Music during prayer

[Magnetic Poles]

What does everything think abot music played during prayer? The only music that I've experienced during prayer is someone playing the piano while a prayer is being said. Frankly, I find it rather annoying and distracting.

What's everyone elses feelings?

I agree. I also think some churches use it as emotional manipulation to elicit a "response".

 

[Jon-Marc]

I think that prayer time should be a quiet time, with nothing to distract one from the prayer. I would find myself concentrating on the music and not the prayer.

 

[Jim1999]

If it is a public prayer, what gives the musician the right to exempt themselves from that public prayer unto God?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[just-want-peace]

I tend to agree with those who say "drop it"!

I have a hard enough time concentrating on prayer under good circumstances, so the less the distractions the better for me.

This also applies to the preacher who wants us to pray for a certain person/situation, and he constantly interrupts with something like;
"now ask God to calm his spirit as his son goes into surgery --- (5-6 second later) - now pray for the sons peace of mind -- pause -- ask God now to see that the financial needs are met---" ad infinitum.

If I am just following another's words, the music doesn't bother me, but if I'm the pray-er, I want QUIET.

 

[Brian30755]

If you're referring to music playing while the pastor or someone else is praying, and everyone is listening to them pray, what in the world does it matter? What does it matter if the congregation is listening to the piano, or listening to someone pray? Is there a benefit to you or to God in listening to someone else pray, anyway?

 

[Jim1999]

So, we should dispense with the pastoral prayer altogether. Why trouble to "lead" in prayer ever?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Jim I didn't see anyone say all or nothing. Why is it that way with you here?

 

[Brian30755]

So, we should dispense with the pastoral prayer altogether. Why trouble to "lead" in prayer ever?

Cheers,

Jim

No, I didn't say anything about dispensing with the pastoral prayer.

Why trouble to "lead" in prayer ever? That would be a great question for you to answer for me...I would honestly like to know why. From what I've seen, though, "leading" in prayer is usually not "leading" anyone in prayer at all...it is one person praying, while everyone else listens to that person pray. "Leading" in prayer implies, to me anyway, that one person starts praying, and then everyone else joins in.

But, I don't mean to get this thing sidetracked...to answer the OP, I personally DO like a little soft music playing while I'm praying, or while I'm listening to the Pastor pray.

 

[Jim1999]

It was a direct response to Brian's post just above,,following the discussion.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Onlybygrace]

A good topic there Wade. We have a lot of old people in our church. There is one particular pianist who likes to play while people are praying and she was scolded by several old folks who said that they couldn't hear the prayer because of the piano.
When speaking of "agreement" in prayer the word the bible uses is the root of our English word harmony. What it literally means is that when we pray we are in harmony concerning the answer to that prayer. The book of Acts describes it as being "of one mind and one accord".

I think if any musical harmony is detracting from spiritual harmony during prayer it is unnecessary and defeats the purpose. I would rather have evryone agreeing with me in prayer without music than only some with music!

Just a thought...

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Again, if you get 100 Baptists in a room to ask this question, you might have 103 different opinions.