Tell me about your church's music in the assembly?

[Reynolds]

What is "relevant" to the younger generation? If I cast my mind back to my teenage years when I joined a Bible class the immediate attraction was simple singable songs & choruses which were a welcome contrast from the formal liturgy & chants of the Church of England. At last I could sing relevant songs & I was converted at 18.

Over the past 60 years our worship has been largely traditional hymns & modern hymns with conventional verses & rhymes - basically easy to play & sing, with tunes that can be remembered & sung unaccompanied - and taken home in heart & mind.

A year ago we moved to a new area & a church with sound Gospel preaching BUT the music is different & I'm not enjoying it. Mostly modern singer/songwriter worship songs written for guitar, projected on a screen & accompanied by a piano, without a song leader.

I''ve always used the music versions of hymnbooks, but you can't do that with a screen. Guitarists write for the instrument & include music between lines, so we don't know when to sing, & there's no way to remember & take home the hymns in memory.

On most occasions when we do have an old hymn we find the tune has been modernised & given a new chorus. But occasionally we have a familiar old hymn which we can really sing with heart & voice.

I can still remember & sing hymns I learnt decades ago but I can't see that happening with modern worship songs with a constantly changing repertory.

I think the church is losing badly with modern worship.

If you have a lot of youththat choose to come, I guess you are relevant.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What is "relevant" to the younger generation? If I cast my mind back to my teenage years when I joined a Bible class the immediate attraction was simple singable songs & choruses which were a welcome contrast from the formal liturgy & chants of the Church of England. At last I could sing relevant songs & I was converted at 18.

Over the past 60 years our worship has been largely traditional hymns & modern hymns with conventional verses & rhymes - basically easy to play & sing, with tunes that can be remembered & sung unaccompanied - and taken home in heart & mind.

A year ago we moved to a new area & a church with sound Gospel preaching BUT the music is different & I'm not enjoying it. Mostly modern singer/songwriter worship songs written for guitar, projected on a screen & accompanied by a piano, without a song leader.

I''ve always used the music versions of hymnbooks, but you can't do that with a screen. Guitarists write for the instrument & include music between lines, so we don't know when to sing, & there's no way to remember & take home the hymns in memory.

On most occasions when we do have an old hymn we find the tune has been modernised & given a new chorus. But occasionally we have a familiar old hymn which we can really sing with heart & voice.

I can still remember & sing hymns I learnt decades ago but I can't see that happening with modern worship songs with a constantly changing repertory.

I think the church is losing badly with modern worship.

I concur! In the old school churches we
do not separate services by age groups. Children are included in worship services and adult activities. Parents are encouraged to teach their children at home. That way the entire family is learning and growing (together). What a departure from most churches that actually segregate children from their parents.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If you have a lot of youththat choose to come, I guess you are relevant.

Conventional wisdom

 

[Reynolds]

Conventional wisdom

Typical excuse.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Typical excuse.

Not at all. Measuring the Growing of churches via youth attendance is an outlier. And I can give you many reasons why.

Personally I would pay attention to sustainability in growth ( of all generations ).

 

[Danthemailman]

This is my idea of praise and worship music during assembly at church.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

This is my idea of praise and worship music during assembly at church.

Interesting.... why?

Are musical instruments mentioned in Scripture in New Testament worship?

 

[Danthemailman]

Interesting.... why?

For me it's uplifting and vibrant and it's also a joyous celebration of the Lord! Feeling like I'm at a hard rock concert or an opera or I'm listening to Herman Munster from the TV show "The Munsters" play a huge organ at church is not uplifting for me.

Are musical instruments mentioned in Scripture in New Testament worship?

See post #14. - Tell me about your church's music in the assembly?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

For me it's uplifting and vibrant and it's also a joyous celebration of the Lord! Feeling like I'm at a hard rock concert or an opera or I'm listening to Herman Munster from the TV show "The Munsters" play a huge organ at church is not uplifting for me.

See post #14. - Tell me about your church's music in the assembly?

It appears to be a show to me. Needless to say, my Family would not attend as we are happy to be a part of an a cappella accompaniment. We find the human voice a vibrant and joyous celebration of the Lord, there is no need for drums... probably at some expense to the church I would wager. But thanks for your worship experience... you go to your church & we being happy with our own worship will stick to ours.

 

[Danthemailman]

It appears to be a show to me. Needless to say, my Family would not attend as we are happy to be a part of an a cappella accompaniment. We find the human voice a vibrant and joyous celebration of the Lord, there is no need for drums... probably at some expense to the church I would wager. But thanks for your worship experience... you go to your church & we being happy with our own worship will stick to ours.

Thank you as well. To each his own.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

Are musical instruments mentioned in Scripture in New Testament worship?

I don't think so, but using that absence to infer that NT worship should not include instruments is an argument from silence, and the abundant OT citations of instrumental music seem to be relevant. I see it as a matter of individual church liberty, as long as the music honors the Lord.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I don't think so, but using that absence to infer that NT worship should not include instruments is an argument from silence, and the abundant OT citations of instrumental music seem to be relevant. I see it as a matter of individual church liberty, as long as the music honors the Lord.

OK... so now it becomes a choice criterion. I can’t stand the stuff personally so I won’t go to a church with electric guitars and drums. You may like it so by all means enjoy your self.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

OK... so now it becomes a choice criterion. I can’t stand the stuff personally so I won’t go to a church with electric guitars and drums. You may like it so by all means enjoy your self.

The bold seems to infer that I like electric guitars and drums in church. If one refers to post #5, in which I described the music in our church (music which I see as honoring the Lord), neither of the above instruments appear. We do occasionally have acoustic guitar, but nothing that offers even a sniff of rock

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The bold seems to infer that I like electric guitars and drums in church. If one refers to post #5, in which I described the music in our church (music which I see as honoring the Lord), neither of the above instruments appear. We do occasionally have acoustic guitar, but nothing that offers even a sniff of rock

Note I used the words, “you may”...correct. And where did I use rock?

 

[Scarlett O.]

I don't think so, but using that absence to infer that NT worship should not include instruments is an argument from silence, and the abundant OT citations of instrumental music seem to be relevant. I see it as a matter of individual church liberty, as long as the music honors the Lord.

Great answer.

In my church assembly - we might sing "Bringing in the Sheaves", "Victory in Jesus", "Days of Elijah" [as in the above video], or any song that sung congregationally can bring honor to God.

We have a someone who plays the piano [me], a drummer, bass guitar, lead guitar, and keyboardist.

Not everyone plays their instrument in all 10 songs [counting Sunday morning and Sunday night]. It depends on the song, the particular verse, or how the instruments best sound in laying out the format for singing. Sometimes we repeat a chorus or do a last verse acapella.

Singing and music at my church is all about reverencing God and exalting him. It maybe loud or soft, with full instruments or with none.

I completely understand how everyone has their own opinion of how music should be expressed in church. I've been in the music ministry since I was 16 and I'll be 58 soon. I've seen a lot come and go and the one thing that never ever changes is that people are not happy with either their own church music or the music of the church down the street. And they can't wait to criticize it.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

Note I used the words, “you may”...correct. And where did I use rock?

You didn't, and I apologize if that's what the above post inferred - I only wished to describe how acoustic guitar was used ( and not used) at our church. However, in my very limited exposure to use of electric guitar in church, the music always included some of the rock variety - rhythm overwhelming lyrics, melody and harmony. I've heard acoustic guitar in church more often, and so far it's not been rock-ey style. Certainly either type of instrument can be used in many styles of music; the above is merely what I've experienced.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Great answer.

In my church assembly - we might sing "Bringing in the Sheaves", "Victory in Jesus", "Days of Elijah" [as in the above video], or any song that sung congregationally can bring honor to God.

We have a someone who plays the piano [me], a drummer, bass guitar, lead guitar, and keyboardist.

Not everyone plays their instrument in all 10 songs [counting Sunday morning and Sunday night]. It depends on the song, the particular verse, or how the instruments best sound in laying out the format for singing. Sometimes we repeat a chorus or do a last verse acapella.

Singing and music at my church is all about reverencing God and exalting him. It maybe loud or soft, with full instruments or with none.

I completely understand how everyone has their own opinion of how music should be expressed in church. I've been in the music ministry since I was 16 and I'll be 58 soon. I've seen a lot come and go and the one thing that never ever changes is that people are not happy with either their own church music or the music of the church down the street. And they can't wait to criticize it.

So eliminate the instruments completely and make it A Capella totally. Most people playing these instruments are not accomplished professionals anyway so why torture the folks being forced to endure their performance? When it says, make a joyful noise, I stress “ Noise” as the primary irritant.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You didn't, and I apologize if that's what the above post inferred - I only wished to describe how acoustic guitar was used ( and not used) at our church. However, in my very limited exposure to use of electric guitar in church, the music always included some of the rock variety - rhythm overwhelming lyrics, melody and harmony. I've heard acoustic guitar in church more often, and so far it's not been rock-ey style. Certainly either type of instrument can be used in many styles of music; the above is merely what I've experienced.

Thanks and I realize you’re explanation. I have attended services where electric guitars are used, my son who plays both base and guitar has been on hand and he has commented on the speaker balance ( or lack there of ). By in large they are either too loud or too muted. I will add the drums as another instrument that’s generally too loud to some. We have testimonies right on this thread that verifies hearing difficulties. So what is the primary reason to use them. I would suggest it’s to cultivate younger people. I would suggest that’s generally not a selling point to get younger people who is serious about worship into the pews.... I would suggest sermons and discipleship draw them into submitting to services. Of course it’s yours to choose but as for me... well you know my stance brethren.

 

[tyndale1946]

Thanks and I realize you’re explanation. I have attended services where electric guitars are used, my son who plays both base and guitar has been on hand and he has commented on the speaker balance ( or lack there of ). By in large they are either too loud or too muted. I will add the drums as another instrument that’s generally too loud to some. We have testimonies right on this thread that verifies hearing difficulties. So what is the primary reason to use them. I would suggest it’s to cultivate younger people. I would suggest that’s generally not a selling point to get younger people who is serious about worship into the pews.... I would suggest sermons and discipleship draw them into submitting to services. Of course it’s yours to choose but as for me... well you know my stance brethren.

Christian music is used to praise the Lord not wake up the dead... When I sing to the Lord I want to feel the Lord when I sing, all the way to my heart and soul... I'm singing to him and not following any musical instrument to do it... I am the instrument... A group of us congregational acapella singers put on a recital, after listening to it played back, someone, who was not there, remarked I heard and organ in there?... How could you it was just our voices, raised in praise to God... To each his own... Keep your instruments... I'll sings hymns the old fashioned way... Brother Glen

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Christian music is used to praise the Lord not wake up the dead... When I sing to the Lord I want to feel the Lord when I sing, all the way to my heart and soul... I'm singing to him and not following any musical instrument to do it... I am the instrument... A group of us congregational acapella singers put on a recital, after listening to it played back, someone, who was not there, remarked I heard and organ in there?... How could you it was just our voices, raised in praise to God... To each his own... Keep your instruments... I'll sings hymns the old fashioned way... Brother Glen