Music during prayer

I guess playing a soft tune adds to the emotion ? One is more likely to feel guilt hearing "Just as I am", than if it were silent ?

I agree with you. We should be listening to the Holy Spirit, not the piano.

But for general hymns, I have no problem with instruments.

 

I am with you, Matt. In one church, during the pastoral prayer,,that prayer we offer specifically in worship to God, a drummer was set up in the baptistry and began to sound his drum. Frankly, I stopped praying and ask him to quit. I already had God's attention.

Cheers,

Jim

 

My hubby prefers I play the piano softly when he is praying during or after the invitation. I guess it's just a personal preference.

 

I find it easier to pray with music.

 

What I think is hilarous is in some black churches, not only is music played during the prayers, it is also played toward the end or all during the sermon.

 

Saggy, I preached in a Black Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY some years ago, and I don't mind saying, it was quite an experience for an English bloke who is prim and proper. All the Amens every other sentence, clapping hands and dancing on the spot, waving arms about....I sure wasn't ready for that at all. I even found myself clapping my hands the odd time. I was never invited back, mind you,,,I might have been engaged elsewhere if I had.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, actually, I have been enough to black churches that I get it, sort of. Clapping. Stomping. Amening. Talking. You know that's right. It is all in there! Makes white church kind of boring really.

 

At least you kow they are paying attention..They seem to know when a nd where to amen, clap or dance, stand up, sit down, turn around,,,,,,,,,,and man, who could expect that choir behind you to sing your last sentence of sermon,,,,:thumbsup: With your experience I bet you can imagine this formal Englishman preaching in that church! Some image! Some preaching!

I may have been shocked, but I did feel I had been to church that day.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I think the music during prayer is a matter of personal preference. I have seen a couple of posts from people who say they can focus on prayer better with the music playing. So if that helps them, why not do it? At least providing that the music being played is glorifying to God.

 

I would have to say personally I prefer prayer times to be quiet times. I find music playing in the background especially during the whole prayer to be very distracting. God already has enough trouble getting our attention to stop and listen for a few moments for his wisdom and direction. To me, it's just one more thing that competes with what should be our focus. I can't for the life of me picture Jesus in the Garden praying probably the most intensive prayer of His life! while the disciples strummed along quietly on the lute, or banged on the gourds or cymbals :laugh:

Music defintely has its place, but it should be unobtrusive especially during those intensive, quiet moments when we should be paying the utmost attention to what our Father is saying. Music played during invitations, quietly at communion, at the end of the sermon to signify the end of service and yes, even at the end of prayer operative words - at the end of prayer - that's certainly far more in line with adding to, rather than detracting from our corporate worship.

 

I like it... and by the way, that's what we're talking about here... personal preference.

In fact, if our pastor and I have worked out a theme for the service, it's nice (for us) to have a linking musical theme to transition through the service. Our church seems to respond to this aid well.

 

Did you tell him to "beat it?"

 

Ever "tarry at the altar?" It's nice to have the organ give you a sound buffer so you can pray out loud and still be in your closet.

 

One organ at a time should be sufficient.

"Beat it!" Sorry, I wasn't that clever at the time...:laugh:

Cheers,

Jim

 

Depends on the church. Our church is as white as rice (sad to say), but I do see clapping, amening, talking, and an occasional stomp or two.

 

I'm sort of a mugwump on this issue. You know, on the fence with the mug on one side and the wump on the other.

One story: It had been the practice in our church for the organist to play softly during the distribution of the elements of the Lord's Supper. It was quite nice and worshipful, as a matter of fact.

However, when our current pastor came, he decided not to use the organ music. There would be only silence. Boy, what a surprise. The silence produced an amazingly solemn and spiritual atmosphere. It almost seemed to help us focus on the cruicified and risen Christ, and help us to truly appreciate the symbolism of the observance.

I've often wondered what would happen if our invitations were the same way. The preacher exhorts, then waits in silence, while believers pray.

On the other hand, I see no scriptural mandate either way. I do fear that sometimes we worship leaders are more intent on creating an atmosphere than anything else.

 

Excellent point Josh. Occasionally, we have it but not always. It's very soft - only in the background. Helps cover the noise of candy wrappers, etc. [Also, in our church prayers are always from the pulpit -- normally by one of our pastors and our pastors tend to have very long prayers - especially compared to Baptist churches.]