Drums in Christian Music

[standingfirminChrist]

if you're talking about the Jews Harp, gib, I used to own one. Never learned exactly how to use it. lol

Course I never learned to play my trombone I owned, nor my fiddle, nor the bugle I owned either. lol

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
I have lived in Africa and know first hand how African Christians sing.

What did you conclude?

 

[Gib]

I had to google the Jews Harp and that's what I'm talking about. A man in my church plays one, badly.

We have a slew of instruments. Off the top of my head:

Piano, keyboard, electric bass and guitar, drums (trap set), trumpet, flugel horn, flute, violin, tenor sax, acoustic 6-string, ukelele, harmonica, ocarina.

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by standingfirminChrist:
I was born in Africa and can affirm what LadyEagle says as truth. Drums are used as ritualistic tribal instruments

Of course that is common knowledge.

If you have music of any kind in your church that would have been considered wrong by the chruch until recently. For 1000 years the church did not have music until Isaac Watts and his colleagues came along with contemporary music. Many in the church termed it of the devil. As a result the chruch had quite an overhaul from death to the beginning of revival.

Does that mean everything the world distorts Christians should avoid. It is God's people who had music long before the secular world. She we throw away what Christians kept as tradition in worshiping God just because the world distorts what God gave?

Anytime I hear good Christian music played and sung well I am in awe of God and how he has created the musicians to sing and play with such greatness to God. I am in awe when I hear a great singer sing to the glory of God with all his might or an instrumentalist play to the glory of God.

If drums are done well they are hardly noticeable. At one time I was against drums in the church until one Sunday I realized at how I felt about the music that day and then later in the service I realized there were drums being played in the church. I did not even notice them until way later into the worship service.

Anybody who instills in me a passion to worship God and glorify Him I thank God for that person.

 

[LadyEagle]

Originally posted by gb93433:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by LadyEagle:
I have lived in Africa and know first hand how African Christians sing.

What did you conclude? </font>[/QUOTE]It wasn't with drums.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Why is this an issue? I had a Music History professor in college who used to say in all sobriety "Where the saxophone is, God is not." I disagree... even though I really don't like the saxophone either. The fact is, whether you like drums or not, the issue is not the instrument... it's the heart. When sung, played or otherwise from a heart that is in love with their Lord, how can you judge how right their worship is based on the ethnicity of the instrument or style of the song?

In His Grip,
joshua

 

[LadyEagle]

Who's judging? There must be SOME reason drums aren't mentioned in the Psalms! Even trees clapping their hands are mentioned, but no drums.

 

[LadyEagle]

1Cor.10[23] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by gb93433:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by LadyEagle:
I have lived in Africa and know first hand how African Christians sing.

What did you conclude? </font>[/QUOTE]It wasn't with drums. </font>[/QUOTE]Intersting that you would say that because I have personally listened to some Christians who came from Africa and they sang with the use of a few drums and sang acapella.

Of course Africa is a huge country and perhaps things are different among Christians in differnt areas of the country.

For example is one went to a certain part of the US and saw the Christrian snake charmers and did not know much else about Americans that person would conclude Californians were snake charmers too.

It's also much like the idea that Reno and Las Vegas could not possibly have Christians. When the fact is that some of the fastest growing chruches in the US are just outside of Las Vegas.

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
There must be SOME reason drums aren't mentioned in the Psalms! Even trees clapping their hands are mentioned, but no drums.

Do trees really clap their hands?

There must be a reason why a flush tiolet is not mentioned in scripture.

There must be a reason why cars shouldn't be driven because they are not mentioned in scripture.

There must be a reason why churches should not be air conditioned and have lighting because they are not mentioend in scripture.

There must be a reason why we should ride a camel to church because the camel is mentioned in scripture.

There must be a reason why we shouldn't even own or consider using a computer because it is never mentioned in scripture.

 

[LadyEagle]

Ah, yes, but the topic isn't flush toilets or driving cars or computers or airconditioning. The topic is drums in Christian music. Other topics are off the topic of the OP.

 

[webdog]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
Who's judging? There must be SOME reason drums aren't mentioned in the Psalms! Even trees clapping their hands are mentioned, but no drums.

The Bible doesn't mention Michael Phelps either...I guess he shouldn't be singing...

 

[tinytim]

Originally posted by Joshua Rhodes:
Why is this an issue? I had a Music History professor in college who used to say in all sobriety "Where the saxophone is, God is not." I disagree... even though I really don't like the saxophone either. The fact is, whether you like drums or not, the issue is not the instrument... it's the heart. When sung, played or otherwise from a heart that is in love with their Lord, how can you judge how right their worship is based on the ethnicity of the instrument or style of the song?

In His Grip,
joshua

Amen, Bro

And alot of modern instruments are not mentioned, so should we use them? What about the piano. It isn't mentioned. didn't exist.

The fact that it is not mentioned means nothing.
It is about the heart of the person playing.

I would rather hear drums than loud banging cymbals alone. Couldn't you imagine if cymbals alone were used to keep time:

*Bang* ama *bang* zing *bang* grace *bang* how *bang* sweet *bang* the *bang* sound.

 

[Aaron]

Originally posted by tinytim:
Praise comes from the person's heart anyway, When a person uses his or her talents to praise God, then how is it wrong (unless they use them to sin!) And playing music to God is certainly not sin, no matter what some IFBs say.

That's not the question. The question is, is it right to use drums in church? Of course we all know that one is to praise God. Of what form is that praise to be? Answering that question will give us a clue as to what instruments (if any at all) have a place in Christian worship.

 

[Aaron]

Originally posted by webdog:
To conclude that if something appeals to our likes and emotions (body, matter) is wrong and evil, is in fact a form of gnosticism. God created us to like drums, beats, cymbals, etc. To use gnostic reasoning of "drums are good if you stand, sinful if you sit" or "if I like how drums sound, it must be worldly (sinful)" is not only comical, but false teaching.

Again, that's not the argument. The argument is not about matter and non-matter. It's about the carnal nature and the spiritual nature. To which does something appeal?

According to the Scriptures, the carnal mind is at enmity with God, and that those things which men highly esteem are an abomination to Him. It is not gnostic reasoning in the least to ask these questions.

Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 

[Aaron]

Originally posted by gb93433:
Take a look at Psalm 150 and ask yourself when was the last time you saw those instruments in a worship service.

As all OT prescriptions for worship, the church is to observe the spiritual application. This is not a command to the church anymore than are the Scriptural admonitions to light lamps or burn incense.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Aaron:
It's about the carnal nature and the spiritual nature. To which does something appeal?

The problem is that some have for themselves decided what is carnal, and hence decided it must be carnal for all, and as such banned. Some have decided this with drums. Yet I point to the Salvation Army and say "they use drums at every worship service, with no evidence of the carnal", to which no reply is ever given.

To presume that any given instrument is carnal for all based on subjectivity is wrong. It's just as much a part of our sinful nature to lay blame for the carnal on the benign rather than on ourselves, as it is to excuse carnality. The latter is easily identified, but the former is much more clandestine, and I submit, much more dangerous.

 

[Dale McNamee]

Hi All!

I was originally very glad to see a sane discussion on drums in Christian music and am saddened to the same old,tired circular arguments put forth by the critics. ***SIGH***

But,following the advice of Scripture to avoid useless arguments,I won't add to THAT discussion!

I want to offer my experience of 30 years of drumming in church for church services.

I play the conga drums,bongo drums,djembe,
ashiko drums,Middle-Eastern frame drums,doumbek, and am learning the Brazilian pandeiro http://www.pandeiro.com/videos.php

When I began playing,I played for a Bible study that I was attending and developed what I call "playing in the livingroom" style in which
playing at a loud volume would really be overpowering and unpleasant to all!

I also began playing for a church I was attending and I'd take a look at the walls,
ceiling,and floor,and walk around the sanctuary,hitting my drum every few steps to gauge the sound. If there was a marble or terra cotta floor,I would put down carpet squares under my drums to muffle the sound. The balance of controlling the sound were in controlling my hands.

Back in the '70's,PA systems were very primitive and the guitars were acoustic and not electrified or miked...Playing loud would guarantee that I would not be playing again. And drums were "feared" back then too!

Also,I learned quite a bit about the many pleasant subtle and nuanced tones that I could create with the drums at lower volumes that are lost when the volume increases.

I love playing melodic rhythms,that's why I play the hand drums.

At music practice,I work with my music director and my fellow musicians & singers to select the best arrangements for the songs and follow his directions during the service and to "blend" in with the group.

My drums are not miked,but the piano,voices,and the guitarist are. We have a drumset player and his drums are not miked as well. He has a small 4-piece kit with a hi-hat and 1 ride cymbal. He uses brushes and lightweight sticks.

We go through a sound check at practice on Thursday night and before the service on Sunday morning to make sure that no one element(voice,piano,guitar)overpowers the other. Also,my church has an unique set of acousics where if you have a strong voice,you don't need a mike to be heard by the last row. But,the mike does help to make the words more clearly heard.

Changing gears...

When I was growing up,I listened to a great variety of music,from Classical to some rock. Latin Jazz,Samba,and Bossa Nova ("new thing")were my favorites. I developed a "critical ear",listening how the music was structured and how the pieces fit together. So,my approach to playing the drums wasn't from "rock".

Each Sunday morning,I pray and offer my talent and my playing to the Lord for His Honor & Glory,and I pray the same for my fellow musicians. I also pray that all of the music (choral,hymns,organ,and contemporay)edify the congregation.

I also belong to Psalm Drummers http://www.psalmdrummers.org/vision.htm and my playing style has attracted the interest of the faciltators of the the two drum circles that I and my wife (yes,she plays the hand drums as well)attend. I've been able to share Christ with my fellow drummers by not being a caricature Christian.

Webdog,I loved your concise statement on Gnosticism. It puts the whole "anti-CCM/drums" argument into perspective since the arguments are rooted in pagan Greek philosophy (spiritual=good,physical body and its responses
=evil) and that philosophy was what Paul refuted in Colossians 2:8-23,especially verses 20-23:

"Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

Yet,it still remains a part of church teachings...

In Christ,

Dale

[ January 06, 2006, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: Dale McNamee ]

 

[TaterTot]

I wish you lived closer to here!

 

[Dale McNamee]

Dear Tater Tot,

Who,me?

In Christ,

Dale