[OGIA]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

jshorts,

I'm seriously NOT getting that mentality from OGIA's post... especially the last one! It would appear to me that he's saying that sometimes we can rely too much on the music to get things going.

He's a big boy and can correct me if I'm wrong. I also didn't get that he was taking a pot shot at POA or its leadership. The statement seemed pretty cut and dry to me: would we have the same involvement of worship if it wasn't for the music.

Thanks, Stedfast. You read me correctly.

Would we have the same involvement in worship (btw, I consider it more praise when done this way) without the music? Would it be the same with an old piano or organ or guitar? Could we maintain the worship like they did at Azusa street or in our grandparents day without a "thump, thump, thump" of the drums and bass and an organ crashing down in our ears? I have to be honest and say I seriously doubt it. Music is as much our cheerleader as is the song leader. Neither should EVER be required to 1) start us praising the Lord or 2) keep us praising Him.

Hey, I love music... I play 8 different instruments and my drummer used to play for Kirk Franklin before we got him saved ( ) so music is important to us. But not as important as truth in our preaching.

Speaking of POA, one night last summer Bro. Mangun got up in the middle of a good ol' drum-thumpin', electric guitar-grinding and keyboard-electrifying praise session (I was at the first step to the platform, right in the middle of it) and stopped the whole thing and told the congregation that he HAD TO preach and that we could continue later, but that it was time for what God laid on his heart.

Yes, I do respect the man. I LOVE the music there! If you haven't gotten the new CD from the choir, you are missing a GEM! But, I pray that the music does not drive the praise and worship of that or ANY church. When it does, we've substituted it for what ought to really drive us ...... HIM ....... music or not.