I hope I'm not violating confidence, but these are two actual letters written from individuals complaining about song selection and music.
One letter said:
"I am no music scholar, but I feel I know appropriate church music when I hear it. Last Sunday's new hymn - if you can call it that - sounded like a sentimental love ballad one would expect to hear crooned in a saloon. If you insist on exposing us to rubbish like this - in God's house! - don't be surprised if many of the faithful look for a new place to worship. The hymns we grew up with are all we need."
Another letter said:
"What is wrong with the inspiring hymns with which we grew up? When I go to church, it is to worship God, not to be distracted with learning a new hymn. Last Sunday's was particularly unnerving. The tune was un-singable and the new harmonies were quite distorting."
By the way, the first letter was written in 1863 and the song they were concerned about was the hymn, "Just As I Am". The second letter was written in 1890 and about the hymn, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".
It's a good thing people stopped complaining about music.
Reflections of a Journeying Blogger
4 comments:
Well....the second writer was right: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" IS kind of un-singable.
I know--so not the point.
This entry has been antagonizing me for days now, Paul. Church music has been a sore spot for me for about a decade.
I try not to complain about worship music because I know I am so far from the preferences of mainstream Christians: I love hymns, sung with an accompanying choir and a big pipe organ. And while you're at it, throw in some stained glass, vaulted ceilings and wooden pews. No, seriously.
Praise songs....well, they feel like any other pop song. At my worst I find myself giving them a silent scathing critique for their insipid or theologically misleading lyrics. I know: not exactly the attitude that will bring me closer to God.
It's frustrating because I know I will probably never find a church where I love the people, the pastor, AND the worship. I have to pick 2 out of 3. I will probably always choose a church with great people and pastor over the music, but sometimes I wonder. . . .how important is corporate worship?
Though at this point, I'd be happy with a CD of good hymns, sung well and with emotion and WITHOUT SKIPPING VERSES. Because I hate that I'm forgetting these theologically deep and moving hymns.
I know I should learn to appreciate the praise songs, but honestly? That's not going to happen--I don't think I'm wired that way.
Probably not the comments you were looking for, Paul, but it's what's been going through my head for, well, years--but particularly since you put up this post. But I did like the lovely twist in your post where you reveal WHEN those letters were written at the end...very nice touch.
I came across your blog while looking for info on "Pastor" S Anderson. I was so incredulous after reading a blog post written by his wife Zsuzsanna about a fellow South African (you can see it on www.tertia.org post 9July2008)
Anyway just wanted to say glad I came across your blog and your "liberal" style of Christianity rocks. Been living in Germany for 9 months now and yet to see the "no pissing against the wall" signs.
if you want to get technical, i complain about the lyrics more than anything. as opposed to the music, which appears to be what these letters were addressing. and i most certainly do not complain about singing new songs.
:P
I agree with the formerly mentioned sentiments that it is VERY distracting when praise music has theologically incorrect lyrics. (My, that sounded presumptuous.) And though, like the rest of my strongly Lutheran family, I personally prefer traditional hymns and worship for Sunday morning, I do appreciate that some are giving Christians who feel more inclined to modern music a service where they can praise God. Recently attending such a service at my cousin's church, I found that I knew most of the songs from the radio stations (like KLove) that I listen to during the week. It is a wonderful way to praise God, but I think it is more appropriate as an addition to one's faith life instead of a replacement to Sunday services. Respect for God and His house is shown by reverence of dress, music, and attitude. But the most important of these is attitude. Dress and music are merely manifestations of our heart's attitude, evidences of the depth of our faith. They are not necessary, merely accessories, if you will.
Paul was right- sorry bloggingpaul, not you, the Paul of apostle fame- when he said that in essentials, unity, in nonessentials, liberty, and in everything, love.
~Always~
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