John Armstrong has a wonderful post about a U2 Eucharist held in a Lutheran Church in Carol Stream. I wish I had been there. "We can take all the BEST from the music of today and make it relevant for the Christians of Tomorrow".
Luther said that.
Shocking isn't it.
Read the whole thing.
OH AND:
One other thing, here is an interesting article that defines what the Whole U2 thing is about regarding things of God.
3 comments:
Bono is quoted as saying, "Music is language of the spirit...Its first function is praise to creation". What does this mean? Do we praise 'creation' or do we praise the "Creator"? Praise to creation is what is done by some on "Earth Day". I don't know the music of Bono. I know the music of Bach and the Scripture-put-to-music of many Chritian composers and lyricists. . But I don't think Bono can be the fourth "B" of music. I'm glad to hear that some of his lyrics have references , or 'veiled' references, to Scripture and Christ. However, it is not always clearly spelled out for the Scripturally illiterate. I am not 'canning" U2, only making
spur of the moment comments. I would have to examine all the lyrics. Some of the present-day 'praise songs' lack depth; not all of them. And a few of them have have some Gospel-denying
phrases. h.
WOW!!! I am going to shock you a little. The Bible says " If JESUS be lifted up, I (GOD) will draw all men unto him!" This is what should be done, period, end of story. I have no problem with different styles or themes, but do not even think of bringing more of the world into the church. How about doing something really drastic...how about taking the "church music" to the world!?! I love doing this, I get a permit from our local city to play in the park, (that way no one can shut us down!) we set up our whole band, and let it rip! We have had more non-believers check out our church by us going to the community than waiting for them to come to us. Getting outside the box doesn't mean you leave God out. It means take God out of the box that we've stuck him in and let Him be seen. Instead of praise God in this sanctuary, how about "PRAISE GOD IN THIS PARK!!! THIS CITY!!! THIS NATION!!! THIS WORLD!!!" Getting out of the box is good, using ungodly methods and means is wrong. Lets praise God in the manner fitting of our KING!
First, Harold,
If you could read the depth of lyric of U2's music you would appreciate it. Maybe I'll post some. Most of the time what we're not up on we're down on.
There is a Christian Group called Delerious who has written some of the great anthems played and sung in churches today. Rain Down is one of my personal favorites. Their music is much like U2.
Not all great music is Bach although Bach is great music. Not all contemporary music is great but some is. And just because it was OLD doesn't make it great. I have heard some pitiful music from the 18th century that was played in Churches.
I AGREE with you some present day worship songs are palid. But not all.
I think using music that touches the heart as Luther did, is familir as Luther did, and accessable to the culture as Luther did, does far more than trying to do the full Mass In G by Bach for today's culture.
I might understand and appreciate it as a person trained in music, but most of the world wouldn't. It's not dumbing down. Dumbing down would have been an accusation by the church of the day when Luther translated the bible into that vulgar and most worldly of all languages, GERMAN. Ja, UND?
To KP,
Let's Go the to park. I'll play too. But let's pick something that will touch and reach them. LIFTING UP JESUS.
That won't sound very much like what you hear Sunday mornings in most churches. Taking the Church's music as it stands in most churches today to the park means the same people who show up sunday in church show up in the park. I know I've been part of these deals in St. Charles and Geneva. Not it.
Now, how about a real band. Let's have 5 guitars, 3 drummers, 2 keyboards, 4 trumpets, 3 saxaphones, 4 singers, and a really loud sound system with real pros running it.
Let's start the song with such a hard beat that the attention of everyone in the park is grabbed for at least a moment in time.
Now we have their attention, we have their interest for just a moment. What are we going to do with it? 5 choreses of nearer my God to Thee?
There will be a time for that. What is the GODLY thing to do?
But NOW we must Lift JESUS high, boldly, loudly, enthusiastically, passionately. Unreserved. Sold out. Radically. Set on fire for Jesus and let them watch us BURN.
That's what David did. That's what we must do. He's worthy of our shuffling off our old wineskins and becoming new. Who knows what is Godly or ungodly? Who defines that? Is there a standard for this? Is ANY music ungodly? I submit I can sing the Beatles song, I Wanna Hold Your Hand in the light of God's love and have more impact than most stuff I hear or don't hear on KLOVE.
What about Christian RAP music? Godly or ungodly? I know a Christian Rapper from St. Charles who will tear your heart from you in his passion for Jesus. We have been boxed in. You speak of getting out of the box. Sorry, KP you're still in it. Break off the chains. There's still time to get free.
That my friend is a method worthy of a KING.
Our KING!!
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