worship songs: does it matter what language it's in?

[ChristianSamurai88]

Hey guys! After a long and rough road from seminary finals, back fromvisiting Japan/Korea, I say my summer has been fruitful. However, there was a question someone asked me while in my church. The scenario is, I go to a nondenominational Japanese Christian church in NorCal, and I am currently learning Korean while studying for the Japanese proficiency test, worship time is in 5 minutes. I remember that last Sunday our church was playing some songs in English, but I felt like singing in Korean to practice, and thought "God won't care because He knows every language and as long as it glorifies Him it doesn't matter." Sometime after someone said, "don't sing in Korean." It was heartbreaking and I felt it was wrong for that person to say such a thing. I thought this person was someone who didn't understand. "Was I singing too loud?" I thought. though I forgave this person, I felt convicted. I have a dream to glorify the Lord by starting a church in Japan for Koreans and Japanese living there. Why does it matter what language I sing in? I'm positive last I checked God created all languages and people...we are no different when we are just humans who die and perish without His everlasting love. Japanese, Korean, American, Russian, we are all the same in God's eyes and our purpose is to honor Him.

 

[Ken Rank]

God confounded the languages which means God is the source for ALL languages. If He can cause the disciples on Pentecost to speak in a manner that allows people to hear in their own language... then God doesn't have an issue with language. You can open your heart to Him in English, Korean.... KLINGON.... or whatever... it is your HEART He seeks... not what language you use to articulate how your heart feels.

 

[Adstar]

Hey guys! After a long and rough road from seminary finals, back fromvisiting Japan/Korea, I say my summer has been fruitful. However, there was a question someone asked me while in my church. The scenario is, I go to a nondenominational Japanese Christian church in NorCal, and I am currently learning Korean while studying for the Japanese proficiency test, worship time is in 5 minutes. I remember that last Sunday our church was playing some songs in English, but I felt like singing in Korean to practice, and thought "God won't care because He knows every language and as long as it glorifies Him it doesn't matter." Sometime after someone said, "don't sing in Korean." It was heartbreaking and I felt it was wrong for that person to say such a thing. I thought this person was someone who didn't understand. "Was I singing too loud?" I thought. though I forgave this person, I felt convicted. I have a dream to glorify the Lord by starting a church in Japan for Koreans and Japanese living there. Why does it matter what language I sing in? I'm positive last I checked God created all languages and people...we are no different when we are just humans who die and perish without His everlasting love. Japanese, Korean, American, Russian, we are all the same in God's eyes and our purpose is to honor Him.

So this was a Japanese Church... Do you know of the terrible history between these two people? Lets say you went to Israel and started singing in German.. Would that cause some to react and ask you to stop singing?

Apart from that God knows all languages and we can talk to Him in any language we like.. And any praise in song is as good in any language...

 

[Dave-W]

Amen to what Ken said. Many of our songs are in Hebrew, and even a few in Spanish. The main thing is singing in a way that the congregation understands and can be in agreement with the lyric.

 

[Dave-W]

. Do you know of the terrible history between these two people?

Yeah - not good. Korea is like Poland where Russia came in from the east to attack Germany or Germany came in from the west on their way to Russia. Korea is right between Japan and China - same situation.

There is much animus between all 3 nationalities.

 

[Dave-W]

Lets say you went to Israel and started singing in German.. Would that cause some to react and ask you to stop singing?

Probably not. I know of no native German speaking congregations in Israel; but there are a great many Messianics from Germany there who have German as their first language.

 

[Ken Rank]

So this was a Japanese Church... Do you know of the terrible history between these two people? Lets say you went to Israel and started singing in German.. Would that cause some to react and ask you to stop singing?

Apart from that God knows all languages and we can talk to Him in any language we like.. And any praise in song is as good in any language...

While I hold to what I shared... this point you raise should also be taken into consideration. Would it ok with God if you praised Him in German? Of course it would be ok.... but if you were in a synagogue filled with Holocaust survivors and you broke out in song in German, would that be the appropriate place for that? I am sure you get the point @ChristianSamurai88 ... so while I think any language is fine, we also don't want to rob others of their right to worship and with that history, perhaps Korean in that particular building isn't a good idea?

 

[Korean-American Christian]

Yeah - not good. Korea is like Poland where Russia came in from the east to attack Germany or Germany came in from the west on their way to Russia. Korea is right between Japan and China - same situation.

There is much animus between all 3 nationalities.

In 1910, Japanese soldiers took the emperor of Chosun (Korea) hostage. From 1910 to August 15, 1945....Japan controlled Korea as a Japanese colony.

For THIRTY-FIVE YEARS, Japan tried to WIPE OUT the Korean language and tried to wipe out Korean culture.

 

[Adstar]

Probably not. I know of no native German speaking congregations in Israel; but there are a great many Messianics from Germany there who have German as their first language.

Well maybe i thought up a faulty analogy .. No matter you got my point when i talked about the bad history between Korea and Japan anyway..

 

[ChristianSamurai88]

In 1910, Japanese soldiers took the emperor of Chosun (Korea) hostage. From 1910 to August 15, 1945....Japan controlled Korea as a Japanese colony.

For THIRTY-FIVE YEARS, Japan tried to WIPE OUT the Korean language and tried to wipe out Korean culture.

Just so you know I am half Japanese and half Russian but I love Korea and it's people. The person who introduced Christ in my life is half Korean and I have a goal to start a church in Japan for Koreans who live there and have bilingual services in Japanese and Korean. I aim to try to replace the bloody history and strife with God's love in its place. I used to think my country was a terrible country for what it did to china and Korea but I think through God's love we can all love each other and it doesn't matter... there is a song from a secular drama I was watching in Korean but the song resonated with me and I found God in it. In English the song is translated to "no different" and i redid the lyrics in Japanese to say that we are just humans who die and perish without His Love. I apologize if my country has hurt your ancestors homeland...I can only say that but even though I am Japanese I love Koreans too

 

[Korean-American Christian]

Just so you know I am half Japanese and half Russian but I love Korea and it's people. I apologize if my country has hurt your ancestors homeland...I can only say that but even though I am Japanese I love Koreans too

My dear sister and fellow Californian, may our Lord Jesus be with you always

May God our Father bless you

 

[ChristianSamurai88]

So this was a Japanese Church... Do you know of the terrible history between these two people? Lets say you went to Israel and started singing in German.. Would that cause some to react and ask you to stop singing?

Apart from that God knows all languages and we can talk to Him in any language we like.. And any praise in song is as good in any language...

Yes I know all too well of the history between my people and the Koreans who suffered because of my ancestors...however I want to replace that with God's love and show that we are no different we all deserve death without God. The person who introduced me to the Lord is half Korean and my cousin's wife is Korean too, I have no Ill will towards Korean people in fact all my Japanese friends love Korean culture and my Korean friend from college told me to never be ashamed of being Japanese and it encouraged me to start a church for the Koreans in Japan and Japanese people too. I want to change that animosity between Japanese and Koreans even a little with Christ's love. It shouldn't matter what we sing to glorify God as long as it Glorifies Him and it doesn't matter what language or setting it's in. Recently the person who told me not to sing in Korean said they were sorry. They said that they were a little biased and felt convictions because they were wrong for thinking that way. So, it's not about whether someone wants to sing a worship song in another language or whatever place it's in, if church is God's house, God should be present there and won't judge the person who wants to sing in a different language. It's not condemnable to sing in Korean while present in a Japanese church nor should it be let's say Russian in a German church or Korean in a japanese church or German in a Russian church. History doesn't matter and shouldn't matter while worshipping God and it should be our focus

 

[ChristianSamurai88]

Another point I'd like to make; if anyone doesn't know the song Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew, FYI it's a song with amazing grace as its lyrics but its chorus is about how grace is like rain and how it falls on us and our sins are washed away. It's a Christian Rock song that I became Christian to. Some pastor from a "christian and missionary alliance" church said. "I won't play Grace Like Rain in church because it's not a 'worship' song." He never Gave a good reason as to why he believed it was not playable as a worship song. So what does and doesn't constitute what a worship song is?
I mean, my church will play any song as long as its glorifying God and it defines His love. They take requests from people as long as those conditions are met. They won't play a secular song for worship. I'm not gonna say all C&MA churches will do that but ive been to a few of them while I was church hopping trying to find a home church and my experiences were not good when it came to worship songs. They were too focused on pleasing the congregation rather than just worshipping. I found my home church with japanese people and bilingual services in English and Japanese, and at the church, we have two services in the morning; one in only English and one in only Japanese, both play songs not on the lessons, and not on tradition but the worship team prays and plays for God whatever is putting on their hearts. Heck, my pastor doesn't plan his lessons until an hour before church starts because he wants God to speak through Him. And worship songs are the same. I mean, I've had bad experiences in the c&ma churches also because of cliques in the church and a few pastors who can't deal with negativity well they say that if you're negative you're ruining the church. Any thoughts?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Just so you know I am half Japanese and half Russian but I love Korea and it's people. The person who introduced Christ in my life is half Korean and I have a goal to start a church in Japan for Koreans who live there and have bilingual services in Japanese and Korean. I aim to try to replace the bloody history and strife with God's love in its place. I used to think my country was a terrible country for what it did to china and Korea but I think through God's love we can all love each other and it doesn't matter... there is a song from a secular drama I was watching in Korean but the song resonated with me and I found God in it. In English the song is translated to "no different" and i redid the lyrics in Japanese to say that we are just humans who die and perish without His Love. I apologize if my country has hurt your ancestors homeland...I can only say that but even though I am Japanese I love Koreans too

Good to see you again on the forums!

So how are you language and Bible studies going?

How are your martial arts going also?

 

[ChristianSamurai88]

Good to see you again on the forums!

So how are you language and Bible studies going?

How are your martial arts going also?

Hello I am good I just got out of seminary classes for the day. Martial arts have been good been practicing a Korean sword art derived of Hangul characters but still practicing Iaijutsu. I still am practicing, learning and making progress learning Korean and my Japanese is always a lifelong learning process how've you been?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hello I am good I just got out of seminary classes for the day. Martial arts have been good been practicing a Korean sword art derived of Hangul characters but still practicing Iaijutsu. I still am practicing, learning and making progress learning Korean and my Japanese is always a lifelong learning process how've you been?

My wife and I have a lot to be thankful for; we keep ticking over so to speak with local church activities.

Sounds very interesting with the Korean sword.

Yes, language learning can be a life-long thing. Especially with some languages with a very varied set of characters. Reading the Bible in the language that one is learning can be especially helpful, as a long term habit.

So did you see any good martial arts tattoos lately?