Instead of the Isaac Watts/Lowell Mason version of "Joy to the World," so beloved by old fogies and musical elitists, Christmas Eve services should from now on feature this version:
Joy to the World
I played for a long time in a mega-church. Actually was on staff in the music ministry scheduling musicians, training young musicians etc. We had rock the flock music... but we also played Silent Night and O Holy Night. We just used more instruments than a piano and organ to play them.
But when I read your post it reads as selfish. I'm sorry but it does. It's about the music you want to hear. Would you rather go to church and hear the songs you like, or would rather go to church and see the music ministry reach young couples with kids and help bring them into church where they can be discipled and raise Godly children? I'm not saying its either or... but I am saying we really make it difficult to reach young couples who need Christ in their lives when we insist on the music we grew up with in the 1960's performed like it was in the 1960's.
One can argue all day that music like that will still reach young people. And it will now and then. But what we're really saying, is I want it my way and I'm not worried about discipling others. That's my take on it.
That is my point.
I like most kinds of music done in church, even singing the old hymns with or without accompaniment in four part harmony. Bass line for me. And I like a lot of the modern stuff form the last 50 years very much also.
It’s hard to beat singing and hearing “Majesty” sung in the auditorium of Church on the Way in Van Nuys!
Then follow that up with something like “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”.
Maybe I’m just too easy to please...
You're not making sense, but I think it's what you mean. It's a big problem.
Perhaps it was taken out to make room for more politically correct tunes such as "O God of Every Nation" ("From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right/From trust in bombs that shower destruction in the night") or "O Young and Fearless Prophet" ("Forbid false love of country that blinds us to his call...").