Drums...etc

That will get you into trouble!

Well I'm a member of a church that occasionally has someone playing drums on Sunday morning. Sometimes they are "kettle drums" with our orchestra, sometimes they are hand drums to go with contemporary worship songs or hymns of recent foreign origin. Some people in the congregation do not like drums, but it really isn't much of a controversy in my church. For what it is worth, we are something of a mid to high church tradition, very traditional in our worship, but not afraid of contemporary praise and worship music. Excellence is the key to our choices.

The message and manner of the worship leadership makes the difference, not the style.

That's part of it, but it is not just about "appeal", it is about fresh expressions of divine truth that relate to our age. At one time the hymns which are now considered classic were contemporary music. What distinquished them from other music of the day was the content of the lyric. It is no different today.

No confusion here...

I'm sure Aaron will give you the other side when he sees this message. While I strongly disagree with many of Aaron's views on worship styles, he does pay attention to your opinions and he is always a gentleman with his views.

 

I'm assuming your using the common argument that since it's not in the Bible we shouldn't use it. What does the grand piano, pipe organ, electric guitar, and drum set all have in common? NONE of them are in the Bible. So following this flawed argument we should rid the church of all of these instruments. The fact is that it is impossible to deomonstrate that drums in the church are wrong without seriously twisting The Word. It is simply all personal preference, and comes down to bringing our best before God. Many people will worship best with drums, so I think that normally they are good to have as long as they are played well. Drums also help with those who like to clap but can't hold a beat to save their life.

God Bless,

~JD

 

The idea to have any music or anything in church to attract the lost is a seeker sensitive philosophy and not a good reason to do anything....I'm in a very biblically sound church that is very careful about music choices. Ones that are accurate to scripture and have a reverence to God are the choices for our corporate worship. We do have an orchestra about once every 6 weeks or so,there is a kettle drum in the background,nothing very noticeable. Now,the band thing would bother me....I've been in a church with an electric guitar,drums,praise team,etc....we couldn't do that....that just wasn't for us. We have a very high view of God and His worship,excellence is also our goal. We desire to worship in spirit and truth,which has more to do with scripture about Christ and a heart of worship than on externals.

 

"We have a very high view of God and His worship,excellence is also our goal. We desire to worship in spirit and truth,which has more to do with scripture about Christ and a heart of worship than on externals. "

As does my church. yet, we have drums and a praise band. we worship God. thats the one and only goal...worship God. Sing praise to the Father, Creator. I am not a "touchy feely" Christian, but I do feel the spirit of God when we worship together. I have also felt the Spirit of God while singing hymns. Its about praising the Lord.

but veering to the safe middle ground, the music is not loud or distracting.

 

Molly said:

The idea to have any music or anything in church to attract the lost is a seeker sensitive philosophy and not a good reason to do anything....

True, but that doesn't mean you can't use it for your own sake. Drum away, I say.

 

Molly,

You know I can't let you get away with this .
My church does not have a seeker-sensitive service per se. We also have a very high view of God. And guess what? We have drums.

Don't paint with such a big paintbrush. Take heed to your final words (and apply them to other threads ): Worship has more to do with Scripture about Christ (even though I am not sure what this means exactly) and a heart of worship than the externals.

BTW, did you read my note on the "high" view of
God on the other thread? Just a thought to ponder.

 

I have no scripture to back me up. This is only my ideas.
I really dislike drums in worship service. We don't have them so It is not really an issue in our church building.
I have been to quartly singing's at different church buildings that have drums. It makes me have a headach and I cann't enjoy the singing.
Again, I have no scripture, just personal preferance.

 

I said it is not for us,we realize it is a preference. What I meant was when worshipping in spirit and truth it is worshipping with truths-truths about who Christ is and spirit-who we are and our attitudes toward God. Not so much concern with the externals of worship....which would be what instruments are used,how it sounds,etc. We just try not to focus our attention on those things.

When I say high view of God....I am referring to His holiness. We *prefer* an atmosphere of reverence(not boring) in corporate worship time. Some churches in the contempo mode we have witnessed seem to be man-focused in their style,what is pleasing to man...if your church doesn't do this,then don't be bothered by my preferences.

Hope you guys can understand better now. Sorry to be vague.

 

I would refer you to Dr. Peter Masters' insightful essays.

Brass, Strings and Percussion? - The facts about Bible instruments and the strong rules restricting their use in worship

Here are some others of his on the subject:

Pop-Idiom Music In Worship and Evangelism

 

To be honest, Dr. Masters insights seem to be straining the point as mentioned,

I don't know if he means the angels can do this or that tambourines, dance, and organs are ok outside of a church service? The major flaw in his arguments seems to be his comparison of the OT Temple temple to the Church. A Church house is not synomous with the OT Temple and really seems to be a very attempted stretch of scripture throughout the article. He never explains what "Traditional worship " is. If we strictly follow the Old Testament we would have to say it is Liturgical worship and not the Puritan Regulative worship, Masters espouses I believe as "Traditional worship ".

 

Masters' goal with this essay is to correct the false notion that the Psalms endorse a "free-for-all" style in worship.

 

I have no problem with drums, or any type of music or instrument used to praise God.
What I DO have a problem would be if the words weren't honoring, expressed untruth, or if the music distracts from the words and message of the song, if the way it's sung is in a manner that is difficult to understand the words, etc., or the the actions accompanying are meant to gratify people and not God. And these things aren't as confusing as they sound, lol. It's not that hard to tell if people are praising God or trying to just sound and look good for everyone else.
Gina

 

I just don't like the bang, bang, bang, bang in my head....maybe if the drummers could actually play the drums instead of copying the rock and roll set it would be different....I don't know.

Maybe I am just getting too old..we need an old folks church too!

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim and Dr. Bob,

You guys are funny! I appreciate your views though.

Nothing in the Bible prohibits drums for being used for God's glory in a worship service. Like all other instruments, they should play their part in drawing people's attention and focus to God. Humbling ourselves and glorifying and praising Him.

Many people have a difficult time humbly focusing on God with the "brash" beat of a drum in a worship song. Others rail against the evil of beats and what effect it has on the subconcsious as a draw to sinful, worldly tendencies.

Others, being just creatures of habit, (aren't we all?)don't like the drums because it is not what they are used to and grew up with. They seem to have the following philosophy..If we and our friends got saved, grew in the faith and led the church without drums before, why do we need them now?

And the truth is, you don't need them to worship God effectively. However, they are very useful for certain songs.

As for "Appealing to the unsaved to draw them in.." Well you have stepped on a hornet's nest on that one. This really brings in a lot more subjects. Keep looking around at many different areas of the Baptist Board and you will find various discussions that touch on this one. Now you are talking church philosophies. Many fine arguments both for and against using tools and methods that the world finds attractive in order to reach them.

It really is a preference matter for a pastor, worship leader and congregation to decide upon. Worship how you feel the Holy Spirit leading you, with or without drums and don't look down on your brother/sister if they choose differently.

God Bless!
WW2'er

 

True enough, drums can be used to glorify God. However the unrestricted use of drums has come into many churches at the same time as worldly music and has made the church a place of clamor rather than true biblical worship.

As for using the world and worldly music to attract unsaved, that is a deadend street. "What you win them with, you win them to." That was the essence of the actions of Jesus when he drove the money changers out of the temple. He was driving out the worldly elements that had stolen away the real heart of worship to a holy God. If Jesus showed up today he would likely drive the CCM musicians out of the church with their rock beat, worldly style and carnal lifestyle.

Separation from the world...living in the world without becoming worldly...is the real goal of the Christian. Paul said it best in II Cor 6:17ff..."Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing...cleansing yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit."

 

How do you *feel* the spirit of God,can you explain what that *feels* like? I hear that a lot in christian vocabulary,but I do not understand how we can "feel" that...we can know something from God's word,but how do we feel it,as you say?

Thanks,
Molly

 

Whoa! Where in the NT are instruments prescribed to draw our attention to God?

 

Where are they forbidden, Aaron?