The True Purpose Of Worship
Born and raised in a Christian and Catholic family, I attended church every Sunday. In fact, when I first moved to Canada I decided to attend a Catholic private elementary school, then I moved on to a Christian private high school. When I first started high school, I decided to join a Music Leadership class. One day, my Music Leadership teacher gave us a research project, for which I had to pick a Christian song that I was familiar with. Right at that moment, the old hymn “Amazing Grace” started playing in my mind. This song meant a lot to me because I grew up listening to this song at home, church and school. As a matter of fact, I heard this song in multiple styles, tones, voices and even languages .
I started
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I played the acoustic guitar and sang on the team. Ever since I joined the worship band, I started listening to a lot of different varieties of worship songs. I also started exploring newer recordings of artists and band such as Hillsong, Hillsong United, Bethel music, Chris Tomlin, and Jesus Culture. Although I grew up in mostly "theologically conservative" churches where they mostly played traditional music, it felt like I could definitely relate to these modern Christian songs better than the old hymns. Then, I came to a realization that this was all because the modern Christian music incorporates notes, rhythm, tempo or chords that modern pop music has. Theses modern Christian artists brought a huge change in order to get more attention from the younger Christians. They modified the languages, genre, and instruments from the old …show more content…
When I was there, I was extremely surprised by their supposedly called “worship music”. People were worshipping to a praise song with country music tune, and electronic dance music tunes. Although the music familiar to my ears and the lyrics were Christian-like, I wondered if this was too much of a change. It just felt like Christian music was slowly losing its purpose. So, my question to myself was “Is holistic transformation of Christian music to a modern day music necessary?” and my answer to that is “No it is not necessary , but some changes are good”. I believe that few changes such as hymns to modern worship music is definitely superb because people are more familiar with them, and it’s easier to sing and follow along to during the time of worship. The problem is excessive change to the songs: It is Unnecessary. The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God; it is not to please our human
Kozol, Jonathan. Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. New York: Harper, 1996.
Growing up in Jamaica, I enjoyed worship. I remembered looking forward to church. We clapped our hands and stomped our feet and made a joyful noise unto the Lord. We didn't have keyboards and drums. We clapped and sounded like timbrels. I remembered when I learned to testify and it helped me and several others to build our confidence. I would sing in the local churches when they have special events. I watched young people being filled with the Holy Ghost and I wanted it so badly that I would pray and ask God to give it to me. I remembered watching my mother and my sister speak in tongues and I so wanted to do it.
The first time I attended the Episcopal Church in my hometown with a girlfriend, I was shocked by the complexity of the melodies the organist played, by the sheer, tuneful competence of the singing. Until then I don’t think I knew it was possible to worship God in cadences and keys actually indicated in a hymnal.
Gospel songs combined religious lyrics with melodies and rhythms inspired by early blues and jazz. Many churches rejected this new integration of religious conviction and popular song as devil's music that had no place in a house of worship.
The influence of secular rock music on contemporary Christian music has awakened a generation of listeners who enjoy being in the “gray” area. There’s a generation out there that does not want the label of “Jesus freak.”
Christian Music has many effects on society today.The latter mingles titles from Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums to offer a comparative view of the religious music market (“Over the Counter”).In the early '90s, its artists began borrowing from more relevant styles of music and fashion to promote their words of praise (“Over the Counter”).
My thoughts are sustained by Paul’s expression in Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (KJV Philippians 4:8). The song Amazing Grace has endured high regard for almost three hundred years.
For centuries, brilliant composers released their works of music that became important part Christian churches. The result of these music works - a huge number of hymns, oratorios and other musical works. Nowadays, they use the organists and the heads of the church choirs around the world. I have attended one of Christian concerts that I would never attend myself. I have completed eight years of music school playing piano. I do not have any good memories of it for I have never enjoyed it. I was that girl playing piano inform of all teachers and parents with their kids. I have never liked it and I have promised myself that I will never go to that type of a concert. I have attended Mary Grace’s concert at Tacoma
Again, secular music has power because it’s pure unadulterated emotion that drives the music, not any desire to see people saved, not any desire for any effect. Just pure emotion. So then why is worship better than secular music?
My goal was not only to effectively play and sing each song, but to sing in a way in which everyone may not just listen, but to draw near to God themselves. If I did not take up the responsibility and invest in the time to lead worship, so many people, including myself, would miss out on the opportunity to be transformed together and made new. This is the generation that is seeing a decline in the church in the U.S. Churches are closing down throughout the United States. Churches are losing its relevance in people’s lives. Serving in worship is how I can help unify the body and restore the church by getting back to the heart of
The contemporary worship music image of Jesus is most comparable to Prothero’s “Sweet Savior” Jesus, born in the Evangelical Century and becoming a loving, “feminized” version of Jesus, and the “Superstar” Jesus, a friendly, down-to-earth result of the “Jesus Freaks” movement in the 60s, which was the inspiration of contemporary worship music. Using these two already-defined Jesuses, and combining them with some other aspects of contemporary worship music, I have defined contemporary worship music’s portrayal of Jesus as the “King within reach,” a Jesus who is accessible, praiseworthy, and full of grace. Jesus as defined by contemporary worship music is a muddled project, as many pieces of contemporary worship can be used to interpret his portrait. However, due to the evidence from its lyrical emphasis on certain names and characteristics of Jesus, part of that portrait must include his apparent and praiseworthy authority for the churches (and Spotify users, of course) that play contemporary worship music. Overall, the grace and promise of salvation portrayed by the lyrics are consistent with mainly evangelical Christianity as
The earthly ministry of Jesus can be characterized by many traits, not the least of which are parables, prophecy, and miracles (most notably, His resurrection from the dead). Everything which Jesus did during His time spent on earth was intended to draw people to a saving relationship with Himself through God’s Spirit, so that they could experience true freedom. However, in an era and culture such as that in which Jesus ministered, when much of the Jewish population was hardened by cruel Roman rule and desperately waiting for an earthly Messiah, He had to break down barriers of mistrust and misleading assumptions in order to allow people to see the truth. It was necessary for Jesus to logically prove to the people that He was who He said He
Joshua Mabry PSY-102 4-30-17 Mr. Witherspoon The Mental Side of Sports While many people in the United States and all around the world playing sports such as football, baseball, soccer, basketball or any other sport it is a fun activity and a way to stay fit. Some people though are able to make playing sports a job and make pretty good money off of playing the sport they love, but what is it that makes someone strive to compete and to go for the win? That is where Sports Psychology comes into play.
"I hesitate to include this distraction because I realize the level of talent varies by congregation. Nor do I want to suggest that only the most talented musicians or singers should be permitted to lead worship. I'm simply stating what we've experienced: sometimes the musical component of worship lacks quality," he explained. The next are unprepared singers, which he said are not a result of lack of talent but rather lack of preparation.
All welcoming, all loving, all knowing God, for me my Church is like a an close up of heaven will look . All colors, all ages, all backgrounds invited, souls are saved weekly. Faith is increased every Sunday and the Bible is even reflected on heavier Wednesday. Word Church is more then just a big grey, white, and red building, on the corner of Britain Road, with a big W symbol on the side. My church is a hospital, in the middle of a slowly dieng area. Previously dispositioned as an old furniture store, I am currently a member of, the newly remodeled Word church Akron. This was not my first church I attended, however it is the building block of my faith in Christianity . During the foundation of my childhood, I had my first experience with religion, at catholic and Pentecostal churches