Posted on 06/02/2014 1:42:10 AM PDT by markomalley
When we’ve had to relocate for work and have had looked for a new church (Baptist), I gone online and called the pastors. My list of questions is:
What version of the Bible do you use? If not KJV, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
What hymnal do you use? If they say they don’t use hymnals and/or they put the words of the songs on a screen, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
When I walk into your church, will I see drums? If “yes”, end the call and move on to the next church on the list.
What contemporary/pop Christian do you have? The correct response would be “none”.
When we moved to Tennessee, we incorrectly assumed it would be easy to find a “good” fundamental Baptist church. We were wrong. Finally, we did find one but it was a chore. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting 5 or 6 churches; they’re everywhere. Sadly, most have gone contemporary, especially with music, and are into the razzle-dazzle.
One of the things I have noticed over the years is that people will sing with a choir but not so much with a praise team. The bigger the choir the better.
We lead the congregation in Worship rather than just presenting the Gospel. It is very different.
I love, love, love the traditional Protestant music - and I speak as a Catholic. The hymns are so beautiful and so emblematic of the best of Americana.
I have a cd of the film score of “How the West Was Won,” and it features gorgeous hymns - as well as traditional folk. That film introduced me to those hymns.
I grew up in an old-fashioned Irish Catholic community in NYC. We had Tin Pan Alley Catholic songs like “Bring Flowers of the Fairest.” Years ago, there was a wonderful and very funny book about American Catholic music of the mid-20th century. I have since lost it and forgotten it’s name.
Oy vey! I remember my mother dragging me out of a Catholic church if she saw a guitar!
What I don't understand is the dogmatic hatred by some (mostly older) members for the new stuff.
Ironically, the old hymns they love were once “new” music and much was rejected by the church establishment of the day. Silent Night was rejected at 1st for not being sung in Latin and guitar accompaniment.
Style of song worship not being directly addressed in scripture leaves a matter of opinion and taste.
Unless you are Jimmy Swagger, you preach a TV sermon on the evils of modern music before your commercial for your new Southern Gospel album.
Church music does change and we are seeing it happen now. Many people respond to CCM and others respond to the old hymns.
Jesus provides what each person needs to bring them to him.
I don't know of any hymns or gospel songs that contain the word "sheave," which is a grooved wheel used in various types of machinery. However, the word "sheaves," the plural of "sheaf"--as in the gospel song "Bringing in the Sheaves--certainly has relevance:
But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
Micah 4:12
I’m perplexed by professing Christians who say they “don’t sing”. There are both commands and examples of singing in the New Testament. What other parts do you throw out?
Yep. Make joyful noise was the instruction, not make an aria.
Also, sheaves played a role in Joseph’s dream regarding his brothers.
**‘Holy God We Praise Thy Name’. When people are familiar with a song and the tune, they usually participate with gusto.**
One we sing at Daily Mass.
No SG Berserker here, just an appreciation of the Spirit in the singing and the songs. If you found the Lord thru CCM, then all praise to Him for using that tool to bring you into the fold.
Thanks for the additional info on shape notes.
It is a historical hymn. What gives some stupid committee the idea that it is their place to be revising a historical hymn that generations of Americans have been singing since the Civil War? The chutzpah is astounding!
Ummm... Everybody?
Our very conservative congregation sings traditional-style shape-note hymns. We just recently started projecting both the music notation & words on the screen, in addition to having bound hymnals available, because it makes it easier to visually follow the song leader.
Shape note music is some of the most beautful and interesting music ever written. Simply stunning particularly when you are inside the choir singing it.
One the odd characteristics is that you can move from part to part and sing that part in your own register. Tenors will sometimes sing the soprano part, for instance.
And it is all in praise of Jesus and His Father. It is simply wonderful.
I’m not against a lot of contemporary Christian music just the type that has a praise and worship leader singing songs of a type that untrained voices can’t easily follow. These folk wail like they are on American Idol. What is edifying about that sort of music? Good simple scripturally derived praise songs...I love them. Guess who first wrote the first and greatest scripture praise song book and what did he write...? Georg Friedrich Handel who wrote “The Messiah!”(yeah a lot of folks can’t sing that as well but since no one can sing 4 part choral harmony...one just chooses the part they can sing blending in with the melody.) The Hallelujah Chorus is such that even if you can’t sing a note...just croaking along with it makes you feel like you can sing anything God puts in your heart...even a joyful “noise” is better than joyless but correct singing!”
You see, good hymns and contemporary worship music should be written like that...music that draws everyone in...screech owl sopranos to sour note blunderbuss baritones, trilling tenors and awkward voice changing males!
Ping!
A measure of wheat or grain still on their stalks and not yet separated from them; the stalks were bundled together in a diameter or fashion considered easily milled.
Refers to “sheaf” offerings or wave offerings presented to the priests during the Day of First fruits(The first day after Passover or the day of the Resurrection of our Lord)
Hence we are “bringing in the sheaves” by witnesses and winning souls for Christ...the first fruits then the final harvests as so directed by the Holy Spirit!
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