music 2 your ears?

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On Thu, 08 Aug 1996 11:01:18 -0500, you wrote:

>So the issue is, after meeting and discovering that the man who leads the choir has beliefs consistant with 
>what my pastor preaches about music (and what I believe about it), then seeing that same choir in person, which 
>exhibits itself in ways NOT agreeable to my pastor (nor me), what do I do? Do I not listen to it because of how 
>the choir performs it? Or do I ignore that and just focus on the blessing of the music I hear on my stereo?
>
>A related subject:
>How many of us have heard good preaching from those who do not have the whole truth?

Good point. Manufacturing sacred cows is optional. Ultimately it is
not our purpose to justify ourselves or others, but to seek God and in
so doing be changed.

This really messes people up, but the fact is God is not pleased by
the notion that any one person "has it all". Great preaching and
anointed ministry has been accomplished many times by people who
themselves arent living right. One of the real strange realities is
that there is an area of living, close to the edge when in fact,
people DO become very sensitive to the love of God. They are realizing
their weakness, and are wanting to talke very humbly about the things
of God, but, sometimes afterwards, the events reveal that all the talk
and expressions of godliness were not shored up by substantial
convictions and godly consecration, and there is a loss...

The typical picture of backsliding is that one becomes colder and
colder to God until they comepletely walk away. This is imagined to
happen without  lots of spiritual activity, but in fact, the Holy
Ghost makes extensive efforts to restore that person before he or she
looses their grip completely. During that time, or times, the person
can be greatly used of God. And happlity, there can be restoration
before a complete loss. But it does not always happen that way because
people do not always surrender completely to God and repent.

In any case, the true God must be the focus of our lives, and Im not
sure how much "listening to music" has to do with that. If it works
for you (speaking generally), cool.

(I have no idea who you are talking about in the above message, by the
way)

Specific ministries neither make or break God's plan. 

I wont soon forget one of our first Foreign Missionary services. They
arrived in the afternoon, and we had a good time getting to know each
other. Then, when trying to arrange the service (for we were expecting
a lot of visitors) I asked "Do you and your wife sing ?" 

Their answer was cool. "We used to, but over in Africa they just beat
drums and stuff, so we dont anymore". :) As I remember my wife sang
something, and it was nice, but God moved during the preaching and
testifying.. just like in Africa. toi be real honest, Id rather be in
a service like that than in *any* kind of concert.

Remembering God's teaching tool, the fire of true worship originates
at the altar of sacrifice.