The Biblical Church Part 5: Order and Music

POTENTIAL RED HERRING POST:

An increasing trend that I see in modern churches is a rapid shift from traditional music to more contemporary music.  Some of this can be blamed on the culture was that was fought in the 1960’s.  I really do believe that the Good guys lost.  It seems that in modern music we have went from songs with played by talented musicians who had real talent to gimmicks in the 1980’s, when the music became synthesized and electronic.  From this we went to rap, which is only rhythm and rhyme. Ii cannot see how a person is gifted or talented if they can make rhymes with vulgar words which attack society and demoralize women.  Even the Rock stars of the 60’s were considered controversial at their time, starting with Elvis Presley.  But what at first, may seem like a slow progression towards change has become a rapid down-hill slide.  Maybe I’m getting older and don’t see some of the new music properly, but any time that music takes a sudden turn and the entire culture secular and sacred sounds alike, there must be a problem.  Twenty five years ago, I really liked the band U2 and had a few of their albums.  But a funny thing happened.  I walked into a church service and couldn’t’ tell the difference! 

Compare these:

 The liberty of choruses in church music is a fine idea, but if we become too heavily weighted towards one type of music, is it really edifying to the Holy Spirit?  Most music I hear in churches today sounds too close to secular songs in rhythm and lyrics save a few mentions to Jesus and God.   Take for instance the post where I mentioned a stogy church service, is it too traditional?  Well, is a rock stage, theater seats and concert smoke and lights edifying to the Holy Spirit?

There should be a difference and there should be a balance! 

I’m asking everyone to really look and judge what’s right before your conscience and God!  This (personally) is one of my major problems with the modern church:  The worship is becoming something unrecognizable from the secular!  And I see older people leaving churches because of spiritual alienation!

But I digress

A biblical church, no matter what culture, outreach or country it is in should have that “heart” that’s felt in service.  Some would call it “soul”.  But what I really mean is that the sincerity of the people should reach God, and those in attendance, whether they be old-timers, the young, or the hypocrite can feel the very presence of God in the service and acknowledge God is there. I received a great blessing a few months back when I attended a service that was bi-lingual.  The song service was in English and Spanish, and to be honest, the choruses were a lot more moving in Spanish!

Gentle reader; please consider what I have written while attending church this Sunday.

Then compare it to this:  (Because I want to be fair)

 

Sincerely 

Your Brother in Christ

And  Senpai in Karate 

先輩

Uniqueness and gifts

Shakespeare said it best when he stated "All the world is a stage and everyone has his part to play.."
But when we think about it, do we not all have a post or a part to play in lifes grand scheme?  Having stated this, does it not reason to also state that we all are endowed with unique talents for the betterment of ourselves and those around us?

Simply put, without overstating what others have said: you are special and unique. We are all created equal, but not all are equal in all things.  For instance, a person may be gifted in athletics but not academics.  Another person may be gifted in science but have no social skills whatsoever.

It has been my observation that many people in society follow the group and not always for the best. And in so doing, they deny the person who they really are.  Ultimately, you cannot hide the real "You"
I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with many people in my short life time and I notice that even when a person is successful and well off the real person still comes out.

I worked as a plumbing installer for a few years and had to go to a lawyers office to drop off a permit.  The Lawyer I talked to was one of the most churlish people I have ever met... Meanwhile, at the same store I worked with a salesman named John who would politely, but harshly criticize this company- yet he seemed out of place for his demeanor.  He carried himself like a man who was something more than he appeared, or may have been.  It was a puzzle I never had much time to solve, until the day he need some plumbing work at his house.  it was then that I discovered elderly but polite old "John" was a retired Navy Pilot who taught the Saudi Air Force how to fly fighter jets!

A persons true self and character will always come out in the end.
How do I prove this?

If you will indulge me, gentle reader, I submit Matthew 26:73  (Specifically 26:69-75)





For Peter it was his accent and mode of speech.  He could not deny who he was!  Look later at Acts 4:13
Both John and Peter spoke in such a tone and with authority that men knew that ". . . they had been with Jesus".

It is my observation that people can tell where we have been and what we do by our actions.  Shouldn't they be good actions that inspire others to greater heights?  It's all too often in my job that I run into people with bad attitudes about everything.  Life is too short to not grow daily into something better than what we previously were.

We are unique and different, like the colors of the rainbow.  Lets show others something good, pleasant and inspiring daily.

We all have gifts and we all have callings in life!