Jonathan Edwards says: So you like the music of Rich Mullins, Ragamuffin Band- promoter of the Ragamuffin Gospel (author, Brennan Manning, a Roman Catholic). What do you find enjoyable about simplistic, childish, casual/irreverent language such as:
First of all, I'm a little tired of this kind of reply to my posts. I think I've been around here long enough for you to know my doctrinal positions.
Did I say that I agree with Rich Mullins theology? Did I say that I agree with all his song lyrics? Did I say that we should use all of his songs in our worship? No, please stop putting words in my mouth. I just mentioned one of his songs that I've sung before in my churches worship, probibly the only song of his that has been used.
I believe I made myself very clear when I stated that I'm not very good at remembering song titles and artists names. This was just someone I thought of off the top of my head.
There are a lot of good contemporary praise songs and they aren't childish.
I never mentioned "clapping" my hands, did I? I don't think that I did. But because you mentioned it, no I do not think hand clapping is wrong either.
Psalm 92:1-4. (NASB) It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
I am not charismatic at all, at all. I'm not talking about or refering to a charismatic, emotional driven and un-reverent style of service at all. I believe I was pretty clear in my first post, that contemporary worship styles can be reverent and edifying. We are told to be "joyful" and to make a "joyful noise." Well, we clap our hands because we are joyful. We are giving God praise for all the blessings He has graced us with. I don't believe there is anything wrong with expressing joy during the worship service.
You haven't addressed my scriptural references either.
I attend a PCA church and we sing contemporary praise music along with "Hymns" and "psalms." It is done in a reverent way and it is very honoring to God and yes, even us PCA Presbyterians clapp our hands lightly on a song or two. I believe it is a very well done "blended" service that uses several forms of music in a "Biblical" way.
So I don't have anything against contemporary worship styles, and until I am convinced otherwise from scripture that it is against the will of God to use instruments and or sing anything but the psalms, I will continue to believe what I believe.
Now with saying that, I know people are different. Plain and simple, and so It is very hard for everyone to see eye to eye. Like I've stated before and I believe I've made it very clear, I prefer a more regulative church worship.
I would enjoy just singing the psalms a cappella, but strangely enough, there is not one single congregation in the whole entire area that I live in that does this type of worship.
Even the most "reformed" Presbyterian church in my area, uses a piano.
Like I stated in my first post, I know how others on these boards feel about this, i've read the threads. I also humbly asked for your reply's to be in a loving manner. I'm sorry if I upset anyone by my opinions and again, If someone could show me from scripture that modern contemporary songs and music is "unbiblical" than I would most certainly take it into consideration.
But if it's the case where you just don't like any type of change and are firmly rooted in a strict regulative style of worship, that's fine, but don't attack me and try to make me feel like I'm "childish" and "irreverent."
I'm not going to spend the time digging around trying to find contemporary songs that are reverent and edifying. Because I know that everyone is aware of them. I enjoy my churches worship service very much and all the contemporary songs they select are good, edifying and God honoring.
Y.B.I.C,
Dave.
