Re: [Worship] Praise music opposition

["Beverlins" <beverlin@motion.net>]

I agree that there is a fine line here. I, too, wonder if sometimes, it's
too easy to get caught up in the emotion, without really focusing on God.
Kinda like going to a ball game that you don't really care about (sorry, I'm
not a sports fan) and getting caught up in the enthusiasm of the crowd and
yelling and clapping and jumping anyway (hey, I'm a passionate person!). It
doesn't really mean I care one bit about the game.

I have to say, though, that I don't really think that's wrong necessarily;
but the person who does that will miss out on what worship really is. The
problem, I think, comes in when we try to "work people up" into an emotional
experience. I've seen worship leaders who acted more like cheerleaders. I
think that is wrong. As WL we need to constantly strive to point people to
God.

Disclaimer: I love contemporary music and believe strongly in worshipping
with passion. But I don't think it should be manipulated into that. I have
been having an e-mail discussion with a young man in his first year of
college who is majoring in theology and hopes to be a pastor in a
traditional church. He has been blasting everything to do with contemporary
worship, and I have been valiantly trying to defend it. (I think I'm
winning! But he probably doesn't think so.<g>)

Patti


----- Original Message -----
From: Mark & Vicki Potter <vpotter@kscable.com>
>
> While I applaud Kim's response, and appreciate the many Scripture
> references, I believe there is something here that needs to be considered,
> something no response has mentioned.
>
> The quote Kim gave from the e-mail refers to "sensuality," and music being
> "hypnotic."  I can say that in my own experience of contemporary secular
> music, I have encountered music that I would consider to fit both of those
> terms.  I believe there is praise music that would also qualify.
>
> My dictionary defines "sensual" as "appealing to the bodily senses rather
> than the mind or soul."  Hopefully the WORDS of the praise music appeal to
> the mind and soul, but the MUSIC of some songs is certainly sensual.  One
> song whose music seems sensual to me is the chorus of "Oh Lord, You're
> Beautiful" (Keith Green, 1980).  I believe its quality of appealing to the
> senses is one thing that helps people singing (or playing) it to sometimes
> enter a different type (deeper level?) of worship.   (If you don't
> understand what I mean, e-mail me privately, and I'll try to put it into
> words.)
>
> I have never been at a service where one worship song was played
repeatedly
> for a long time.  However, I believe that such an experience could have a
> "hypnotic" quality _IF_ a person was not concentrating on worshipping God,
> if they were just "feeling the experience."
>
> I am NOT trying to condemn contemporary praise music in any way.  I love
it
> myself!  But music can be such a powerful force, we owe it to our churches
> not to throw out Kim's critic's comments all at once.  I believe we should
> at least keep the remark about sensuality in mind as we plan and carry out
> worship in the future.
>
> My opinion, FWIW.
>
> Vicki Potter
> Evangelical Free Church
> Hutchinson, KS
>
>
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