Personally, I still prefer the 'old' music, songs. God's still working on me about this modern worship music. We have actually lost people due to the excessive volume of our music. Yet, on the other hand, I have seen the Spirit move.
I've been involved in music most of my life, at various levels, in various genres, jazz, classic rock, bluegrass, southern gospel and even classical. The raw power emanating from an audience, in one mind and one accord, when your ripping out licks on the Les Paul is astounding and mesmerizing. I've seen and felt the excitement and adrenalin while on stage driving the beat and torque of Foggy Mountain Breakdown. The opening of Maynard Ferguson's Conquistador still causes goosebumps on my skin. But my favorite, by far, is to hear a good bagpipe player render Amazing Grace. (As a teen, I heard a marching band from Dundee, Ill, the Scots I think, do this. It stuck.)
I said all that to say this: Music is a very powerful tool when placed into the hands of one who knows how to use it to evoke an emotional response from the listener. Volume, crescendo and decrescendo, transition from 'heavy' to soft, minor chords and major chords, 7ths and 9ths, etc. are all very useful in skilled hands to evoke emotion, regardless of the genre being played.
Some of the best moments of worship I've ever experienced have taken place while hearing the Word. And, yes, while even reading, studying the Word myself, I'll erupt into instant praise and worship. So, I 'dunno', the music is loud and repetitive. People do worship. I guess I'm just old! Like I said, God's still working on me... (I think there's an old children's song about that...)
[QUOTE=Paul Weaver;847318]Personally, I still prefer the 'old' music, songs. God's still working on me about this modern worship music. We have actually lost people due to the excessive volume of our music. Yet, on the other hand, I have seen the Spirit move.
Commenting on the red - I went to a state wide Apostolic Youth Rally in like April. I think I figured out this secret to all these blow outs and "Spirit" overflowings during music. In Acts 4 the Holy Ghost shook the building. At that youth rally, the blaring woofers were rockin the windows. The lady was screaming, "Get up front and Get your shout on!" Kids were flying over pews and flippin out in the isles...
When the music stops, the girls fix they're hair and the guys straiten their suits. Essentially the Spirit has decided to take a break for now. After the announcements about games and such, the choir starts up again and the "Holy Ghost" is back in a flash. Everyone (well...) starts jirating again.
The bass blares thru the woofers and get's our hearts pumping 30,000 gallons of blood a minute, and that lady starts screaming again, "Get your shout on!". It's overwhelming. You cannot think. Kids are getting lost in the "Spirit" and I'm standing there with a handful of other kids wondering, "What's going on? This isn't like the day of Pentecost at all..."
Then it hits me...this is just like a rock concert. NO! This is worse! It's the music. They've figured it out!!!! Something in the music (loud, overwhelming music) destroys the logistics in our minds. This "Holy Ghost" is nuthing more than a smart cookie realizing that music messes with your head and get's you to do things you would never do in a calm UNCONFUSED setting. And you think you're having some sort of heavenly sensation...like drugs...kinda sick actually...
Some years ago some of the Pentecostals in Louisiana were called "drum jumpers" because they all jumped to the beat of the bass drum. Was this "in the Spirit"?
How do Jewish people dance in worship? Their steps are choreographed. They follow certain patterns. I would assume this is the way they danced before the Lord for centuries and is probably praising the Lord in the dance as we are exhorted to do in Psalms 149:3 and 150:4 and also referenced in Ephesians 5:18-20.
Dancing is an expression of joy whether at a rock concert or in church. It's pretty much the same either place. When we speak of worship "in the Spirit" we do not mean that the Holy Ghost takes possession of our feet, legs, arms, hands, etc and moves them. We mean that we do that in a spirit of worship or expression of joy.
I must agree that I too at times question exactly as to what spirit is moving when it can be turned off so quick. But, this morning, doing the Chris Tomlin song, How Great is Our God, it was loud, but not damaging loud, and the congregation responded. We did this song immediately after prayer and anointing for the sick. There was no question that it was God working in our midst.
Of my three children, only one remains at home. She will be sixteen this coming Friday. I've seen her laid out in the Spirit twice, both times in the altar after tremendously anointed messages. The last time, she was still speaking in tongues when we tried to get her moving to get ready for school the following morning!
My oldest daughter attends Indiana Weslyan University. When she comes home once in a while, she always questions me as to why we don't sing "Jesus Paid It All" in church. She proceeds to tell me how it sounds and feels when 1500 college students are singing it accapella. It makes me jealous! Her, myself and the Pastor's wife are the only 'old' folks that know the song.
I so greatly fear that we are becoming the world trying to reach the world. I used to hear my father preaching like that! Be careful of the tune of the Whistler. It's very enchanting...
no and I hate it. We have walked out of services because of it. If it hurts then its damaging. We can hear the preaching without putting the mics in the red zone.
No, it is actually very damaging to people to listen to loud music of any kind.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
I would say that music that is being played to loud is probably not something that is intended. Maybe sitting further away from the speakers would solve the problem for you? I think the thought is that loud music (not music so loud that it is painful) helps set the tone for worship...
Hybrid Mode
