thread in fund. forum raise question

I have been reading the thread about church music in the fundamental forum and it raises a question re our church and music.

We have some folks saved out of the honkytonk culture, and some from the heavy metal bar scene.

They prefer those music types so we have been doing them instead of the hymnal.

We are not seeing a lot of growth in these folks.

Is it likely we are feeding the things pulling them back into those lifestyles with our music?

Should church music be "different" than bar or honkytonk music more than just lyrically?

Or is it not a problem?

 

Thanks--but I am beginning to wonder about our wisdom. Seems church is filling the needs the bar did, rather than Christ filling them.

And "saved out of the bars" may be a misstatement. I think some may be adding church to the bar scene, and others are adding fire insurance and a new crowd to the old life.

Sure would like to see them split from the old life altogether. I must admit our services now are less about Jesus and more about the rock music.

Just musing, praying, and seeking guidance.

 

Um, excuse me, but I attend, am one of the musicians, and have a pretty good handle on what we are "about."

I know how often we speak of, teach about, or pray to the Lord.

I am not "anti rock music" as some are. But we HAVE become all about the music rather than all about Jesus.

Now, you could substitute country and western, blue grass, or any other "pop" music and IF there was a corresponding lessening of preaching and teaching and speaking about Jesus and more focus on the music, I would say the same thing.

And yes, there is rock music that DOES focus on Jesus. Just doesn't happen to be where we seem to be going.

We have a musicians meeting coming up, and I see a need to consider before we go any further.

 

sag38, I apologize for not making my concerns more clear.

My concern is not with any specific form of music.

My concern is that we have people for whom specific types of music seem to be drawing them back into sin. And that, by his own words, is a concern for our pastor also, who was saved out of the country and western bar scene.

Like it or not, there are people for whom specific forms of music are an opening for temptation. We don't happen to have any in our church for whom classical music is a temptation, but if we did, would we not be kinder not to play it?

Our concern is that just as Paul knew it didn't hurt one bit to eat meat sacrificed to idols, he would not do it if it was hurting a fellow believer.

I think those of us who were never caught up in the sex/drugs/rockandroll scene or the country and western honkytonk scene are often unaware just how strong the pull of such sensual music is to those who were once part of that lifestyle.

Another comment coming in our church FROM THOSE ONCE IN THE BAR SCENE is that they prefer the music we are doing and that the sermons be of the "how to have a happy life type" if they are to continue to attend. They feel less threatened and less judged for their continuing lifestyle that way.

And I am questioning if that is a good thing, or if they SHOULD be challenged to a cleaner life?

My question is NOT are some forms of music not suitable in church, but rather just how far should we go in accomodating culture?