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An invitation to forum musicians
Roy Martin:
I hear you Dave.
Roy
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Dave in Tenn on July 04, 2009, 02:19:24 PM --- Is there something wrong with this.? The light show, the lyrics. I ask because I don't know.
You asked, so I'm answering. :)
A couple of weeks ago, there was a blues festival in a nearby town. I'm not a blues 'historian', but I do love the stuff. My younger sister asked me if I would like to go with her and her husband (babylonians both) to a concert on a sunday night...which happened to be the last night of this blues festival. The name of the act was Big Daddy Weaves (as best as I remember). I'd never heard of 'him', but it sounded like a blues act to me! My sister also knew the 'promoter' and was determined that I meet him--in order to advance my musical career, I'm certain.
They came and picked me up, and it took a few minutes for it to sink into my brain that we were NOT heading to the blues-fest as I had thought, but were instead headed to a church for a concert of contemporary Christian music--not at all unlike what was in your You-tube links.
I was disappointed, but felt sure I would survive the experience. ;) I don't think I was intentionally misled, just confused.
We got there about a half-hour before the concert started, and the atmostphere was pleasant. I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I did NOT belong there, but that didn't mean I needed to escape. I was happy for the aisle seat just in case they started singing the praises of Satan and the justice of eternal torment, or attacking the soveriegnty of God
We got a paper handout since it was a sunday night and this 'concert' replaced whatever this church ordinarily did on sunday nights. What caught my eye was the advertisements. Essentially, the concert was sponsored by several local and regional businesses (including some quite large ones). It was also promoted by a local christian radio station. So...even before it started, I had the impression that this was simply an imiatation of 'the world' dressed up in christian clothes.
There were two acts involved...this Big Daddy outfit and a local band that opened for them. I got myself prepped to either enjoy or leave in protest, whichever came first. The first band got started, the music began and the bandmembers began to join in to bring the crowd to attention.
Then it happened. The leader of the first act began to urge everybody to their feet. He said, as best I can remember to quote him, "You can't worship sitting down!", he said. "At least that's what I think."
At that moment, the words of Christ came to my mind.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
In my spirit, I rebuked that young man. Oh, for the strength to stand up one day and preach this! 'Just because you play a guitar does not give you the right to contradict the words of Christ. I don't
care what you think. Jesus said the hour is coming and NOW IS that neither in this mountain NOR in Jerusalem will we worship the Father. How much LESS whether we sit or stand, clap or fold our hands, laugh or cry, are exuberant or still. NEITHER are right or wrong. BOTH are WORTHLESS in and of themselves. If we don't worship in Spirit and Truth we cannot say we are worshipping.'
"You can't worship sitting down...at least that's what I think." Man, that statement sums up so much of what is wrong with churchianity.
That theme continued through both bands sets, with occasional wisdom peeking through otherwise near constant musical, lyrical, and spoken appeals to 'dance, be foolish, etc.' Now, the second band in particular was quite good, but I could have 'worshipped' like that better at the blues-fest! And would have! :D
When it was all over, I wanted to leave there so I could resume the worship I was living before I got in, but my sister insisted we go and meet the 'promoter'. I'm kinda glad she did, because I got a good look backstage where they had the merchandise tables set-up and kids and adults were crowding around buying up the T-shirts, CD's and other trinkets, as I waited for the Lord Jesus to show up with his fashioned whip.
We finally found the promoter and it all fell into place perfectly. He met me, and asked my sister, "How did you like the show?"
Glory to God! "How did you like the show?" I didn't need to hear anything else.
Show-Business. Got it.
Roy, it isn't that I think music is evil. I don't. It isn't that I think music with a christian message is evil. I don't. It isn't that I think everything that goes on inside the walls of every church is evil. I don't. The churches hold everything from the finest, most humble people on earth to the worst of sinners who heap hypocracy on top of all their other stinking sins. They hold everything from the finest and most sincere expressions of faith to the vilest and cheapest of merchandisers of the gospel. GOD KNOWS HEARTS. He knows them better than we know our own. But when it comes to worship, I don't want this, that, or any other Mountain, city, feeling, position, emotion, company, inclusion, exclusion, hypocracy, temptation, apearance of evil, evil itself or anything OTHER than The Spirit of GOD and Truth.
I don't want my worship 'led'. Been there and done that...on both sides of the microphone. That's just me, though.
--- End quote ---
Fantastic post Dave!
Peace,
Joe
aqrinc:
Dave,
On this one i have to agree with you, nothing personal. I have been around music and musicians for much of my life. There is a Christian music program, i think Bill Gaither something that my wife likes to watch, carnal as the day i was born.
She thinks i need to listen to more of that stuff to really be holy in my thoughts. I used to love listening to music for hours on end, now though, that desire is completely absent from my daily toils. Nothing against music and musicians, just no longer even think about it; like quitting smoking after many years.
george. :)
Roy Martin:
I think I have answered my own question. At least I feel comfortable with it.
Theres entertainment music and worship music. I'm not talking about stuff in the church buildings.
Nothing wrong with entertainment music that sings about God, light shows, people dancing, concerts and getting paid for it.
Worship music for the purpose of just making money might be wrong. People like worship music, and get a lot out of it. I can get into some good meditating on God while listening to worship music, but how can anyone put worship music out there w/o money? Its all about the heart. Musicians are not pastors trying to deceive people. We have a talent that people want to hear. God created music. There is always someone out there to turn something good into bad. Temptations are every where we turn. We can't hide from the world.
Music about God can have powerful messages in it. Its not my intention to play music for money, but if it comes, then I"m not going to turn it down. I'll just thank God for the blessing and keep on movin.
What people do in the church buildings are of no concern to me. Thats out of my control. We can talk about them until judgment day and accomplish nothing. I know I dont get anything from it except a guilt feeling.
No where did God say entertainment is a sin. Clean entertainment, I mean.
Worship isnt about where you are, or what or who is around you if its from the heart.
I'm not going to let the things going on in Babylon keep me down or harden my heart.
I'm speaking only for myself here.
Peace
Roy
Marky Mark:
--- Quote ---She thinks i need to listen to more of that stuff to really be holy in my thoughts.
--- End quote ---
:o :o :o :D ;D
Mark
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