Read this on another blog this afternoon...
A convenient framework to evaluate art is a cross. The top is good form/good
content=true art. The two opposite poles of the arms are good form/ bad
content and bad form/good content, respectively. Propaganda, as well as so much
contemporary Christian music and art, fall into one of these two categories. And
at the base of the cross is bad form/ bad content=trash. don
jones
This got me thinking. Could we use these "standards" to actually help us make informed decisions about what we sing to the Lord on Sunday mornings. This blogger is obviously not a huge fan of contemporary Christian music (I cringe sometimes too). Obviously we should use the Bible as our source and judge for all the songs we sing (or listen too).
Should we only worship in church with songs that are biblically based? Should we only worship with songs that are scripture (hymns anyone?)? Where is the line? What are we comfortable with? Some churches will actually go so far as to change the words of secular songs and "Jesus them up a little bit". Remember Boom Boom Pow? Don't even get me started. There is even a church in the UK that has a U2-charist (keep reading it you will get it, just think back to your Catholic days). Is this wrong? Is it the sentiment that counts, or the words that we use? Is it a little bit of both?
I would prefer to sing scripture based songs. I never went to a traditional church so I don't really have a hymnal background. My dream would be to sing scripture with the very talented worship band we have at our church. It would be totally awesome to know what scripture each song is based on (from the artist's viewpoint). I also think that not every song needs to be a sappy love song to Jesus. Some of these songs could totally be changed (a word here or there) and re-released on secular radio. God has many attributes and they are all glorious.
Well, I heard you thinking, so here it goes- let's try it on "In Your Freedom I Will Live", by Hillsongs.
I search for you God of strength
(the Calvinist in me recoils, just kidding - Psalm 19:1-2...I guess we don't really have to look too hard.)
I bow to you in my brokenness
(Phillipians 2:9-11, I like it :])
And no other king could have so humbly come
(Revelations 19:11-16, yes that's right! That Jesus came and died for His children!)
To save my soul and heal my heart
(Listen to all of this and fight the tears dear reader, This is how we are healed)
I have nothing more
(Am I positive I have NOTHING but JESUS? it seems I have fallen short)
than all you offer me
(the best offer ever from an infinite, holy, sovereign, King)
there is nothing else thats of worth to me
(worth more than my ______! yep that too)
chorus:
and i love you Lord you rescued me
you are all that I want you're all I need
(how loud should we be singing this, should the worship leader hear us?)
bridge:
I really like this song! Next time, we will do one that doesn't pass with flying colors!
til then
the Ogre
I think music is a great way for us to express how we are thinking and feeling and we should be focused on God, so why not have our music reflect that. I remeber reading about it in the bible too and I belive it is a great way to express to God and like sometimes when praying doesn't work. Do I belive in how riural it has become? And the whole dayly church thing... not really seems like more of an act to me, I think the best time of worship is when just you and God with you reflecting on the music and having God work on you though it. Peoples lives chance be changed... with some of the msgs that are expressed.
ReplyDelete"I think music is a great way for us to express how we are thinking and feeling and we should be focused on God, so why not have our music reflect that."
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this.
"Do I belive in how riural it has become? And the whole dayly church thing... not really seems like more of an act to me,"
I have no idea what you are talking about. and as for the rest of your comment....
1. spellcheck!
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEkWH8DB7b0&feature=related
I don't have a computer, so the computer I was on didn't have word.... so thus I didn't have a way of copying and pasting it to spell check it sorry. Also, what I was talking about is often in church I think people just worship because other people are doing it, too often I see people look around first before raising there arms in praise. I also know when I was a very young believe I only did it because everyone else did. That’s what I mean about that, you should do what makes you feel like you give praise to God; it should be between you and God to praise him not involving anyone else. That's just something that God has shown me with my time of worship this might not be true for everyone. As for the u-tube video can't watch it on this computer for some reason.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about not having a computer to check out the youtube thing. It was off topic.
ReplyDeleteI have a few questions for you. Why are you so concerned with what other people are doing during the praise and worship time at church? Why don't you just do what you should do what "makes you feel like you give praise to God;"? Isn't it something that is "be between you and God to praise him not involving anyone else"?
There is actually a biblical model for worship. These (hopefully) just aren't things that people pulled out of the air.
2 Samuel 24:24-24 "But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels [1] of silver."
So what in your opinion is worship that doesn't cost anything?
What in your opinion is worship that follows Romans 12:1?-"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
And how to do you reconcile your answer to Hebrews 10:25?-"not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near".
Ok I said when I was a new believer I would look around at people and just do what everyone else is doing.... meaning realized that was silly a long time ago. Thus, I don’t do that anymore and just try and focus on what the song is saying to or about God. I still often lose that focus once awhile (who doesn’t have add and do that?) But since then I realized I'm not the only one looking around at other people that since I've noticed people doing the same to me...And it startles me and makes me loose focus. I dunno I just worship the Lord best when in is just me and him like drivin in my car, or alone (with God) or listenin to my CD player at home...
ReplyDeleteSo what in my opinion is worship that doesn't cost anything? I don't understand where this question is coming from but I believe that it did cost something. Jesus sacrificed his life so our worship alone could be given to God without animal sacrifice. Maybe if I knew more of what you’re talking about I could better answer your question hopefully.