A few weeks ago I was driving to church and dusted off an old school Skillet CD. For some reason, it was really speaking to me that morning and I was kind of tearing up. Then when I went into church a song was playing and, while I am sure it was a very nice song, it didn't resonate at all even though it may have been along a similar theme.
I was thinking about that and noticing how extremely different the styles of the songs were. I was kind of chastising myself because style should be the least important element of musical worship and it's so individualistic one should be very careful to not impose or demand their style preferences onto a corporate body. And yet, the style of music can allow the words to evade and penetrate the stubborn defenses of one's heart.
At any rate, on the drive that morning the angels sang a song over me.
6 comments:
I've noticed this same thing also. I have times when I want more variety in a worship service to meet the needs of more people, but I can speak of the logistical end of things and tell you how much of a nightmare it is to try to accomodate all different tastes and styles during a corporate service. Sadly, the Skillet type music is not as widely accepted or appreciated so it is not incorporated into standard worship services (not that I am really a Skillet fan, but that's a different issue).
Please know that those of us who lead worship times during services are not trying to impose any one style of music on you, we are trying to find music with a good message that will be the most widely accepted and reach the most people. I'm also fairly certain that none of us have the vocal style to sing any of the Skillet songs.
Hugs & Love
Steve,
Some of the most spirit-filled musical worship I have experienced was through the music of Bach. My most focused offering of worship comes through instrumental music. For me, the words can often get in the way. But I agree with your point that we should not impose our preferences on others. Worship is in the heart: not in the words or music.
eh! Steve! You should support your BVBC 6:00 pm service if you like contemporary worship. I love the 6:00 service, and cool people like Rita & Jake, Joe, Eugene, and JenVare (her name should be all one word, 'cuz that's how people say it) are there (just to name a few).
It makes sense that certain artistic styles touch you better than others. If it were true that style did not matter, why is it that God would make you so that Skillet would touch your heart yet the style of BVBC would not? Or that you prefer Tombstone over Mama Celeste? Or that you like Green instead of Blue, Dogs instead of Squirrels, Little Debbie over Tasty Kake?
I would argue that while there is not a massive cultural difference between you and everyone else at the service you went to, would you go to Africa and have African people sing American hymns...or would you let them praise Jesus in their own way? An African man praises the Lord in one way. An African American still another. And us Baptist people in still another. Is it wrong that we all worship in different ways, or are they all diverse, beautiful representations of the same love of our Almighty God?
Should I be ashamed when "Strength of My Life" by P.O.D. & Matisyahu causes my eyes to moisten, but not "You Alone Are God"? No. Because I am filled with joy when listening to one for the same reason another person is filled with joy when he or she listens to the other. That joy comes from the same source, and that is Jesus. So who cares if the means of getting that Joy are different as long as it stems from the same source?
One God. A million ways to praise Him. Pick one (or as many as you want), and don't be ashamed of it when you do.
I think I'm going to turn this into a Facebook Note...
Off the cuff, Acts chapters 10 and chapters 15 seem to me related to this. "Do not call impure anything God has made clean".
David, great first post there. I hadn't thought about the cultural spectrum analogy in terms of style. I didn't mean to imply that Skillet or other bands of that style are in any way impure or such. I am just inclined to downplay style because I get a little irritated when people bounce from church to church because they can't find one that exactly suites their style.
mmm, church hopping is a different matter entirely.
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