Posted on 02/18/2007 7:30:33 PM PST by freedomdefender
Beethoven's "Ode To Joy" can be heard often at today's United Methodist and Presbyterian services. The words are different, of course.
The werewolves who come out here at FR to bash decent music in favor of stuff from the 17th century amaze me as well.
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I admit there are a few modern songs I like. I like "Shout to the Lord," too. I'm not good with titles, though. And yes, there are some of the old hymns that are incredibly boring. But a huge part of the excitement value of any song is in its arrangement, and there's a tendency to arrange the older hymns with a tiresome piano arrangement.
Bach and Handel and Buxtehude aren't boring, though. Mozart isn't boring; listen to the "Vesperae Solonnes de Confessore" and you will be thrilled. As a Protestant I must admit with regret that some of the most beautiful and holy music was written for the Catholic Church.
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Happily, He accepts that which is sung with a giving heart, whether or not perfect voices or beautiful songs are involved.
And I have to remind myself of that when I hear seemingly endless repetition or incomprehensible lyrics from any denomination's music.
I have a potato chip with the visage of Mary. I know this because I saw her likeness on a piece of french toast being sold on eBay.
Oh please! Find something real to be upset about at church besides how other people are worshiping the Lord!
All you'll care about in Heaven is about worshipping God - and if that's singing old time hymns, then belt it out with vigor, and if all that comes to mind is this new stuff, then sing it with gusto - but the point of worship is supposed to be God centered, not self-centeredness.
At our church we have one service with the good old hymns, and the second service with the newer stuff. I hear the choir and get to belt out an old hymn at the first service, and sing countless (boring!) refrains of the newer music at the second service - but at least the kids in church (and most of the adults including my wife) enjoy it. Once in awhile a newer song will touch my soul.
Amen! Reminds me of the lyrics to one of my favorite contemporary worship songs:
"I'm coming back to the heart of worship.
And it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it.
When it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus.
from "The Heart of Worship"
Great songs such as Victory in Jesus, How Great Thou Art, The Old Rugged Cross are sorely missed these days.
Give me the Bells of St. Agnes ... or Handel's Hornpipe Symphony.
I once met a missionary who went to indigenous peoples and recorded their worship services. At one particular place...very remote...they had no access to organs or any other instruments...instead they improvised with a tin can and a stick that was beat upon it. The people sang their praises to the Lord with an anointing that was tremendous. The Spirit of the Lord was in their songs.
God is in heaven looking down at these people and listening to their praise and worship of him....there was nothing fancy...no doleful organ music...no electic guitars...just worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth....with a stick and a tin can..
Do you think God would think this as muck? I don't think he would. They worshiped in their own style...just as your style is with traditional hymns...others like the modern sound....worship is from the heart...it is not the instruments played...God honors heartfelt worship no matter what form it takes.
Just for a second..sit back and picture the Lord in heaven looking down on earth listening closely as the worship of his body rises up to meet His ears. It is not just one song..it is many songs with many styles...it is a symphony of voices, instruments and sounds coming up at once...filling the ears of our Lord...it is even a stick banging on a tin can. All beautiful to him.
I would say to you...you better loosen up your knickers...because heaven is going to be a noisy place....so get ready.... all who enter will worship in spirit and in truth.
Don't forget Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)!
I like that one too -I think a lot of worship leaders have been almost hit on the chin with that one.
I go to a fabulous EV Free church after years in the Calvary Chapel churches. There is an amazing blend of hymns and contemporary. I'm excited that my daughter will get to hear old school songs, maybe a little more upbeat than how I learned them, but to have our generations "Gaither" style worship too.
(And I LOVE the saxaphone in our worship) and can't wait to hear the worship when we do arrive in heaven.
I just like the sermons as well.
Angels certainly exist, but if they do join us in singing, they would not sound like ordinary human beings.
I am somewhat skeptical here.
There are some great modern praise songs.
Some not so good ones as well.
For me personally, I attend a church that only sings the OT Psalms.
It is different, but I love it more than my old hymn-singing church.
The Psalms are so beautiful. But, that doesn't mean I don't sing a hymn sometimes. :)
Thank you leenie.
Also, If I may interject something here. Most of us believe that we have Guardian Angels (and, no - not the one's wearing red berets) around us. Some even think that we each have our own personal Guardian. A very learned Christian gentleman once said that if a person living in faith invokes the name of the Lord - whether in music or spoken word - then the Angels must act on your behalf. In Psalm 91:11-12 it says:
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
So all the more reason it makes sense that when Angels hear us praising God with such fervor, they would naturally join in. Because they worsip Hiom as much (if not more) than we do.
And I'm sure the style of music doesnt much matter to them. In the Kansas City recording I heard a bass and drums.
Thank you for that post... beautiful, informative and uplifting.
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