music 2 your ears?

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On Tue, 06 Aug 1996 14:11:18 -0500, you wrote:

>	After hearing all the great responses on wedding rings, I
>have decided to pose another question on all of you...
>	This past week at NAYWC after hearing Bro Jerry Jones
>and Bro Brosum team teach a class on Holiness, I became
>involved in a discussion with a few people about music.

You mentioned this Bro Chris, but skipped the good stuff. What was the
synopsis of the discussion ?

>	*I* personally feel that today's "christian" music is not
>that christian anymore.  I personally listen to mostly Black
>Gospel but even then I am careful.  I try to pick out the gospel
>that will edify my soul and not the type that I like to call "show"
>choirs.

Oh well... Folks, we are on to one of those subjects that has no
conclusion. Never has, never will.

However, notice carefully: progressive and spiritually minded people
have always found some way to glorify God using contemporary
atmospheres without causing a controversy. Sister Urshan was singing
some up to date stuff in her early years, being sought after by
recording companies.

My personal feeling is that, when music becomes traditional, it has
lost its value in Pentecostal worship. Thats the long and the short of
my opinion. And, in fact, being a pastor, I am going to do the work of
God the way God leads me to do it. I really do not care what the
brethren down the street do. But as the human being that I am, when I
go down the street to fellowship with them, I sometimes AM subjected
to music which could strip the paint off my car in the lot outside.
So, I am thankful that God has not called me to spend my whole life
listening to that. But he has called me to be an overcomer. This
IMMEDIATELY relegates issues of this life, which include STYLE and
TRADITION (of music in this case), to a lower shelf.

And are my personal feelings important ? Sure, just like yours and
every other readers... but bear in mind, this is the first or second
generation who is so opinionated about music WHILE holding the
misconception that it is essential and direction-determining in church
work. As in much if the rest of the world, the present generation want
to dictate everything. I imagine the are fewer and fewer people in
churches who simply go to worship God without wanting to express
opinions of the validity or "excellence" of the various ministries. To
me, that is sad.

Is music important ? Sure, if it helps to lift the soul to freedom of
worship, and separates the mind from distractions.

There are smells and inconveniences and noises etc, all which hinder
the mind. These are not going away. As for music, it would be BEST to
keep it from operating as though it were a smell, but that can
sometimes happen with both CONTEMPORARY and TRADITIONAL music.

>	My question would be this, I am curious to see what
>other churches say about this *and* I am curious to see what
>everyones personal beliefs are on this?
>	The answers will help my bro-in-law(youth director)
>decide on what type of guidlines to set down on music for the
>youth.


Now ANYONE, ( you dont need to have the HolyGhost) can feel the spirit
conveyed by music. For example, we have some tapes around the house
here which as supposedly "black gospel" which after a number of casual
listenings, appear to be nothing but disco music... and Ive been to
the environments where these styles and artists originate, and must
say, I dont think this description is far from accurate. Also, the
Brroklyn Tab Choir is widely liked among Apostolics, but I come from a
church 20 miles away which does much of the material that BTC does,
with 85 voices in the choir, and frankly there is no comparison. When
you have heard both, BTC sounds spiritually, technically and even
stylistically inferiour (almost canned), in comparison with the great
choir from Oyster Bay. The soloists are real people, I know their
personal battles and victories. They receive no fame, and yet their
music is greatly annointed. Better still, they personally and
individally believe and  live the Apostles doctrine. This is not true
20 miles away at BTC.

So, will I listen to BTC ? Sure... nothing wrong with it. But, its all
a matter of PERSONAL opinion. Churches ought to lead people to where
they know the more excellent, and appreciate the greatness of God's
people as He works in them. If we dont do that, we can trashcan every
keyboard and guitar so far as I am concerned.

After we have separated our prejudice, and then hae carefully listened
to the spirit we know whether the music is pleasing our flesh or
whether it is enhancing our attitude toward God. There is a
difference. My advise to your Brother in Law would be to concentrate
on that aspect. Those looking for black and white definitions are also
looking for needless controversy.

-mwb