Is Your Worship Music Driven by Complaints or Mission in Context?
Great perspective here at Christianity Today
by Matt Boswell
"To make hymn-style and chorus-style songs enemies is not wise. The Psalms are filled with many formats of songs that are to be sung. From simple refrains to antiphonal responses, from songs of lament to hymns of remembrance, our hymnal is vast. We must conclude that western worship is one way of orthodox singing, but in no way can we impose on varied cultures around the globe that this is the only way. The modern hymn and the praise chorus are close friends, especially in many churches where the music encompasses both variants of music."
First Things-Tragic Worship
by Carl R. Trueman
June/July 2013
"Tragedy as a form of art and of entertainment highlighted death, and death is central to true Christian worship."
"Perhaps it is ironic, but the church that confronts people with the reality of the shortness of life lived under the shadow of death prepares them for resurrection better than the church that goes straight to resurrection triumphalism without that awkward mortality bit."
by John MacArthur
Christian Research Journal 23/2
This article had a huge impact on me in my early stages of forming my philosophy of worship, and it can be credited for part of the motivation to title this blog--colossians316.com.
How to Make an Appropriately Loud, Joyful Noise
Mike Cosper
posted by the Gospel Coalition
A great article on dealing with volume of music in a church service
This document was adopted as part of the music and worship philosophies of Faith Baptist Church by the pastors and deacons July 10, 2003. For a more extended discussion on music and worship issues, please refer to Pastor Viars’ Summer 2003 Worship series and our other documents entitled “Corporate Music and Worship Philosophy,” and “Discussion of Music and Worship Issues.”
2 good quotes from Donald Hustad's book, "Jubilate II".
p74 - "Most people will argue that they 'know what they like' when the truth is 'they like and accept what they know'."
p51 - "...when the church chooses popular forms for most of its music, there will be a communication gap with every new adult generation, because the pop forms (secular and sacred) learned by teens and young adults remain their favorites for life. As a result, many of today's evangelical grandparents want to hear gospel songs, while their grandchildren insist on Contemporary Christian Music."
notes from Donald Hustad book, "Jubilate II"
Chapter 1
What is the purpose of music in church?
What is more important: music or lyrics?
music =emotional part, universal means of expression
words=the language part, infuse actual meaning
church music = art music ?
music functions in society as:
- giving identity
- adds significance to important events
- reinforces political, social, religious ideals
music functions in church:
- congregational behavior
- Praise and Worship to God
- teaching
- healing human spirit
- helps build community