How about rock music in worship?
Introduction. In all candor, religious practices today are digressing so far today from that of the New Testament that there is often little semblance between the two. The sad truth is many people know so little about the worship of the First Century church that they do not realize this great departure. More and more are bringing worldly thinking and practices into the "church" in an effort to attract, pacify, and keep the members.
Rock music and worship. In an article appearing in The Atlantic Monthly (August 1996), Mr. Charles Trueheart researched the present religious trend in America. Mr. Trueheart points out the trend toward "contemporary music" and how rock music is being introduced into the worship of many of the fastest growing churches (pgs. 44-50).
The music of the early church. The music of the Lord's church was and still is simple, spiritual, congregational, and vocal (cf. Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16). One historian wrote: "The prevailing mode of singing during the first three centuries was congregational. The whole congregation united their voices in the sacred song of praise, in strains suited to their ability..." (Lyman Coleman, Ancient Christianity Exemplified, pgs. 329-330). Many of the churches now adopting rock music have other forms of entertainment more typical of secular rock concerts along with choirs and "praise teams". This was not so in the first century. One should want to avoid even the "style" of rock music as far as mixing it into worship in view of the history and image of rock music.
Conclusion. We can clearly read of the church in the New Testament along with what she was taught, believed, and practiced. We can also read of the worship which characterized the Lord's church. It should be our desire to simply be Christians according to the NT pattern (Gal. 1: 6-10). We must remember the worshiper is seeking to please the one worshipped (God), not to please and entertain himself (John 4: 24, Acts 17: 23).
Rock music and worship. In an article appearing in The Atlantic Monthly (August 1996), Mr. Charles Trueheart researched the present religious trend in America. Mr. Trueheart points out the trend toward "contemporary music" and how rock music is being introduced into the worship of many of the fastest growing churches (pgs. 44-50).
The music of the early church. The music of the Lord's church was and still is simple, spiritual, congregational, and vocal (cf. Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16). One historian wrote: "The prevailing mode of singing during the first three centuries was congregational. The whole congregation united their voices in the sacred song of praise, in strains suited to their ability..." (Lyman Coleman, Ancient Christianity Exemplified, pgs. 329-330). Many of the churches now adopting rock music have other forms of entertainment more typical of secular rock concerts along with choirs and "praise teams". This was not so in the first century. One should want to avoid even the "style" of rock music as far as mixing it into worship in view of the history and image of rock music.
Conclusion. We can clearly read of the church in the New Testament along with what she was taught, believed, and practiced. We can also read of the worship which characterized the Lord's church. It should be our desire to simply be Christians according to the NT pattern (Gal. 1: 6-10). We must remember the worshiper is seeking to please the one worshipped (God), not to please and entertain himself (John 4: 24, Acts 17: 23).