Poptart: Jesus Music, thoughts?

[mvscal]

So 'tart, when you're bumping around Seoul witnessing for the Lord, staking vampires and casting out demons etc etc. What is your soundtrack?




Are you rocking Christian thrash metal or do you prefer contemporary, easy listening Christian melodies? Maybe some 19th century camp spirituals from the 2nd Great Awakening as you banish a particularly loathsome denizen of Hell to the fires from whence he came? Or do you consider Jesus music to be blasphemous altogether? Personally, I find Jesus music to be trite, forced and awkward as a boner in math class.

Medieval Christians believed that musical intruments, while perhaps not sinful, were inappropriate to express thanks and joy to the Lord as they were base creations of Man. The only appropriate instrument was the creation of the Lord: the human voice. Gregorian Chant originated out of this point of view. IMO, it is the only Christian music that has any gravitas. Despite being an atheist, I listen to it quite frequently as background when I'm focusing on other tasks. Even though my Latin is very poor, it resonates and I find it helpful when a contemplative or meditative state of mind is desired. Maybe it was because I was raised Catholic. Maybe Medieval Catholics were right all along?

[BSmack]

When I listen to Jesus music, I go straight to The King. Very relaxing and peaceful.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

[poptart]

I could elaborate a lot on your questions and discussion, mvscal, but will give you a "short" post. ha

No problem with instruments, and recognize that dwelling on such things is legalism -- and is not the Gospel.

I'm never listening to music of any kind when I am out and about.
Sometimes I am listening to Gospel messages, though.

Contemporary Christian music has no appeal to me.
I just can't listen to it or enjoy it at all.

I grew up with '60's/70's rock, and that is the music which has rooted into my soul.
I listen to it sometimes at home.
It's what I like -- and that feeling does not go away.
So I feed it.
That is my spiritual state, and I consider it a weakness, honestly.

Scripture indicates that the fallen angel satan was involved in worship to God (quite possibly musically) - or that he was the leader of heavenly worship to God.

With that in mind, and cutting through lots of potential discussion, music which really moves a person's soul has a strong spiritual background and power to it, imo.
Satan has captured music, and he uses it to keep people in a state where they are not looking to God, or not interested in seeking God.

I'm aware of this, and yet I still feed myself from the music I... like.
Flesh is weak.

And because I am in such a state of being, even if I'm not necessarily listening to music, I often talk to people on this board the way I do.
I bang them and degrade them.
I am arrogant, ruthless, hurtful and hateful.

But know that whatever you see me post in this forum is the message that I genuinely want for people to know and grasp to.
It is my true heart.
The heart I have when I stand before God.


When I'm in worship, I love "traditional" hymns.
In that state and that setting, I feel great, and my soul is at true peace.

Example, and it is a GREAT hymn...




And yet I go home and turn on Hair of the Dog. lol

That's me.

Still, Jesus is absolutely the Christ.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

Did your neighbor throw herself off her balcony when she discovered how boring you were?

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

"Breaking the law...breaking the law..."

[poptart]

Did your neighbor throw herself off her balcony when she discovered how boring you were?

She never met me.

If she had, she wouldn't have jumped.

[Goober McTuber]

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I hated Sunday School when I was little and insisted that if my parents drag me to church, that they let me sit in with the adult service. I didn't really care about the content one way or the other, but I enjoyed watching the preacher deliver his message. Anyway, they would play this big booming song quite a bit, I'm sure some of you are familiar:



This was like the Christian mega church's version of the hit go-to single crowd-pleaser to get people pumped up.

Even at a very young age, my impression of this sound and spectacle was that it was trite, cultish and creepy (sup Screw). Not that I would've used those words at that time, but those were the feelings stirring inside me. Everyone singing in unison, some on their knees dramatically belting out the lyrics like God was massaging their taints at the same time....I couldn't get down. At all.

[poptart]

A lot of Church "worship" is forced and/or fraught with over-acting.
Over-dramatic or over-emotional acting.

It stems from disbelief.


Genuine worship is genuinely different.


Believe me, I get why "outsiders" look at Christians and Christian worship and -----> shake their head.

[War Wagon]

When I first saw that pic of 'tart, I thought of Leon (Jean Reno) in The Professional. Still one of my all time favorite movies. He should make it his avatar the next time he loses a Chiefs vs Raiders wager.



Other than that, I'm just glad nobody has mentioned Creed... yet.

[poptart]

Regarding musical praise and worship, this is the standard...

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.


Worship is for our benefit -- to renew ourself, connect with God again, and gain new strength.

[Carson]

gravitas