We need non-erotic praise music!

[RAMCLAP]

You're not being too picky. The Bible is about Christ cover to cover. It's about His glory cover to cover. I read it cover to cover at least 7 times. I'm not mentioned in it once. Therefore, there shouldn't be any songs sung about me or what I'm doing.

[Decoligny]

To Wordupmybotha

The Psalms are God's song book, not man-made. The issue concerning worship is "Has God authorized it?" Since we are idolaters by nature, do we even know how to worship God properly without a word from Him. In the context of this thread, specifically has God authorized man-made songs?

Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.


Obviously, we are to sing OUR praises to the Lord. He wants us to praise him for his greatness and how that greatness has changed OUR lives, not what he did for David in David's life.


Psalms 3:1 [[A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.]] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

Psalms 4:1 [[To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.]] Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psalms 5:1 [[To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.]] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

These and almost all of the other Psalms were simply the written worship songs/poems of King David. They show a TYPE of worship that is acceptable to God, they are not the only songs acceptable to God.

To sing to God in thanks for the things he has done, to praise him for bringing us through whatever trials and dangers that we have faced and overcome only by his powerful hand, to sing out to him for aid and protection in times of trouble, to sing out to God for comfort in times of pain and darkness in your life, that is a Psalm.

[Decoligny]

I'm Lutheran - I don't trust ANY church music written after 1675.

Okay, then here is one just for you.

Auctor beate saeculi,
Christe Redemptor omnium,
Lumen Patris de lumine,
Deusque verus de Deo.
Amor coegit te tuus
Mortale corpus sumere,
Ut novus Adam redderes
Quod vetus ill(e) abstulerat.
Ill(e) amor almus artifex
Terrae, marisqu(e) et siderum,
Errata patrum miserans,
Et nostra rumpens vincula.
Non corde discedat tuo
Vis ill(a) amoris inclyti:
Hoc fonte gentes hauriant
Remissionis gratiam.
Percuss(um) ad hoc est lancea,
Passumqu(e) ad hoc est vulnera,
Ut nos lavaret sordibus
Unda fluent(e) et sanguine.
Iesu tibi sit gloria,
Qui Corde fundis gratiam,
Cum Patr(e) et almo Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

[TomMcC]

Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.


Obviously, we are to sing OUR praises to the Lord. He wants us to praise him for his greatness and how that greatness has changed OUR lives, not what he did for David in David's life.


Psalms 3:1 [[A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.]] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

Psalms 4:1 [[To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.]] Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Psalms 5:1 [[To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.]] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

These and almost all of the other Psalms were simply the written worship songs/poems of King David. They show a TYPE of worship that is acceptable to God, they are not the only songs acceptable to God.

To sing to God in thanks for the things he has done, to praise him for bringing us through whatever trials and dangers that we have faced and overcome only by his powerful hand, to sing out to him for aid and protection in times of trouble, to sing out to God for comfort in times of pain and darkness in your life, that is a Psalm.

In context what would be the new song?

Where in any of either testaments has God authorized man-made songs......meaning "our" praise?

As a side note.......the faithful in the OT only sang the Psalms.

[funk_drum]

Praise and Worship music are different. Then there is contemporary Christian music. I've been to churches where they read a passage from the Bible and pretty much that's it. I call it church-lite. When I was a new Christian that was perfect for me. As I matured I wanted more. Now I seek churches that spend several weeks on a passage. That's what suits me but might be too heavy for others. I prefer non-denominal churches because I don't like the pomp and circumstance of more organized religions. Not for me but it works for a lot of people.
I think Christian music is like that. What works for some doesn't work for others. Christian metal is huge overseas. If you're not into that you might think it was from the devil. However, the lyrics are on point and it reaches people that like metal. IMO, if any music gets people engaged with God or even thinking about God in some way, then it's good.

[TomMcC]

Praise and Worship music are different. Then there is contemporary Christian music. I've been to churches where they read a passage from the Bible and pretty much that's it. I call it church-lite. When I was a new Christian that was perfect for me. As I matured I wanted more. Now I seek churches that spend several weeks on a passage. That's what suits me but might be too heavy for others. I prefer non-denominal churches because I don't like the pomp and circumstance of more organized religions. Not for me but it works for a lot of people.
I think Christian music is like that. What works for some doesn't work for others. Christian metal is huge overseas. If you're not into that you might think it was from the devil. However, the lyrics are on point and it reaches people that like metal. IMO, if any music gets people engaged with God or even thinking about God in some way, then it's good.

I would ask then if God thinks it's good and how would you know?

[funk_drum]

I would ask then if God thinks it's good and how would you know?

How do you know it's not?

Why judge?

[TomMcC]

How do you know it's not?

Why judge?

Because we don't know what we're doing and desperately need God to tell us how to worship Him. The things you described, when in the act of worship violate God's word, that's how I know. You should read Deut ch. 12, and then Matt. ch 15, I think it would be helpful.

As for judging, you just contradicted yourself. Did you not judge some churches to be not of your preference?

[funk_drum]

I didn't judge any churches. I didn't say they were wrong. I said they were right for some people, just not me. However, I can find the glory of God in a song with a distorted guitar and clanging cymbals (specific Bible reference) or from a blue haired 95 year old singing with 50 of her best friends in a choir.

Are you saying if someone comes to the Lord thorough a manner of worship that isn't how you interpret it in those chapters that they are somehow less saved? That is the point. Jesus didn't preach to the people in the churches as much as with the people who needed it. Who needs music that will reach them more? You or me, or someone who'd never set a foot in a church but would listen to a metal band singing about God?
I'm not saying all music is worship music either. There is a Casting Crowns song that has hit me as hard as any worship song and makes me focus more on God. God can convict in endless ways. Surely that's not bad. Can't say all music talking about God in some way is worship and can't say any music that doesn't fit into a 'God box' is bad.

[boopiejones]

i'll admit that i haven't been to church since my parents stopped dragging me back in highschool. back then, the songs weren't nearly as pervy as they apparently are now.

[POLICESTATE]

The self-centered worship songs stem from the self-centered teachings.

There is some really weird stuff out there, and much of it in the megachurches.

I check out www.fightingforthefaith.com to keep updated on the freshest false teachings so I know what to look for. Particularly among more "modern" Christians there is a remarkable willingness to ignore sound Bibical doctrine because it doesn't fit in with their lifestyle choices and affirmations.

[TomMcC]

I didn't judge any churches. I didn't say they were wrong. I said they were right for some people, just not me. However, I can find the glory of God in a song with a distorted guitar and clanging cymbals (specific Bible reference) or from a blue haired 95 year old singing with 50 of her best friends in a choir.

Are you saying if someone comes to the Lord thorough a manner of worship that isn't how you interpret it in those chapters that they are somehow less saved? That is the point. Jesus didn't preach to the people in the churches as much as with the people who needed it. Who needs music that will reach them more? You or me, or someone who'd never set a foot in a church but would listen to a metal band singing about God?
I'm not saying all music is worship music either. There is a Casting Crowns song that has hit me as hard as any worship song and makes me focus more on God. God can convict in endless ways. Surely that's not bad. Can't say all music talking about God in some way is worship and can't say any music that doesn't fit into a 'God box' is bad.

If it's not for you why not? Is whatever church we go to just a preference? Shouldn't we be going to churches because they are faithful? Especially when it comes to worship. Are churches just man- made institutions, doing whatever they think is ok? Or are they to be obedient to the one who bought them......God? Are we not required by God to judge right from wrong? Are we not to judge who is a faithful teacher and a false teacher? Is not denominationalism a sin against the unity of the church?

And again, are you not contradicting yourself? Are you not doing the very thing you're chastising me for? Namely judging

I have no where talked about whether people in this church or that church are saved based upon the way they worship. The way they worship may be an indication of salvation, but it's not an absolute way of telling. We are to seek God's interpretation as best we can. To say that everyone's interpretation is valid is to say the Bible doesn't really mean anything.....".well that's just your interpretation."

[Wordupmybrotha]

OP, if that makes you feel squeamish, maybe its because you have issues with sins of the flesh or the Enemy doesn't want you to praise the Lord or express your love for him. In your example #A you only focused on the chorus. Look at the parts of the song you left out:

The song speaks of the cross, His glory, His Mercy. How can you have issues with that?

You said "give me some Chris Tomlin." Did you know that your example #C is a song that's sung by Chris Tomlin: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/chris+t..._20514747.html (Full disclosure, I enjoy Chris Tomlin and have seen him in concert three or four times, most recently a couple of months ago.)

No, Jesus is not our girlfriend, but we are the church and the church is the Bride of Christ. It might be good for you to look inside and see what's really causing you to have issue with such lyrics.

.

I don't have a problem with Jeremy Camp's lyrics except for references to "beautiful" and "beauty".
Who refers to the groom as "beautiful"?

Chris Tomlin may have covered it, but Andy Park wrote it.

[Wordupmybrotha]

The second song (How Great Thou Art) gives glory to God right from the start.

Ahhh, my favorite hymn of all time. I want that song and Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons to be sung at my funeral.

[Just Dave]

Ahhh, my favorite hymn of all time. I want that song and Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons to be sung at my funeral.

I'll tell you what, in the past we've had some awesome worship leaders at our church, they'd bring the whole congregation into the throne room.
Now we have younger folks "playing music" on Sunday mornings, everyone just sits and watches as they strive to be the next Christian music rock star.
We're pretty disgusted and ready to bail.