When did the Spiral of Music head Down?

[wizofoz]

Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:
I have watched the past 50 years carefully and see this trend slowly but surely being adopting (and often embraced) in my ifb circles. YOU tell me a ifb service that sang such tripe 50 years ago? Or clapped along with songs? Or had rock bands? Or raised hands and swayed like robotons at Woodstock?

That's my take. What's yours?

Bob, stop living in the past. Stop being afraid of change and new things.
Heaven forbid anyone should clap their hands in church? Or hold their hands up in praise?
A sure sign of a church in decline is when they embrace the notion of "that's the way we've always done it here, and that's the way I like it!"

I'm surprised no one has quoted Psalm 33:3 and 4 -- "Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth."

 

[Jude]

Dr Bob, I 'hear' what you are saying, and I don't entirely disagree. As Col. Potter would say, there IS a lot of 'hooh-hah'out there that represents itself as 'music'. One of the main things that attracted me to the Episcopal Church (and liturgy in general)was that it conveyed a sense of the holiness and majesty of God, that it's prayers were written , not the product of the 'preachers' own spontaneity, and that the music was absolutely beautiful...and had a 'connectedness' with the Church of ages past. I still love traditional music. However, as I've said before, I don't think that the Holy Spirit has stopped writing music. However, Dr Bob, I do agree, sometimes I wonder just what 'spirit' is writing some music today. Yet, hand-clapping...?

(Psa 47:1 NIV) For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.

 

[Multimom]

Let's compare shall we:

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

REFRAIN
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

How about this one:

Lord you are more precious than silver,
Lord you are more costly than Gold,
Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds
and nothing I desire compares with you.

OR:

As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longs after you. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship you. You alone are my strength my shield, to you alone does my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.

I want you more than gold or silver only you can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye. You alone are my strength my shield, to you alone does my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.

OR MAYBE THIS ONE:

This is the air I breathe.
This is the air I breathe.
Your holy presence, living in me.

This is my daily bread,
This is my daily bread,
Your very word spoken to me.

And I'm desperate for you
I'm Lost without you.

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE:

When I think about all you've done for me.
When I see your wondrous ways.
I can't help but sing your highest praise.
My God you're and awesome God.

Oh my God you're an awesome God, Great is thy faithfullness, mighty are your ways.
Oh my God you're an awesome God, and you will reigh forever Lord in my life, you're an awesome God.

COMPARE THIS ONE TO THE ONE ABOVE:

Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my saviour God to Thee. How great thou art. How great thou art. Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee. How great thou art. How great thou art.


HOW ABOUT THIS ONE TOO:

My Jesus my Savior, Lord there is none like you. All of my days I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love. My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength. Let every breath, all that I am never cease to worship you.

Shout to the Lord all ye earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hands forever I'll love you forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

RE-READ THE ONE ABOVE AND COMPARE IT TO THIS ONE:

Standing on the promises Of Christ my king
Through eternal ages let his praise ring.
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.


REALITY CHECK????

Whether old hymns or new praise songs. The point is the same and the heart of man is the singer!!

 

[Dr. Bob]

I am one of the LAST to stand behind "we've always done it this way". I detest that phrase. Don't let the bowtie fool you. Come Memorial Day I'll preach in Dockers and a Ralph Lauren Polo . .

Some of CCM lyrics and melodies are top quality. The majority are not.

And you can bring up "lyrics" to compare and I will agree that there is some awful tripe out there in the "traditional hymnal" as well as in the CCM scene.

But lyrics are only a SMALL PART of music. Now let's start comparing the entire musical composition of George Stebbins, James MacGranahan, PP Bliss, John Peterson, even Bill Gaither with the typical CCM of today.

Apples and oranges. Lyrics might compare once in while; total music package 1 in 100?

Again, just my thoughts. Appreciate the good discussion here.

 

[Helen]

Just as a point of interest, there are a number of lovely hymns and church songs which have their roots in the music of taverns and drinking songs and other bawdy melodies.

The Salvation Army was well-known for taking popular melodies and folk melodies (such as "All Through the Night" and "Danny Boy") and putting words of praise and the Gospel message in them.

As far as music itself goes, my bet is that it was at a VERY low level just before the Deluge...

 

[td]

Dr. Bob, I have really been turned off by CCM in recent years as well. It wasn't so much the raised hands and all, but the shallow lyrics and the obvious sell out to commercialization. I think the lyrics are what makes a Christian song.

I've always been somewhat reluctant to be critical of someone's style of music, because after all, that song was someone's offering to God, so who am I to judge?

 

[Jude]

Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:
I am one of the LAST to stand behind "we've always done it this way". I detest that phrase. Don't let the bowtie fool you. Come Memorial Day I'll preach in Dockers and a Ralph Lauren Polo . .

Gosh, Dr Bob, I'd love to see you in cassock and surplice...or perhaps a mink-lined cotta and biretta?