Comments on: Great post on worship from internetmonk

By: Lois

Lois — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:01:10 +0000

The “kickin” band and the ultra loud vocalists could put any bar band to shame. The music leader has even started adding a “yahoo” at the end of some of the songs. I know of at least 11 people who got up during the music service this morning and left. The writer was correct about the tease of “blending”…it just doesn’t happen. We sang 2 verses of one hymn and then the “Praise Team” sang their long, extended songs for 15 minutes or more. What became of entering in reverence and quiet and in a prayerful attitude? Who decided that church services must resemble a ballgame atmosphere? “They” keep telling us we have to do this for the young people…well, I was young once and we sang hymns. Looking around during the singing of these so-called praise songs, you can see the lack of joy and worship on the faces of the majority of the people. Yet, they continue to force it down our throats. I think if we could get “them” to try a quiet, worshipful service for a while, they would see what we have been missing. By the time the guitar-picking, drum-beating “music” is over, all feeling of worshipfulness has left my mind. I would leave this Baptist church, but from what I hear, it’s the same everywhere. All this so-called music just makes me think of how the Israelites were carrying on when Moses came down from the mountain… God can’t be enjoying this stuff!

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:02:49 +0000

Let me add my firm “Amen” to the post on Contemporary church music. Yes, I’m old, and yes, I’m a traditionalist. But I hope over 40 years in ministry (as both a senior pastor and director of music) does not disqualify me from a few observations.

As I hymn historian, I’ve written a newspaper column on our traditional hymnody for years (over 600 articles to date), have hosted radio programs on the subject, and written a book (about to be published), on carols and Christmas hymns. This spring, I started a blog called Wordwise Hymns, that includes an almanac of events in hymnody related to each day’s date.

Well! That was an unintentional ramble! I’m not a big fan of contemporary religious songs overall. But there are certainly some that are worth using. A hymn is not better because it’s older, or worse because it’s newer. However, I have been in too many churches (as a visiting speaker) where the contemporary thunder issuing from a mountain of speakers has driven many to the back rows–if not right out of the church. Recently, I was in a church where I sat about 15 feet from the pianist. But I could not hear a note he played, because of the excessive volume of the “worship team” on the platform.

And the concept of a “blended service” is not always the answer. At times, it comes across as a kind of spiritual blackmail (“We’ll let you have yours if you let us have ours.”) I’ve been in more than one service where the worship team takes the stage and sings a bunch of contemporary choruses at us. Then, later in the service, an organist and pianist come up to accompany a hymn or two. Never the twain shall meet, it seems. This is blending?

Oh, dear! This has turned into a rant! Not my intention either. There is an incredible spiritual treasure in the hymnody of 20 centuries. To let the hymn books gather dust (or remove them altogether) robs people of a rich heritage. Rather than capitulate, we need to educate! That is my point. If we are to fulfil Colossians 3:16, we must not lose the devotional richness our our hymns.

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:06:15 +0000

Sally, I’ve only read the first paragraph but just had to chime in to say I’ve been to Tenth Pres in Philly and it is GREAT. I also have the little hymnal of 10 hymns their music director and pastor wrote. Great stuff…

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:12:16 +0000

I hate to admit it but my wife and I are considering leaving our fellowship (of 25 years) over music. It’s not a traditional vs contemporary issue. It boils down to two things: First, the music has become loud, loud, and louder,to the point of annoying. Second, our worship leader has us singing the same 10-12 popular songs/choruses over and over again ad nauseum. Our singing time is nothing more than a CCM concert that the congregation is somehow expected to join in with. I am not a crotchety old geezer, I try to always be long on grace, and allow for personal preferences, but honestly I have had enough.

By: Ann Voskamp

Ann Voskamp — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:40:46 +0000

Worship is a way of living, not a scoresheet.

Thank you, Sallie… much to ponder…

By: thatmom

thatmom — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:33:37 +0000

Sallie, I have both the CD and the hymnbook from 10th Presbyterian and LOVE them! Who says great worship hymns can’t be written in this century?

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:56:47 +0000

This looks like it’s right up my alley, Sallie. I can’t wait to read your whole post, nor the original Internet Monk post. Thank you so much for writing and linking. I was just talking to our pastor about these very things yesterday!