12, 2011

As an old concert promoter who billed his concerts as another loud and obnoxious concert from Daystar I have given this subject some thought through the years. Concerts are loud because loudness heightens the emotions and can create a pack mentality. According to one study it can produce an altered state of consciousness and can, according to psychologists, enhance neurological attentiveness, i.e. arousal. It is used as a manipulative tool by manipulators from organizers of Nazi and Neo-Nazi gatherings to political rallies because the louder the music the more heightened the emotions and the more susceptible the listener. Thats why rock concerts, pep rallies, and gatherings of people to polemic rallies use loud music. It over-stimulates the brain and heightens a persons susceptibility to external influences. This can be a bad thing or a good thing but when one is subjected to music, especially of the loud variety, they need to be aware that it can be manipulative and they are more susceptible to being manipulated.

~Jim

True faith believes in God, not itself.

lismore · Mar 12, 2011

I walked out of a church several years ago because the music was so loud it caused pain to my ears!!

I think in a lot of churches they are trying to substitute loudness, gimmicks and stage managing for the presence of God. Trying to make people feel artificially hyped up and excited...........with some charismatic churches their music is electric guitars and drums, their preference is to put the amplifier volume up and up, partly to cover the noise they are making.

However in meetings where there is the presence of God it is worth a million of these show type meetings.

Also my personal preference is for Celtic type music, not the disco type praise that is coming into churches now!

Hishandmaiden · Mar 12, 2011

I think worship should neither be so loud that it damages our ears, nor so soft that we cannot hear the music of the worship.

Worship is meant for God and not us, and part of our worship of God is to take proper care of our body.

WileyCoyote · Mar 12, 2011

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

How is Loud Christian Worship Justified?

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