would you still attend the same church?

[nodak]

Once in a while circumstances deal us a situation that starts us thinking what if?

Our pianist is fighting cancer. We have other musicians.

But what if we didn't? In fact, what if all forms of music were banned for six months from our churches? And when it returned, what if we could only read the lyrics for six months?

Would it make any difference in which church you attend?

And when you could play and sing the music portion again, would you still do the same songs?

No matter what the music style of a church, I suspect that if there were no music for six months in any churches in our particular town, several things would happen:

1. I think some folks only come for the music and would leave. This applies equally to the traditional, contemporary, rock contemporary, and southern gospel style churches we have here.

2. I think some folks who are picking their church on music style would switch churches if they actually decided based on what is taught, prayed, and preached.

3. I think some folks would be satisfied that they have picked right and stay right where they are.

4. I think during the six months that songs could be read aloud but not played or sung a whole lot of all the music genres would be weeded out. No matter your style, some pieces are musically wonderful and lyrically pitiful.


What do you think would happen in your particular area?

 

[annsni]

If we were there, there would be music. Hubby is a musician and regularly leads worship when he's not preaching. If he's not able to, we could easily get someone else. If there were NO one else, we could do the music with an iPod.

If music were BANNED from church, I'd leave. There's no Biblical reason to ban music and a church doing so is overstepping their boundaries.

 

[Gina B]

I think I get your point.

Same goes for a lot of stuff.
I've heard people say they look in the parking lot when looking for a new church and if the majority aren't carrying Bibles, they won't go.
Well, our church puts the verses up on powerpoint and for Sunday school we often just use the bible on the i-phone. It's still a full version Bible, but some people are stuck on "you have to bring a paper version bible to church."

Same for lots of stuff. Too many people let other stuff play into their decision and not enough emphasis on what is believed, taught, and acted on.

Those other things do count for something. A church can preach and teach the perfect version of everything and not put a single bit of it into action, so it would still make it wrong to be a part of that.

But hey, take away praising God through song and I'd probably throw myself over a cliff after not very long. Music is a strong part of worship in my spiritual life. I know that if I can't sing or have my heart softened by hearing others praise God through music, my spiritual life is in VERY VERY bad shape and I'm on dangerous ground.

 

[nodak]

Yes, I love the music portion of worship also and would not want to lose it.

But I was just thinking: I know a Nazarene who attends the Lutheran church because he likes hymns. I know a Baptist attending the Methodist church for the same reason. I know a Lutheran who attends a rock and roll Baptist church for the music. I know some Methodists who loudly proclaim they do NOT need to be born again because they were baptized as infants who attend one Baptist church for the rock music. I know a Nazarene family who believes you can lose your salvation but attend a fundamentalist Baptist church for the hymns.

Music seems to be a driving force in our culture. (That might be good, might not. It isn't the point of this thread.)

So I'm just wondering if some sort of imaginary electromagnetic pulse or something eliminated all songs for six months, then gave us back just the lyrics for six months, and then gave it all back to us, what difference would that make in the churches?

For that matter, can you imagine how it would change advertizing?

 

[MNJacob]

Have you ever heard the back story to Matt Redman's "The Heart of Worship"?

 

[nodak]

No--tell us!

 

[Winman]

About twenty years ago our pianst had a severe heart attack and was out over six months. Unbelieveably there was not another pianist in our congregation (about 100 regulars every week). Because I play guitar I led music service while she was gone. It worked, but it just wasn't the same. I do not sight read well, but enough to get by. I took our hymnal home and figured out the chords for about 70 songs. As I said, it worked, but piano is a far better instrument for hymns than guitar.

 

[rbell]

About twenty years ago our pianst had a severe heart attack and was out over six months. Unbelieveably there was not another pianist in our congregation (about 100 regulars every week). Because I play guitar I led music service while she was gone. It worked, but it just wasn't the same. I do not sight read well, but enough to get by. I took our hymnal home and figured out the chords for about 70 songs. As I said, it worked, but piano is a far better instrument for hymns than guitar.

Bless you for stepping up when needed.

I know you didn't do it to get approval from us, but you got it anyway.

 

[ituttut]

Once in a while circumstances deal us a situation that starts us thinking what if?

Our pianist is fighting cancer. We have other musicians.

But what if we didn't? In fact, what if all forms of music were banned for six months from our churches? And when it returned, what if we could only read the lyrics for six months?

Would it make any difference in which church you attend?

And when you could play and sing the music portion again, would you still do the same songs?

No matter what the music style of a church, I suspect that if there were no music for six months in any churches in our particular town, several things would happen:

1. I think some folks only come for the music and would leave. This applies equally to the traditional, contemporary, rock contemporary, and southern gospel style churches we have here.

2. I think some folks who are picking their church on music style would switch churches if they actually decided based on what is taught, prayed, and preached.

3. I think some folks would be satisfied that they have picked right and stay right where they are.

4. I think during the six months that songs could be read aloud but not played or sung a whole lot of all the music genres would be weeded out. No matter your style, some pieces are musically wonderful and lyrically pitiful.


What do you think would happen in your particular area?

ituttut: What if's are interesting. But first things first. The gospel of Jesus Christ from heaven is not preached, or perhaps it is at this church? Then let's sing songs of praise to God. Surely that will bring those sinners in, or keep them here.

Is it the Gospel of Christ Jesus from heaven that holds a church together, or the music?

Once we dimmish His Word, it means we believe something else is of more importance.

 

[Steven2006]

I think the obvious choice would be to sing A cappella.

 

[John Toppass]

Nodak, I regrettably think I know what you are saying. Without adding exceptions to your OP (like all have so far). I think we would pay a lot more attention to the words we are now reciting, some songs would fall by the way side because of how monotonous the words would be without music. Those who would leave the church would not have a church to attend if you meant "our churches". I think there are lots of songs that we are not really thinking about what the words say. I also think there are lots of songs that the wording is even more meaningful when paid attention too. I enjoy the music and singing the words (even if those in front of me wish I didn't), it is a form of worship that lifts my spirit and prepares my heart to listen to God's word.

 

[jaigner]

I think that the music itself can become an idol if we're not careful.

I've always wanted to take all music out and to bring the Psalter back to the center of corporate worship, as it was for centuries. Perhaps in doing so, we would separate the act of corporate worship from the vehicle of music enough to where the congregation could approach it again in a more organic way.

When they got the point of the discipline, we'd bring music back, hopefully free from idolatry.

And all this is from a music guy, classically trained, certified teacher, who is called to church music.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Balance. Lovely word. Great principle- in life and in worship.

Unfortunately, Baptists tend to run towards extremes rather than to balance in most cases.

 

[HAMel]

"I've heard people say they look in the parking lot when looking for a new church and if the majority aren't carrying Bibles, they won't go.
Well, our church puts the verses up on powerpoint and for Sunday school we often just use the bible on the i-phone."

When you go hunting you take your shotgun along. If you're going bowling you take your bowling ball along. Going to church? You take your Bible with you. As for the "power point"..., what happens if the power goes out?

 

[rbell]

"I've heard people say they look in the parking lot when looking for a new church and if the majority aren't carrying Bibles, they won't go.
Well, our church puts the verses up on powerpoint and for Sunday school we often just use the bible on the i-phone."

When you go hunting you take your shotgun along. If you're going bowling you take your bowling ball along. Going to church? You take your Bible with you. As for the "power point"..., what happens if the power goes out?

Of course, the role Scripture plays in a church's life and of primary importance.

But let's be careful of indicting a church because they choose to use projection for putting words on a screen.

We do that, but we also encourage folks to bring their Bibles.

 

[MNJacob]

No--tell us!

Sorry folks. I have never had the time to do much here but make a comment or two and leave.

Here is a link to the back story of the Heart of Worship

http://www.crosswalk.com/1253122/

The circumstances are very similar to the OP.

 

[Bob Alkire]

I was brought up in a church, that at most had three hymns in a service, many a service we didn't have any. Not that music wasn't used, but it was mainly Friday or Saturday night, had song service then for about a couple hours or more, depended on the response.

I've been a pastor of three churches that didn't have music in service due to the fact we didn't have a piano player or another instrument or a song leader( I know nothing about music and when I lead it is always deep from the bottom of the barrel, my voice is rather deep speaking or trying to sing). I did take a hymn and try to teach from it for a few minutes at times when there wasn't any music. I can't speak for others, but I got a lot out of that, the words and background study on the writer and what he was trying to get across and why.

But where ever we meet, the Holy spirit will lead us into a great service if we are their for His glory. Ask a few ex servicemen, where two or three getting together in a fox hole and having their eyes on God. Read about prisoner of war getting together to pray or some of our brothers and sisters in China or other places getting together. Great praise can be given with or without music.

 

[kyredneck]

I think the obvious choice would be to sing A cappella.

AMEN!

The Old Baptists have been doing it for centuries.

 

[Mexdeaf]

"I've heard people say they look in the parking lot when looking for a new church and if the majority aren't carrying Bibles, they won't go.
Well, our church puts the verses up on powerpoint and for Sunday school we often just use the bible on the i-phone."

When you go hunting you take your shotgun along. If you're going bowling you take your bowling ball along. Going to church? You take your Bible with you. As for the "power point"..., what happens if the power goes out?

It is a sin to have electricity.

 

[annsni]

"I've heard people say they look in the parking lot when looking for a new church and if the majority aren't carrying Bibles, they won't go.
Well, our church puts the verses up on powerpoint and for Sunday school we often just use the bible on the i-phone."

When you go hunting you take your shotgun along. If you're going bowling you take your bowling ball along. Going to church? You take your Bible with you. As for the "power point"..., what happens if the power goes out?

And how do you write yourself notes on the Powerpoint? I write in my Bible. I write down new insights, meanings of words, etc. I can't do that by looking at the screen.

At our church, we will put the reference on the screen and at our "mother church" (we're a church plant/new campus), they put the reference on the note paper. But beyond that, we don't put Scripture on the screen because everyone should have their own Bible and USE it.