Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBrattified
The problem is the author assumed that because HE was carnal and looking on in a daze that the rest of the congregation's worship was equally meaningless. It is okay to have an emotional response to God's presence, it is okay to be emotional in our praise to Him, and it is okay to slow down if the tempo doesn't match hanging from the chandeliers--none of those things equate a lack of sincerity or authenticity on the part of those who were worshipping. It only indicated the author's state of mind.
It also indicates arrogance, because while he thought he was controlling the service by speeding up the music or slowing it down, he really was still just facilitating folks' praise in spite of himself, and instead of being an obstacle as he intended, he ended up still helping them be expressive!
I have heard musicians say in the past that they "controlled" the service one way or the other--nonsense! God is in control. There is no way one narcissistic musician or music director can turn an entire church full of sincere worshipers in the wrong direction. The fact that they are observing and attributing it to themselves is only more evidence of their own carnality.
Again, folks' response to the tempo or rhythm of music does NOT negate their worship experience!
Do we really think God is so small that He will look away from sincere worship because the keyboardist is playing around with different rhythms and riffs and is in total disconnect? No, He'll probably just ignore the keyboardist and bless everyone else!
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I think you have a valid point and I think the author has one as well.
You are right I believe those present during the authors worship service were sincere.
But I do believe that some of reactions we express during a church service are because we have our emotions stirred, this is not a bad thing at all--but is all emotional responses stirred on by the move of the spirit or could some be out of our flesh?
I have been moved to tears hearing the national anthem, is that the spirit of God, I say this as a example.
Our churches have outstanding music, I do believe music is a tool that can be used to open people hearts to being sensitive to God and his word.
But I do believe people can be conditioned to responding to music just like Pavlov's dog--again just an example not calling anyone a dog!
I have sat in worship services that the tone of some parishioners(including myself) praise response was to the beat of the drum! the faster it went the faster we went! Was it worship? I guess so, it just stopped when the drummer stopped.
I know what it is to have bad music, and see no one do anything at all. Then only to have comments made that they didn't like the music-Well isn't God bigger than music? Isn't he worthy of praise regardless of what song or who is singing...believe me it was a real eye opener to see peoples response to God was contingent on whether they liked the song or not. I can't think of anything that would reflect immaturity more than this-
Only later to have a woman come to me later and say how good the music was at so n so's church. She was raptured to the 3rd heaven as the worship leader strung his guitar, with tears running down her face she said 'I told God I want to sing like that' and then she said "God told you will and more".
She came to me with this story..I know it was her emotions that were stirred, and then she announced "God has called me to sing-" well she decided to join the praise team..and guess what, she could not sing---and then became very upset and touchy when someone was asked to sing along with the other praise singers. She ended up leaving church.
I believe we are lead by our emotions that is not a bad thing, we just need to know what the difference is between emotionalism and the spirit--and that my dear is a whole other thread
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