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Diane

2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.



Oh, my! Certainly not holy! Modern music? My Lord, and how inappropriately dressed!

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David Reynolds

Krispy, I'm with ya all the way.

I've got me almost a decade in organised music (large scale) in which we did not actively promote the faith. We did play nifty little pieces like Ave Maria, but for the argument that its sacrilegious to a protestant... I already know.

For starters... let's look around.

Gen 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Well, whad'ya know. God made birds. I'm not horribly sure if we're all aware, here, but a great many species of "fowl" use vocals (most specifically that of the male) in order to mate. Well, hold on! I think that might just mean that God intended for there to be a "music" in the world for as long as birds flew. Maybe God likes listening to music. 'Course birds aren't Christian. (sarcasm)

If you aren't aware, I'm being horribly sarcastic 'cause we missed Krispy's whole point in a damnably predictable fashion. God made the world, and a great many ideas in the "world" aren't really man's ideas at all... they're an adaption of what God intended. To love the world... well, I hate to say it, but I do. I'm an avid hiker, I love to watch the unsuspecting deer dash through the woods at my approach, to see the black bear sitting on the mountainside wondering whether or not my pack will be low enough to pillage later that night. I love to listen to the sound of the brook and the river at 3 AM, and I certainly marvel at the mountain peaks and the vantage points they offer. If that makes me sinful... well, I should blame God, 'cause he gave it to man to tender.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

And so I have, in my own small way. I have performed dutifully in making a sound as great and with greater emphasis than that of the mighty eagle! I can, with the use of my instrument, cry farther! And how it can be used to sing! Aye, but the appreciation for this modern music is not so bad for that poor bully blue jay, who sings a song so like the jays before him, but to which his memory has no value. Or to the robin he just pushed out of the way, more eloquent and with a prettier voice, but with the same darn story.

I mean, the abjection of ability is such a deterioration of the human race. The ascended man has no need of great musical talent. The extent of his voice should be the worship of God, in a humble fashion, so as not to bring notice to himself should others overhear him. (sarcasm)

Let's get back on point, in any regard. This is a spiritual site, with spiritual emphasis. Christians should regard music as an important, crucial thing. Yet we bicker because we don't like what we hear (pun intended, as well.) The point that Krispy and his post was trying to make was that music is deteriorating. Unfortunately, Ormly, you had to go and disagree so as to appear trying to be mightier than the formidable Krispy (regardless of your intent.) Also unfortunately, you both expressed the same point. Rather futile, even if you don't think so. Except you "slandered" him in the process. The only difference is you see unholiness rather than degradation - a bit like tunnel vision from an observer's standpoint. Sorry. As for all you music teachers, God bless you people! I know how I treated mine ;)

Music is a changing thing, in the western world. But we often fail to link things the way we should, or see causes. So maybe we could try to do that.

Why is music changing? Maybe a lot of it happened when we lost the modern poet. They dropped their pens and picked up microphones, and the whole darn thing cascaded - the words came first. There are still a few diligent souls out there with batons, but history isn't kind to innovation (especially musical innovation,) and I doubt it'll change on our dime. Most of your great composers struggled with their music, and (as especially true with the baroque period) came to be greatly admired quite often after their own deaths.

To switch tracks yet again, has anybody considered where we derive our musical taste in worship from? Even the hymns stem from a great many musical emphases whose originators were Christian only by birthright. The modern piano or guitar pieces rely pretty heavily on American folk... or the precursor country if you'd like to think of it that way. Even Hendrix gets in the mix. But alas, these things are holy. Just like Christmas. The concept that the ideas that bled them are unworthy of at least respect is a bit like saying that Adam should be sent to hell. It just doesn't make sense.

Unfortunately, I'm trying to cover what is a commonly held viewpoint of misconception among musicians of the populace as a whole, and there is a great deal of ground to cover. Also, I work graveyard now, and my time of slumber is rapidly approaching (far too early.) As always, I know just about everyone is gonna want to disagree with me, because I often speak in riddles where plain words won't do justice. So if you need to ask a question, I'm hoping that Roadsign or KrispKritter will be gracious enough to try to pick them up (both obviously love music... a thing not to be taken lightly, as love and infatuation are entirely different subjects.) I'm also hoping both of you don't shake your head at me, but that's a chance I'm gonna have to take. :)



One last final point...

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David Reynolds