Searching for the Truth in the King James Bible;
Finding it, and passing it on to you.
EDITOR:
Steve
Van Nattan
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OF This letter came in email in response to our pages on church music and Southern Gospel Music in particular. The letter needs no comment and speaks of a man listening to the Holy Ghost. _________________________________ Blessings in Christ! I have spent much of my life as a drummer. I have learned to play all types of music and spent many a year in churches where upbeat gospel music has been played. I also spent much of that time as one of the drummers in these churches. A number of years ago, I was drumming at a church and something happened to help me realize that it's all about the show...I remember people in the music group consistently telling me how to play the drums for this piece of music or that. That's not so bad, but I then began to hear all kinds of reasons why it should be done one way or another. During the Sunday services, people got really excited about the music and they would get boisterous, clapping their hands, singing as loud as possible and of course, clapping loudly when we finished our "set." To make a long story short, through a series of events, I felt that this was just not for me...at all. I quit playing drums at that particular church and eventually we began attending another church. When we first began attending, most of the music was hymns, which I greatly love. Over time, more and more modern music began to seep in. Eventually, I even agreed to play the drums. I played ONCE and then I became so disappointed (and even angry) with the entire thing, that I quit playing drums for the church. Eventually, the music became less and less hymn-oriented and much more modern. I also noticed that the congregation claps just about every time someone finishes...ANYTHING, whether it's a song, or a testimony or whatever, but mainly songs and solos. I often wonder if we're there to make ourselves happy or to worship the Lord. It would seem that we are spending a good deal of time patting each other on the back. Why on earth - if someone is singing a solo - should we APPLAUD when they're done? Are they singing to us or the Lord? Doesn't seem like it and I guess they have their reward. I read with interest one of the letters on your page, in which these words were stated: "Would Jesus put on a show to appeal to non-believers?" The answer of course, is a resounding NO! yet the church is so desperately caught up in the trap of trying to make the Gospel FIT every situation so that people are 1) attracted to it and 2) not offended by it. In doing so, it is becoming a pale shadow of what Christ and the Apostles preached, without the power to save. Didn't Jesus (and some of the Apostles) simply enter into a town or village and then...get ready...start PREACHING? I believe they did. Churches today however, seem more interested in creating an environment that attracts people and they wind up creating a show for them. It's sad. Very sad, yet it seems in Scripture that this is what we are told will happen in the Last Days - "...people will be lovers of themselves..." and become attracted to things that satisfy the "itch" in their ears. It's been over a year since I have played my drums at all, even just in my home for practice. I have them packed and in my garage and have no interest at all in playing them, certainly not in church. I have no regrets either. The people who feel the need to "reshape" or "repackage" the gospel so that people from all walks of life are able to "hear it" seem to be unaware of God's ability to touch the heart of the unsaved all by Himself, without having to resort to a circus atmosphere, or turn the church sanctuary into a Las Vegas showroom. It's a shame, but it's what the church is allowing itself to become. Thanks for your time and your dedication to Jesus. Regards, F______
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