But it’s not only the US-born who need to be drawn to worship by non-boring, modern music, but also people from different cultures who are now in the US — who need a way to connect to the gospel THROUGH music that might be a little more meditative.

Churches today just seem to have a very hard time finding balance in the music that’s used. In corporate worship there is room for both quieter classic songs or hymns, and current praise & worship music, *AND* everything in between, but it’s usually one extreme or the other.

Any one-sided musical approach shows a lack of creativity and respect for the Creator — no matter which end of the spectrum is being run into the ground.

Of course worship is more than a corporate moment, but the gathering of believers should not willfully leave out very valid forms of music that can help reach different hearts.

Actually, that’s also the standard answer given by worship leaders to quiet those who wish they could hear more than just one style of music — like the loudly boring, sound-alike praise & worship songs. “It’s a lifestyle” is just code for “Please shut up; you’re not spiritual if you don’t love these songs.”

The hymn lovers may have been in control in the past, but the praise & worship bands currently have the iron fists. Why is musical variety so hard to find in today’s church?

I heard someone say there’s 2 kinds of Christian music: music for church and music for entertainment.

I go to a church whose pastors think it’s not a “southern gospel church”, meaning the congregation doesn’t like s/g. But anytime the choir, a soloist, or a quartet sings a s/g song, the congregation LOVES it. I think a lot of people have a stereotype in their heads about what they think s/g is, and their range of taste is actually much broader than they realize.

And I LOVE the Vader quote. Thanks, Harry, for sharing that.

I would say that Randy’s no more “out there” than John W Peterson (”No Greater Love” and many other church choir cantatas that are considered classics today) was in 1965 or Bill Gaither was in 1972. And not NEARLY as “out there” as Ralph Carmichael (”Reach Out To Jesus” and “The Saviour Is Waiting”)was in the late 60’s. Randy is where most small evangelical church choirs are — middle of the road.

One thing I’ve been taught lately, that many people don’t seem to understand: Worship is not a musical style. It’s a lifestyle.

And I’ve heard someone else teach that when we come to church on Sunday morning, we’re not supposed to be singing to each other or ourselves, we’re supposed to be singing to God. So the question becomes, “what does HE want to hear us sing?”, rather than “what do we want to hear/sing?” It’s not about me; it’s all about HIM.

Interesting perspectives.

Second…Neil, my man. Harry Peters does not particularly like Praise and Worship Music either. I love the old hymns that have been a way of passing down theology from one generation to another. Since almost all praise and worship music’s lyrics are quotations from scripture, I don’t really see a good argument against it. Let me ask you a question that Randy Vader (a real out there contemporary writer who writes for Bill Gaither’s publishing company) asked me one day. Do You believe that God can use something that you personally can’t stand to draw people to Him? My honest answer to that question was life-changing for me.

As far as sticking to our heritage as a church, I’d be curious to know how many of you recite the Apostle’s Creed or the Nicene Creed in church. You know, 90 percent of the mainstream Christian denominations do. They are two of the oldest statements of faith in the church, probably pre-dating a lot of the Bible.

Anyway, I’m planning to go to the “Fire Baptized Baptist” church this weekend to worship with the brothers and sisters there. I don’t know what their worship service is like, but it sounds like it will be lively.

If the majority of our crowds are already saved I am not real sure I see where the problem is. When I read the Psalms of David they have very little to do with the heathen except that God would do away with them or overthrow them. Throw that out there for the “do not judge” crowd. The vast majority of evangelistic efforts are better served through the preaching of the Word and the witnessing of the saints. If I can encourage the saints toward the latter I have done far more than what I could ever do simply singing about salvation to the saved.

With one exception, Apathetic, how in the world do you think that SG does not reach out to the lost? We have all agreed that SG is more direct on the content about God and all that implies.
And , if it were the case, the vast majority of our crowds are already Christian, or at the very least, know about salvation.

NSGF (getting tired of hammering that out) I have been preching what you said only with different terminolgy. Thank you for finally coming to my side of the tracks. LOL!!!