For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Ian Jones
Immediately after reading this discussion I read this in God's word:
"Then a Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those e who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people
I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace....
8 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 "that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean."
God is the same today as He was yesterday. He is still a holy God who requires only that which is holy to be used in his worship. Satan was the minister of music in heaven before he rebelled against God. It should be clear that he now uses his extensive musical abilities to foment rebellion, sensuality, selfishness, confusion, and division.
The idea that God must automatically accept every musical style (including those influenced by the great deceiver) as holy and fit for use in His worship just because we like it, cannot be correct.
What we need is spiritual discernment to distinguish between what is holy and unholy in the eyes of God.
Penny G. Vera
Hello Folks,
I was just at a concert last night featuring 'THE NEVER CHAIM' VERTICAL CHURCH BAND', SOULFIRE REVOLUTION', WE AS HUMAN; ROYAL TAILOR; JAMIE GRACE; ANDY MINEO; THIRD DAY; AND SKILLET. For the most part, at the concert the instruments were extremily powerful, over the top loud, you could not hear the words to the song. The seats vibrated strongly, and the audience, cheered the performers, and enjoyed the noise, let out steam, and gratified themselves. This was not church, this was a concert, intertainment, I would not like this to be in my church service, because it was painful, and God was not being given any glory. So this was not a worship service, I believe it does not belong in a worship service, unless self is what your worshiping.
ELAKODICAL KURIAKO
very often what we find is instrumental music that does not have any connection to the hymns. What is the fun of having long preludes and interludes?
People very often cannot distinguish between devotional music and secular music
Pst Dudu Manhenga-Muparutsa
I am a recently appointed music pastor at a church in Harare, Zimbabwe. One of the challenges I see in the church is the issue of doctrines contained in music. No matter when the song was written it must stand the test against the word of God,the arrow must continually point towards Jesus at whatever cost.
Recently I was speaking to the worship team saying that we will desist from singing songs about what the devil is doing and about worship. Infact we will sing songs that extend worship to Jesus,remind people of what He did on Calvary and what we continue to see Him doing in our midst.
The style of music chosen is not an issue for me, our intention is to use our local music and languages to worship our Lord and Saviour, it is the words to the songs that will bring people to Christ and those in Christ on their knees in humble adoration.
Larry Taylor
I Corinthians 4:6 - don't go beyond what is written; Ephesians 5:19 and Col 3:16 tell us to sing and make melody in our hearts - sing, not play and sing. There were no instruments used in worship of church for 1000 or so years - they were added by man. Italian word "a capella" means to sing without instruments in the style of the church or chapel. I know it's not wrong to sing with our voices. Instruments? Why go beyond what God has told us to do?
Black Star Ranch
Most importantly, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God." (Col 3:16)
My favorite way to pray to The Lord.
Jennifer Rothnie
Larry,
'Psalmos' in Col 3:16 and Eph 5:19 literally means a 'striking of the chords/twanging' in the Greek, hence the figurative meaning of 'Psalm', as Psalms were often accompanied by musical instruments.
We know that God likes music, both voice and instrument, as He commanded Nathan, Gad, and David to incorporate instruments in the temple worship (II Chron 29:25, II Chron 8:14, I Chron 25:6), instruments were used on feast days (Ps 81:2-3), and other scriptures mention instruments as one way to praise God (Is 38:20, II Chron 20, Psa 150:3). God's character does not change.
What is important is not whether one uses instruments or not, but whether or not one is truly worshiping God vs. entertaining self or trying to 'look' spiritual. To worship God is to serve Him, humble oneself before Him, acknowledge Him as Holy and Majestic, etc.
Black Star Ranch
Psa 33:1-3 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
The Lord loves song, just as do we in His image. Praise Him in all ways of sound and song!
Steven Hall
I think the style of CCM is odd. Whenever I sing "special music" at church in a Southern Gospel, Country, Blues or 50s/60s rock style, people really get into it. In contrast, the CCM radio style seems to be met with boredom and less than half of people of all ages singing when the band does worship songs.
David Martin Sr.
I believe there should be a mixture, not favoring one or another so you will not have any problems with congregations splitting up.
Alf Zay
I grew up in a hymn-singing Baptist church and have been singing them for almost 60 years. The hymns have not only inspired me but strengthen my faith as well. In the last 3 decades or so I had been struggling to adjust to CCM which I find shallow both doctrinally as well as musically (I am a trained vocalist) and they turned me off. I refuse to sing CCM as they fail to express what I feel in my heart, and forcing myself to sing them makes me sing like a hypocrite.
JOHN timko
When considering a music program to be included in a worship service caution should be exercised to insure the sound of the beat and the words are not designed to hypnotize, but to generate in the hearts of the congregation a spirit of reverence, honor, gratitude, and glorification of the Lord God Almighty.
Mykayla Welch
Hi my opinion is that appealing to youth and attracting non-believers is honoring to God because God wants as many of his people saved as possible and we can do that by attracting non-believers and the younger generation.