Below is an editorial written by one of our very own church members.
He's like 70 something - and sure I don't expect that praise and worship or rock will be his favorite choice in musical stylings... But WOW - This is harsh...
And, might I add, completely unfounded.
Do we really have to argue over who's style of music is more honoring to Christ - Is this really what it's come down to?
Do we really place the creator of the universe in that small of a box?
God is far bigger than a hymn, a praise song, a dance, a written word - in fact -there are no words great enough.
"Oh the days when I drew lines around my faith to keep you out, to keep me in, to keep it safe. And oh, the sense of my own self-intitlement to say who's wrong, who won't belong, and cannot stay - Cause somebody, somewhere decided we'd be better off divided, and somehow despite the damage done... HE SAYS COME, THERE IS ROOM ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US...PLEASE COME, AND THE ARMS ARE OPEN WIDE ENOUGH... PLEASE COME... AND OUR PARTS ARE NEVER GREATER THAN THE SUM... THIS IS THE HEART OF THE ONE WHO STANDS BEFORE AN OPEN DOOR, AND BIDS US COME!!!!"
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Worship Music
What is our next step in church music? Is it pom-poms and clogging feet, summersaults over the pulpit while
the orchestra or piano jazz a well-known hymn? Can't pastors do something to get our music directors back
to thier original calling and give us a decent worship experience again? Or is this what is wanted -
a crowd at any price?
Religious exhibitionist have little idea of humility or servanthood. It's "look at me, and if my nasal rock sound
won't hold your attention, just watch my sexy hips swing." Are our professional church musicians lowering their standards
and singing gospel to keep their choir lofts full? This is easier than teaching music appreciation for sure.
The worship of youth and their immature preferences are superseding the need to produce that quality of music needed
for worship. Secular music is written to display the ability of the composer - melodic beauty, harmonic uniqueness, finesse
in key changes, dynamic contrasts, etc. In turn it allows the performer to display his artistry.
In secular music, if words are used with the composition, the message is of much less consequence.
In contrast, religious music while containing compositional skills presents a verbal message in an attractive musical form to
produce worship- a submission of self to the will of the creator. Participation in sacred music will bring the worshiper to repentance and openess
to scriptural instruction. Religious words put to just any tune does not make the worshipful.
Some of our musicians are forcing on us a type of praise music that is neither worshipful or of good composition. Good religious music
composition does not distort the accent of a word; musical phrasing matche the verbal phrase. etc.
So-called praise music often brings attention to itself by creating a beat that distorts the emphasis of the message and distracts the worshiper.
It often features the instrumentalist's ability as opposed to bringing us to worship.
Praise music is also dumbing down our congregations. It's lyrics are intellectually infantile - poor rymes, theologically naive, and repetitious to the
point of coercing the singer to admission of stupidity to sing this line 10 more times without stopping.
Rhythm is primary, enunciation is secondary, loud is beautiful, hip swinging and head pitching whoop up the emotions distracting from the message and
glorifying the singer. Does this reveal the singer's feeling of lack of self-worth, demanding recognition even if the song must be screamed at top volume
to get a hearing?
Hymns and anthems meet needs. They bring comfort, praise repentance commitment to others; well being, magnification of the church, eteranal joy.
They ar intellectually stimulating as well as spiritually motivating. Sacred music's message is more conducive to falling on one's knees than
jigging on the platform. Surely limits need to be set.
If our music directors won't set limits, maybe our pastors should. If they won't, isn't it time the congregations acted.
-Norris Gilliam
Kingsport | 
