Just thinking.   Have you ever really thought about what constitutes christian music?  Or can we really classify music as christian or not? 
  
I remember when I was growing up a friend of mine had a sermon on tape by a guy saying that because rock music was not always on 4/4 time and sometimes was actually (gasp..) offbeat it could go against your natural heart rhythm and could possibly lead to death or serious heart problems.  I am not joking, unfortunately my friend did not think the pastor on the tape was joking either.  Things were very monotone around their house.  

 I have worked in cardiology for ten years now and I have never seen anyone come in with a fatal arrhythmia induced by Lynnyrd Skynnrd, now they may have come in with a fatal arrhythmia induced by some substances they were ingesting while listening to Lynnyrd Skynnrd, but that is a different blog.

Anyway back to the above point.  This pastor was putting and undo emphasis on the tempo of the music not the message.  I think this is where we as Christian's get it all wrong.  God doesn't care how fast or slow or how many electric guitars or drums or wailing lead vocals are in music.  God wants us to worship him with whatever gift he has blessed us with.  If that means a thrash metal rendition of "How Great Thou Art", then go for it.  As long as your doing it for his honor and glory it doesn't matter.  As a matter of fact I have heard some really slow christian songs that really don't say much and I have heard some very rocked out christian anthems whose lyrics just make you go "Whoa!"

But as Christians we tend to get caught up in what our personal preference is.  We think "I don't like rock music, hence I really don't like music that is rock and states it is christian, hence all christian rock music is evil and must be purged from the earth, except for some early Petra songs."

I love music, just ask my parents how many times I begged them to let me buy a Stryper album growing up:

"But Dad they are dressed like bees and play guitars"

"No son"

"But Dad they shoot Bibles out of a cannon and some girl got clocked in the head with one and then got saved"

"That's great, but no"

"Alright, I'll just go back to my room and listen to my Gaither Vocal Band sings Showtunes album for the the hundredth time."

"That's great son, I love their rendition of the theme from CATS."


I think it is important for us to remember not to focus on the beat of the music, but the beat of the heart of the person behind the music.  If their are truly using their music to glorify God, we don't need to let our personal preference of how we think their worship should sound get in the way.
Anyway, just my two cents

Until the next one,

"Look out for that flying Bible!"
Robbie Price


 



DISCLAIMER:
The Albums whose covers appear in this blog should be listened to at the readers own risk.  The blogger & My Church take no responsibility for any harm that occurs while listening to the above albums, this includes, but is not limited to potential heart rhythm disturbances, nausea & vomiting, injury from placing fingers in ears and possible LWMR syndrome (Listening to White Men Rap) which has been shown fatal in rare cases.