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Author Topic: Dear MOM please don't get emotional through church music. Thanks, Your church.  (Read 1246 times)

Offline fretai03

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BACKGROUND STORY: This year I have been blessed to be a part of my local church nominating committee (traditional/conservative Adventist church) who decide on the next lot of church leaders for the coming year.

Long story short, last night we were discussing appointments for the next Music Leader/MOM. As is the case with music & conservative/traditional churches, it was a heavily debated topic (and not so much selection was going on).  ::)  :D

I made a point last night that as much as I respect the traditional/conservativeness of the church there just feels like no spirituality in the music of our church services. Hymns no one sings, choruses that should be used in children's programs, 90% of special songs (guaranteed) are slower than a traffic jam etc...

I gave the example of a song which says "When the saviour comes into your heart, your gonna cry".  My point to the committee was that the only time I've ever seen people "cry" in our church was either at a wedding, a funeral or an outreach program. Why is it that we can't allow ourselves to cry (and feel God's spirit & presence) in a NORMAL service???

As soon as I said this the church Pastor immediately said "Reaching God is not the issue, you know, we have to be careful about allowing music to engage us & give us this emotional 'high' every time. And when we aren't able to sustain that emotional 'high' we go back & forth between the two extremes of feeling [emotionally] high & low [like a swinging pendulum]".

I was quite upset by what he had said but I also couldn't help but think... he has a point.  :-\


As a musician/or MOM do you...

  • go out of your way to reach God emotionally through the music to a point where it seems like your in an emotional high?
  • like being there [musically driven emotional high]?
  • like not being there?
  • always try to reach God AND feel the 'high' at the same time?
  • purely seek God (the emotions just happen as a result)?

Offline betnich

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    Sometimes God uses our emotions to draw us closer to Him. People often do so in times of joy or crisis.
On the other hand, people can get addicted to the short-term emotional "high" of worship and seek the blessing rather than the Blesser. I think maybe that's what that person you quoted is afraid of.

     IMO each musician, singer, MOM has to search their soul and deal with this in their own heart in terms of motives. Do we enjoy whipping people up into a frenzy, or are we being used to glorify God? And what about the preacher - does he do anything similar?


Reminds me of the song "Reason Why we Sing"...

Offline jlewis

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Hmmmmmm,

Interesting question.     But I find it difficult to  use songs that have absolutely no emotional bearing on my spirit.

I look at it like this.    Praise/Worship time can be had without music.   If you know how to get in the presence of God and thank him for the many things he has done, give Him glory for being who He is to us, etc.

All of that can definitely be done without music.   But at the same time, if ( as a worshipper) the songs holds no emotional tie to your spirit, then its just words falling out of your mouth to a given beat. 

But when a song can fill your spirit,  then your individual act of singing becomes more  than just a song,  it becomes an act of worhip and praise.   

When a song means something to you,   as a leader when you teach it, it will have meaning to those who you teach it too.  When you sing it, it will have meaning to those who hear you sing it.

as a leader,   When I'm selecting music,   I'm not just looking for a hot song.  I'm looking for a song that has meaning.  Now I need a certain number of uptempo, medium tempo, and slow tempo songs ( depending on where we are in the service)  but the songs always got to mean something to me.

Sometimes folks will bring music to my attention,  and I ask them "why this song".   If they got a victory, or a sentiment tied to a song,  I'm more willing to consider adding it to our songlist.   If they come at me with "Ah man, everybody is killing this joint right now....." ,   it probably won't make the cut.

Just me rambling.....


Jlewis

Offline sjonathan02

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Hmmmmmm,

Interesting question.     But I find it difficult to  use songs that have absolutely no emotional bearing on my spirit.

I look at it like this.    Praise/Worship time can be had without music.   If you know how to get in the presence of God and thank him for the many things he has done, give Him glory for being who He is to us, etc.

All of that can definitely be done without music.   But at the same time, if ( as a worshipper) the songs holds no emotional tie to your spirit, then its just words falling out of your mouth to a given beat. 

But when a song can fill your spirit,  then your individual act of singing becomes more  than just a song,  it becomes an act of worhip and praise.   

When a song means something to you,   as a leader when you teach it, it will have meaning to those who you teach it too.  When you sing it, it will have meaning to those who hear you sing it.

as a leader,   When I'm selecting music,   I'm not just looking for a hot song.  I'm looking for a song that has meaning.  Now I need a certain number of uptempo, medium tempo, and slow tempo songs ( depending on where we are in the service)  but the songs always got to mean something to me.

Sometimes folks will bring music to my attention,  and I ask them "why this song".   If they got a victory, or a sentiment tied to a song,  I'm more willing to consider adding it to our songlist.   If they come at me with "Ah man, everybody is killing this joint right now....." ,   it probably won't make the cut.

Just me rambling.....


Jlewis

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Offline cutepreacher

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That is word for real. I have been dealing with this for a while; How do I get these people to open up to worship? The services are like a roller coaster. I praying that in 2008 the lord will give me the wisdom I need to shift the music department into stability. Thanks for that sound word.
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