IS GOD A FAN OF COUNTRY MUSIC?
Is God a Country Music fan? Is God a lover of Classical music? Does God prefer the style of music we call Southern Gospel? Maybe we have his ear when we relish in the techno rave hip-hop version of Contemporary Christian music. Maybe God is moved by Reggae, or a Bach Cantata, or praise songs with a Cumbia rhythmic flavor, or Sacred Harp Music, or sacred music in the Neo-classical style.
Do you ever imagine God wishing that His people would sing one of those old fashion gospel songs that He often heard drifting up through the clouds way back in the 40's? Maybe He prefers the Congregation on the Rock to get off their charismatic routine. After all they have been in that same groove for 20 years. Maybe God was truly touched by that lonely cowboy playing a hymn-tune on his harmonica while sitting under a blanket of stars on the wagon trail a hundred years ago.
Some may think that God is a bluegrasser or maybe God would really prefer sitting back on His heavenly throne while going back in time to listen to 6th century Gregorian Chant. This IS possible since with God, time - past, present or future, is not problematic. He is from beginning to end, everlasting to everlasting - He is omnipresent. Maybe He could actually hear the music emanating from the earth from a 6th century worshiper if he so desired.
Does God really prefer one particular style of music over another? If you conclude that he does then maybe he also likes black rather than white, or red rather than green. Maybe he would prefer seeing a deep blue 57 Chevy going down the highway rather than a Hummer or Honda Prelude. If you reason that He does not, then you might also conclude that there is a wide panorama of musical styles which can be legitimately utilized in our daily living, in worship, and in enhancing our personal relationship with God.
Music is not static. Musical styles have changed. Music is constantly changing, music will always change, and music should periodically change in order to avoid the pitfall of mediocrity and boredom whether it be in our worship or in our other daily musical experiences.
As we continue to examine this subject I would like to offer three points to consider. First, God is NOT style conscious - Man IS style conscious. God is not hung up on a particular style of music no more than he has a personal opinion about the particular style of clothes we wear or the make of car we drive. On the other hand I believe that man DOES prioritize certain styles as to their individual and outward appeal.
Secondly, I have come to the conclusion, or shall I say I tend to believe that musical styles (secular or religious) are not inherently evil. This one I have struggled with greatly over the years in my analysis of musical experience. It is an area that could easily warrant additional discussion. But for the sake of time and space I will comment only on the "beat". The beat is a single musical unit of time that can be played by any number of instruments. Assuming the instrument and tempo are the same, if we extract the beat from a secular song and also from a gospel song we will find that there is no difference whatsoever. The difference lies in the manner, motivation and purpose for which the song is sung or played. The beat is not inherently evil but it CAN be used in a manner which is disobedient to the purpose and will of God. Before his fall, when Lucifer was the Heavenly Music Director, whatever the style, music was pure and without blemish. After the fall of Lucifer, music took on another side - that of rebellion and disobedience to God the Creator.
Lastly, worship is not a style - it is an attitude. Oh yes, there are different worship styles, but true worship is a positive reflection of our attitude. It is a willful act of adoring and obeying God. John 4:24 says "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." To accept, perpetrate, or become dependent on an attitude or desire that reflects selected trends and musical styles in worship as the only legitimate medium of correct worship, to the exclusion of other styles, new or old, traditional or un-traditional, is to be musically and spiritually narrow in one's concept of what worship really is.
In conclusion, let's ask the question again. Is God a Country Music fan? Does he feel better when we sing to him the latest contemporary song or a 200 year old hymn? I think not! I firmly believe that, regardless of style, we effectively touch the heart of God only when our attitude towards him is one of pure adoration and total obedience.
Laban West
Do you ever imagine God wishing that His people would sing one of those old fashion gospel songs that He often heard drifting up through the clouds way back in the 40's? Maybe He prefers the Congregation on the Rock to get off their charismatic routine. After all they have been in that same groove for 20 years. Maybe God was truly touched by that lonely cowboy playing a hymn-tune on his harmonica while sitting under a blanket of stars on the wagon trail a hundred years ago.
Some may think that God is a bluegrasser or maybe God would really prefer sitting back on His heavenly throne while going back in time to listen to 6th century Gregorian Chant. This IS possible since with God, time - past, present or future, is not problematic. He is from beginning to end, everlasting to everlasting - He is omnipresent. Maybe He could actually hear the music emanating from the earth from a 6th century worshiper if he so desired.
Does God really prefer one particular style of music over another? If you conclude that he does then maybe he also likes black rather than white, or red rather than green. Maybe he would prefer seeing a deep blue 57 Chevy going down the highway rather than a Hummer or Honda Prelude. If you reason that He does not, then you might also conclude that there is a wide panorama of musical styles which can be legitimately utilized in our daily living, in worship, and in enhancing our personal relationship with God.
Music is not static. Musical styles have changed. Music is constantly changing, music will always change, and music should periodically change in order to avoid the pitfall of mediocrity and boredom whether it be in our worship or in our other daily musical experiences.
As we continue to examine this subject I would like to offer three points to consider. First, God is NOT style conscious - Man IS style conscious. God is not hung up on a particular style of music no more than he has a personal opinion about the particular style of clothes we wear or the make of car we drive. On the other hand I believe that man DOES prioritize certain styles as to their individual and outward appeal.
Secondly, I have come to the conclusion, or shall I say I tend to believe that musical styles (secular or religious) are not inherently evil. This one I have struggled with greatly over the years in my analysis of musical experience. It is an area that could easily warrant additional discussion. But for the sake of time and space I will comment only on the "beat". The beat is a single musical unit of time that can be played by any number of instruments. Assuming the instrument and tempo are the same, if we extract the beat from a secular song and also from a gospel song we will find that there is no difference whatsoever. The difference lies in the manner, motivation and purpose for which the song is sung or played. The beat is not inherently evil but it CAN be used in a manner which is disobedient to the purpose and will of God. Before his fall, when Lucifer was the Heavenly Music Director, whatever the style, music was pure and without blemish. After the fall of Lucifer, music took on another side - that of rebellion and disobedience to God the Creator.
Lastly, worship is not a style - it is an attitude. Oh yes, there are different worship styles, but true worship is a positive reflection of our attitude. It is a willful act of adoring and obeying God. John 4:24 says "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." To accept, perpetrate, or become dependent on an attitude or desire that reflects selected trends and musical styles in worship as the only legitimate medium of correct worship, to the exclusion of other styles, new or old, traditional or un-traditional, is to be musically and spiritually narrow in one's concept of what worship really is.
In conclusion, let's ask the question again. Is God a Country Music fan? Does he feel better when we sing to him the latest contemporary song or a 200 year old hymn? I think not! I firmly believe that, regardless of style, we effectively touch the heart of God only when our attitude towards him is one of pure adoration and total obedience.
Laban West
posted by Laban/Susie West | 9:13 AM
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