My wife is a precious, praying, powerful Saint of God. Her number ONE complaint about Church is "Just every now and then... just sometimes... sing a song that I can sing harmony with instead of a jumbled cluster of words that say so little!"
A lot of the P&W songs have a lot of lines that are sung in unison.. I have noticed that. Being a harmonizer myself I can relate to her sentiments. Although some of the new stuff is very nice.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
* First, you state that one should say, "It's not about me, It's not about me" and I agree to a point. But what is the deal with all the "Jesus is my boyfriend" songs that focus on US instead of on HIM? Many of the new Vineyard, Hillsong and even contemporary black choirs (among others) are doing songs that have little to do with God and a lot to do with "I, me, my, our and mine"
"Jesus is my boyfriend"...As far as I'm concerned, singing about our love for God is a wonderful thing. I have heard a few that get too smarmy for my taste, but I can't think of many. For almost every modern worship song, I could probably pull an old hymn with similar lyrics (in older lingo).
I have just the opposite objection, actually. I've been to churches where they act like if you aren't singing directly TO God, then somehow the music is less than, less important, less worthy, it's like an elitist idea about music. The Bible says to speak to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (In addition, to sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord.)
Does that make sense? Have you seen this happening? Amazing Grace...its totally about ME...but its telling how His Grace SAVED me, and expressing wonder at such a miracle. Such songs are precious and relative, whether they are old hymns or written by some young teenager who decided to set the lyrics to a pop melody.
I agree that some music is just boring and meaningless and pure entertainment or indulgence on the part of the musicians/singers. I also think it varies from church to church, and what works at one will not work at another, which is why the musicians and singers have an obligation to consult God about these things and stay in tune with Him. (NPI)
I've heard some old songs that are pretty meaningless...such as "Move Me With Your Message", and "Cain't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus", "Great Speckled Bird", etc. It isn't the "new" stuff that is meaningless...there have been meaningless songs written for centuries--right along side the good ones. So we have to be careful what we choose.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
I just had a friend come back from an overseas trip with a large group from a prominent Church. The 'large group' was mainly musicians and singers for this overseas conference.
I got tickled because the FIRST thing he did when he got on American soil was call me and say - and I quote - "If I hear 'I Am A Friend of God' one more time... I may not be His friend anymore!" He said they sang it over 20 different times that week.
What is so funny is that my son has that very song playing on his cell phone while you wait for him to answer and I had, the day before, told him, "CHANGE THAT SONG!"
What one song - regardless of how good it 'once was' - has been dragged through one too many services and should be forever retired in your opinion?
(BTW: While we have 'kicking' music in our Church and I, myself, play several instruments I have to admit that I'm NOT a 'Hillsong' type music fan.)
"I Am A Friend Of God" needs to be buried.
Next?
A few weeks ago, I started to write a thread about this same thing. I thought I would be misunderstood so I erased it and left it alone. I am glad you took up the subject.
I too cannot understand why this song has taken such a hold. I don't understand why we as a Oneness Pentecostal Movement have to take our Main songs from a Trinity Charismatic Movement. When we do, we leave out a whole section of songs about, the Godhead, the Blood, His Name, Second Coming, and on the list goes.
I love worshipful songs that get you to the dimension of feeling like you are the only one there alone with God, and these times are needful. But where have the services gone where when we sing about ONE GOD and the place goes nuts. I have a feeling that when this used to happen God rejoiced as well.
While there are a few places in the Bible that refers to us as friends, I could rather rejoice in the fact that I am called a child or a Son of God! If I am a Son of God I can rejoice over the inheiritence I am promised!
My nomination for songs that should have been retired is "Take The Shackles Off My Feet". I remember being in a service where this was sung. The spirit was not moving, no one was dancing, not even the praise singers and the song must have been sung 25 times to get the "spirit" moving. Don't know whose spirit they wanted to move but it wasn't God's!
I too vote for bringing back some of the hymnal songs. I think that some of them have gone by the wayside because of the terminology that is used in some of them. But, I agree, to let a song of great quality as "I See A Crimson Stream Of Blood" go drifting out of our movement is avery sad thing indeed.
I guess where I'm having a problem is with this part: If you are sitting (or standing) in service waiting for the song you like to show up before you can worship God, then you are going about it all wrong. We've ALL had shackles (of sin) taken off our feet, so we can now dance (for joy)! That ought to be a song we can all identify with! So why isn't it?
I have a feeling if Amazing Grace were sang in a newfangled way, with funky music, that it wouldn't matter what the lyrics were--it would be "sat on" by those who don't like that genre of music.
I understand not liking certain types of music. But I don't understand discrediting folks as not being anointed if they sing a style you don't like. Sure, certain lyrics, certain sounds...they stir up your heart...but does our heart have to be stirred by certain lyrics and sounds before we can get stirred up about God?
I have a feeling if folks came INTO His courts with praise, and were thanking God for His goodness and worshipping before the band ever struck a note--well, I just think it would make a big difference, and I think the particulars of the music would be a lot less important.
Where I think it's "all about me" is when someone waits for "their" song before they are able to get on their feet and praise God. You know, if you'd go ahead and lift your hands and put forth a passionate effort, who's to say your actions might not change your attitude?
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Oh my, MissB that is one of my all time hated songs.............Cain't nobody do me like Jesus.
That's just almost nasty!!!!
Talk about getting 'em out of their pews too......oh my!
I know. I hate it. And with current lingo the way it is...it probably sounds pretty weird to newcomers.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
If The Church is the Bride elect, the fiancee as is were, then wouldn't that make Jesus our boyfriend?
I like new songs (I'm very eclectic in my tastes..except I don't care for opera in the Church), but I think sometimes they try too hard and put too many words in some of them, others not enough. I think we need a good mix of the new and old. Some of the older, Green Hymnal, songs are great and we could probably put them on the over head and many would think they were new. I led praise and worship when I was in Wisconsin and I'd break a out the Green Hymnal on occasion, and yes the church could worship with the old songs.
Let's face it worship is a heart matter, were praise is a head matter. You think to praise and love to worship! Praise and worship are not the same. It is all about Him and my relationship to Him!
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Psa 119:165 (KJV) 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
"Do not believe everthing you read on the internet" - Abe Lincoln
If The Church is the Bride elect, the fiancee as is were, then wouldn't that make Jesus our boyfriend? 
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