Emushional Music
Yep – I JUST coined that term. I’ve blogged before explaining why we offer the type of music we do at The ROCK. It’s loud. On Sunday, the kick drum and bass guitar made my bottle of water dance away from me on a hand rail. And I was standing at least 10 yards away from the nearest speaker. Our music is what most folks would call “Contemporary Christian Music” (CCM). It’s rockier, edgier, funkier than the CCM you’ll hear on Christian Radio. Thank God.
It has become fashionable in some circles to broadly condemn the kind of music we use – at least the use of it in church. Real music, say the critics, should be more reverent … more substantive … less sensual. I have to tell you that I’ve never experienced musical worship more vibrant and meaningful than what Jerimiah and his team are serving up. It points to Jesus. And it balances reverence and relevance. I must also tell you that my preference is simply that: preference. Arguments about worship styles and musical selections are almost always more “preference” than “principle.”
I fell into such an argument recently with a new Facebook friend. I hope both of us can learn from each other. But here is my response to his assertion that the musical portion of worship in churches like ours is too shallow and sensual:
Thank goodness there’s no sappy intimacy stuff in Holy Scripture … you know, like:
- Calling the church Jesus’ “wife,”
- Or John resting his head on the chest of Jesus,
- Calling God something as irreverent as “Abba,”
- Longing in my soul for God like a deer “pants after” waterbrooks (Psalm 42:1),
- Or our shepherd “making us lie down” in the pasture (Psalm 23).
(From Mark Black via my email)
Not sure why music gets the biggest YAP from those who condemn our style of worship. I mean….I would think the lack of a building, the lack of a dress code (since I have heard from the beginning of understanding “ We wear our best on Sunday for God. He deserves it”) the different types of people that attend (you know…the tattoo brand, the frumpy, geeky etc….) maybe the perceived somewhat more imperfect among us and less influential attendee. But it seems the music gets the biggest rap. You know what? So be it. I had a musician friend tell me a long time ago that people were talking about me. I asked him was it good? His reply was…….doesn’t matter….they are talking. As long as people are talking, you are interesting. I think in a lot of ways, that may be true for our church as well. What I mean is simply that with exposure, talk…no matter what is said, one visit and most people figure out that the junk is exactly that….JUNK! I know the music is seeping into people when I get home on Sundays and see facebook status(s) quoting song lyrics from worship service. It lets me know people are listening. The music was always my most uncomfortable place when I started coming so I understand where some people’s mindset is. It’s just a frame of mind that’s all. Once the frame gets changed by God’s message, as mine did, the music becomes a major worship factor. Once again, the church for centuries has used the pop music of the day to hook people’s interest….nothing new here, just a different pop music. Ask your friend on facebook when the last time he/she downloaded or bought some really great organ music with or without large choir, and busted that out in the car RATHER than the country music channel, or MIX channel or whatever…fill in the blanks! (Can’t ask my Mom or Dad that because they bust out that Gaither stuff ALL THE TIME!!)
ONE SERIOUS QUESTION: How can anyone argue, put-down or smirk at any music that praises or glorifies God? That’s a strange situation to me. Anything that Glorifies God and promotes the Kingdom of Heaven can only be a good thing!
No one asked……… but like usual….. I just said it!