Longhorn plug your ears.
I do not wish to offend.
I must be strange ladies because I view things differently.
Please, if you will allow me to explain myself I will try to do so humbly.
I got a glimpse of God as a child in the Adventist Church and started loving Him then. I finally realized that I needed to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was 14 years old.
The Jesus that I knew and loved as an Adventist was not a false Jesus. I have just gotten a greater revelation of who HE is!
2 Corinthians 3:15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
As an Adventist, I was under the Law so I had a veil over my eyes so I could not clearly see the Lord.
There have been many turns in my journey of faith as I've studied and worshiped with the Baptist, Mennonite, Vineyard, Assembly of God, and Messianic Jews, but it has always been the same Jesus!
My heart has soared in worship and praise as I sang with each group of believers. It didn't matter if it was contemporary worship or classic hymns. I believe praising God with song transports us to a higher realm. One day all creation will sing. Rev 5:13
Worship and praise music is the one thing that can connect those who believe in Jesus Christ and him crucified.
(Christians don't sing songs glorifying Hell and damnation of souls for eternity.)
I still weep when I hear songs of worship and praise. Even older worship songs from long ago are powerful to me. Worship music has helped me overcome some of the most difficult times in my life. The night my husband passed away I spent all night listening to and singing songs of praise. I sought refuge and comfort in the presence of God in worship. I believe worshiping helps us rise above ourselves and our problems to glorify God.
Is that carnality and emotionalism of the flesh? I don't believe so! I'm not saying there is no sensationalism in people or praise music but I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water either or discount the power of worship. The Lord inhabits our praise.
The difference is most people don't believe what they are singing! If they did they would know that Jesus is our redeemer and sovereign in all things.
So the difference for me now is- those songs are more powerful!
From the Cd I was listening to this morning.
Jude Doxology
Randy & Terry Butler
And now all glory to Him who alone is God,
Who saves us through his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord
For He is able to keep us from falling away,
He brings us into his presence with love and joy
All power, authority, all splendor and majesty
Are his from the beginning and evermore and evermore
I could give more examples of lyrics but you get the idea. So whether we choose to worship with praise music or not I don't believe we should create a prejudice and judgment against it. We have far greater liberty as we walk in truth.
We all see Him in the glass but dimly. As we come closer we see Him more clearly but He has not yet been fully revealed, for when He has -we shall be like Him. So it is not us/them mentality for we are all on this journey, or that we have attained, rather it is a progression in truth as the blinders are coming off and we long for the day when He will be fully revealed. Christ in us, the Hope of Glory!
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.