Disturbing... not quite sure why...

[larrylyates]

Originally Posted by crakjak

This one glorifies Jesus, I vote for it!!

Yeah! Have to agree with you on that. It's my favorite way to start my day. Sets a tone for all that.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Esaias

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vd_C5KX_lk

Am I the only one who sees even a slight resemblance?

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Esaias

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vd_C5KX_lk

How about this???

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Jay

That was one of the things that I did not like. I felt that it was more about us than about God. It is one thing to use a song as an identifier, but I would much rather sing a different song.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by larrylyates

Yeah! Have to agree with you on that. It's my favorite way to start my day. Sets a tone for all that.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

How about this???

UGH

I don't like Elvis..........

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by larrylyates

Esaias, if you don't mind my probing, what is it that bothers you about this?

To be honest, I have a few issues with the whole thing, not just the song, but the performance also.

I believe it hints of a superiority complex. Boasting, if you will. Not boasting in what God has done, but boasting along the lines of 'look at us, we have better church than anyone, we are growing in numbers so get on board and get with the in crowd' etc.

Like I said, there are many old songs that claim 'I'm one of the them' and similar themes, but they just seem to have a different feel. More like 'I am so glad God made me a part of what HE is doing' as opposed to the vibe I get from this one, which seems more like 'I am so glad I am not like others, or even this Lutheran/Baptist/Presbyterian/Reformed sinner over there'...

Kind of like an Orthodox Jew praying 'I thank you Lord thou has not made me a woman, a gentile, or a Samaritan' (which if I remember correctly was a common prayer back in the day, may even be common today among some fundamentalist Orthodox men...)

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by larrylyates

I'm not quite sure of the concern over "I'm a Pentecostal" But what are your thoughts on this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4bBM1Au07c

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r4bBM1Au07c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The song is definitely better than the one I posted. It certainly (lyrically) gives glory to God rather than man.

I do however have some reservations about the music and presentation, but then again I am not a big fan of 'contemporary worship theology' anyway.

I honestly feel we, as a people, have gone far away from simple worship and simple lives and simple faith. I really think we have tried to replace the sovereign move of God with rock concert 'jazziness'.

When I see these mega-churches with their choirs and full bands, orchestras, etc... or even some small churches with their drum and piano ensemble (!), I wonder... would they still have a good old fashioned pentecostal service if the drum set broke and the piano player couldn't play, or if the speaker system went on the fritz...?

If you can't have the same powerful type of experience in a simple meeting with 2 or 3 believers and no instruments, PA system, etc, as you can with all the geegaws, then maybe you're not as truly 'pentecostal' as you thought?

('You' in general, not you personally...)

I just cannot help but be reminded of Frank Bartleman's warnings about pentecostal meetings leaving the Spirit behind in favor of carnal parlor tricks, using music to 'jazz the people up'...

But then again, maybe I'm just crotchety.

[seekerman]

I like blood songs.

[larrylyates]

Originally Posted by Esaias

The song is definitely better than the one I posted. It certainly (lyrically) gives glory to God rather than man.

I do however have some reservations about the music and presentation, but then again I am not a big fan of 'contemporary worship theology' anyway.

I honestly feel we, as a people, have gone far away from simple worship and simple lives and simple faith. I really think we have tried to replace the sovereign move of God with rock concert 'jazziness'.

When I see these mega-churches with their choirs and full bands, orchestras, etc... or even some small churches with their drum and piano ensemble (!), I wonder... would they still have a good old fashioned pentecostal service if the drum set broke and the piano player couldn't play, or if the speaker system went on the fritz...?

If you can't have the same powerful type of experience in a simple meeting with 2 or 3 believers and no instruments, PA system, etc, as you can with all the geegaws, then maybe you're not as truly 'pentecostal' as you thought?

('You' in general, not you personally...)

I just cannot help but be reminded of Frank Bartleman's warnings about pentecostal meetings leaving the Spirit behind in favor of carnal parlor tricks, using music to 'jazz the people up'...

But then again, maybe I'm just crotchety.

I attend a small church of about 60. We have a great worship team, piano, and drums. Mostly contemporary with the occasional "oldie."

Recently we had a service where for some reason we had neither piano or drums working. We sang acapella from a hymnal. It turned out to be one of the most powerful moves of the Spirit we had experienced in some time. That's saying a lot. The Spirit moves freely in our services. But this time there was a palpable difference. So, I see your point quite well.