RE: [TruthTalk] Judging Music

[ShieldsFamily]

TT’ers,   Our church service today was tremendously inspiring, as usual.  It also led me to some thoughts about Christian music.  We always have top-notch musicians and singers, plus all the bells and whistles that technology can provide, such as lighting, videos, stage props, etc. The talent of our crew, who have to carry everything in and out of our rented YMCA facility every Sunday, is unparalleled. One of our guitarists and singers is a professional “rock” star whose life has been changed to the core by Jesus, as well as one of the musicians who plays in St. Louis’ legendary Bob Kuban band for a living, and can squeeze notes out of any instrument (especially the alto sax) that you would not believe. It is impressive beyond words to be sure.   Nothing is lacking as the singers belt out cutting-edge contemporary Christian worship songs. However, I told my husband, although I’m a true product of 60’s rock music, something about all this hip-hop beat leaves me pretty unmoved. The message is predominantly where the Holy Spirit works in my heart in our services; not usually the upbeat, syncopated, catchy melody, which is hard for me to follow as I am trying to keep up with the rapid onslaught of lyrics at the same time. It leaves me tired and ready to sit down and enjoy the sermon!   Today our associate pastor, Russ, sat in a chair as he gave the message about Phil 4:8-9, “Think on these things”.  He sat as he spoke, not because ours is a very casual church (which it is), but because he is becoming so disabled with Parkinson’s that the constant shifting of his legs makes it increasingly difficult for him to deliver the message. So he sat and crossed his legs, which helped him gain much more control over his unruly body. But his words rose loftily above his circumstances. He spoke of how he had lunch this week with two other brothers from our fellowship, all struggling with their problems. Russ, with his health issues. Another with the fact that he recently suddenly lost his job at a time in his life when he should be at the peak of his career. And the professional guitarist and singer, whose home was robbed this week, who was left without his computer, hard drive, or devastatingly, the sound track for his new waiting to-be-released  C.D. recording. But they did not mutter or complain, but sat discussing the possibilities of “I wonder how God is going to use this circumstance in my life.”   Then, after Russ gave a heartfelt invitation to invite Christ into our hearts, he turned the microphone over the Gopi Sandhu, a godly young man of Indian descent, who is gifted with a voice that can turn stone to water. To the softest of background music, Gopi sang an old spiritual, “Give Me Jesus”.  The song has the simplest of melodies and the plainest of words. And yet it left not a dry eye in the house.    Surely “Simplicity, taken to the extreme, is elegance”; especially in Christian music.  You can listen to this song, by a different artist, at http://www.growingchristians.org/mfgc/light/GiveMeJesus.html.  I only wish you could hear it in Gopi’s own voice.   Izzy