This is so true. Some of the best praise songs are the great hymns, ie Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, and Showers of Blessings, but some of the new artists are still bringing music that brings us closer to God, ie How Great is Our God, It is You and Audience of One.
I do not know how you feel about todays Christian music but I look at it like this. My God is alive and unchangeable but He can and does use the ever-changing music to still speak to His loving creation.

God truly gave amazing talent to so many in order to worship & glorify Him. However, Spurgeon probably saw how music can become a performance instead of worship - similiar to what happens many times in churches, including JFBC. Try closing your eyes during the singing. Instead of watching the performers, picture being in God's presence and sing the words to Him. I grant you will experience worship in a different "Light".

How are Spurgeon and Calvin wrong in this instance? They didn't say not to have music and song; did they? Calvin saw a greater need....preach the Word and drench the sermon in Scripture and thus; impressed Spurgeon to the point that he believed it was a good template. In today's churches, many of them concentrate on being entertainers whether while singing or giving a sermon. What should our focus be?

There's no right or wrong just where your heart is and an obedience to the Lord. Are you being led either way? I say: "Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:“ That You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when You are judged.”--Romans 3:4.

I love reading your daily devotions and respect your views and believes, but the thing is not about you or I or anybody as a person feeling comfortable or good about your self; is about what the lord likes or dislikes, I'm sure you know that the church that the Lord Jesus Christ form in the early days did not used any instruments.
Imagine at your service when your signing the band stops, everybody stops because they're concentrated in the rhythm not on the phrases or the Lord but the music. I'm always willing to learn so tell me if I'm wrong and why, but remember we must base our believes primarily on the new testament. Thank you

Val

Spurgeon did not want to be upstaged by music that may be more spiritual and moving than his sermons. He was more concerned with what pleased him than with what delighted his flock. Preachers have egos!!

I understand the need for different styles of worship for different people but it needs to be tailored to the needs of the congregation. We have two services at our church, the first being the contemporary and the second is the traditional. But, the music director is always trying to interject the contemporary into the traditional. It is not so much that I don't like the actual contemporary songs, it's the repetition I don't like. Do you have to sing a song 5 times to get into a worshipful spirit? And,I miss singing the songs that were written by theologians that are progressive as you sang through the song, starting with our miserable state before Christ and ending with the glory that will be ours when we get to heaven. A lot of them are very introspective and work in our hearts to bring about a change in our lives.

Amen, Pastor. I'm thankful that our church offers many types of music, and all centered on God. When I became a Christian it was at a smaller church that had a praise band, and I loved listening to and singing with that music. Now, I love the great hymns even more.

Val, God does not change. Just because the New Testament does not mention music does not mean it should be forbidden as part of worship. The early church, which is all we read about in the New Testament, was composed of small groups that met in peoples homes. There was not much mentioned about those local "churches", other than their gathering together. God gives us our talents, and we are on this earth to glorify Him. Music was clearly an appropriate way to praise God in the Old Testament. What better way to start off a church service today than to sing songs to and about God.

I do agree that worship music can sometimes be more about the performance or performer, and less centered on God, which is due to our own sinful nature, and something which can corrupt any good thing. Of course, every person in the church, whether on stage or in the pews, is a sinner. Still, we gather together for preaching, teaching, and worship, even if we can't do it perfectly.

it seems that by not allowing music in their worship sevice, Charles Spurgeon and John Calvin missed the boat. I remember reading a story by O Henry in which a hobo heard music coming from a church and it convicted him to make a change in his life. I love music and am in the choir at our church. I find that music that glorifies God brings me closr to him.

JM, I agree with you. Jesus, Himself, in instructing us how to pray said in Mt 6:7 not to use vain repetition. I find many "praise choruses" violate this clear Biblical instruction. Furthermore, what is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. I think we have to be very careful not to turn the church into entertainment. Sometimes the music I hear sounds more like American Idol-the operative word being "idol".

My Bible reading yesterday was in Exodus in the part about where God gives specific instructions to Moses about constructing the tabernacle which will be used for worship. Many details are given about various things to be used in the tabernacle and craftsmen are given skills to make what is needed. It was interesting to notice that nothing related to music was crafted. I did not think about that until I read today's devotion. Incense and annointing oil seems important to God and those are not used in most Protestant churches I have attended. Just something to consider. I do believe God made us creative since we are made in His image and that music utilizes our creative skills and God is glorified when the music glorifies Him and is reverent. Reading about the tabernacle made me realize how God is so demanding that we be obedient to getting things right at the detail level. It does seem that some praise music that is so repetitive would not be utilizing our full creative skills. Just somne thoughts. God bless you all.

Not surprised to see a lot of comments on this. Surprised you are brave enough to venture forward on this subject, for as you stated, everyone has their own personal preferences. One does find it hard to say, "The way you are worshipping our God is wrong!" However, we are told in the Bible not to worship as pagans do, so it's sometimes hard to decide exactly where that line is drawn sometimes?

Okay, I really think we need to be careful to be haughty about others people's way of worshipping God. In Samuel 6:14 it talks of David dancing before the Lord with all his might as they brought up the arc of the Lord with shouts & sounds of trumpet. It also mentioned that Michal daughter of Saul watched him from a window as he lept and danced before the Lord & that she hated him. Now I ask you who do you think God felt worshipped & loved by and how do you think He felt about her? Also in 1Chronicles 25 David set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman & Jeduthun for the ministry of prohesying accompanied by harps,lyres, & cymbals. Who are we to reject the idea of anyone worshipping to God through music? I sing in the choir and yes we do have some repetitive verses in praise to God. Do you really think that ANY verses that are worshipful & praising to the Lord is vain repetition in God's eyes?-I sort of doubt it. None of us need to judge anyone's else's heart. Only God knows our hearts & I have the feeling that He is very pleased when we sing & lift up His Holy Name in praise & adoration. Just my opinion. God bless

Scripture teaches us that when Jesus went to the cross, His new law/testament went into effect, and the old law/testament passed away. There were MANY things that changed from that time on. No longer did God allow concubines. Also, animal sacrifices were left behind at that point... as well as the use of music in worship done with a mechanical method. I would agree that Jesus' reason for this change was to possibly make the point that worship comes from the mouth, heart and mind, since New Testament scriptures say only to "sing and make melody in your heart"! The New Testament church had been in establishment for some 2000 years with voices singing only, before mechanical instruments were brought in by mere men who decided that THEY liked it better. Sometimes we forget, we are not supposed to be in worship to please ourselves, but the Almighty God who created us and sent His Son to die for us.

There is truly a simple purity of Accapella voices, and the message they bring. It's the words.... spoken AND sung.... that really teach the message and touch the soul... not the organ, guitar, drums, etc...

I agree with Chris' comments. We should point out also that there are still many out there who think that those who do leave off the instruments in worship means there's no singing either! Nothing could be further from the truth! But we are to "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent". The Bible does say to sing. And God doesn't even care if your singing is off key as long as it is from your heart. It is for HIM not about "our own personal preference". Besides...I'll bet even off key it is beautiful in HIS ear!

Humm, those angels better put those harps down I guess since they're lets see um-"musical instruments". Again I say if we do it in a respectful,loving, worshipful way in our hearts that singing with or without musical instruments is truly music in God's ears.

Christ Follower, You do have some good defense. I am thankful that musicians are given the opportunity to use their talent and skills during the worship service to glorify God with the gifts He gave them. When I hear their beautiful music I am in awe of Him and His creation. I am also thankful that we all have choices of which church to attend so we can find a church that goes along with what we believe is the right way to worship God. I don't see that God has changed between the Old and New Testaments: He still has death as the penalty for sin but He has given us a new provision to be saved from the death through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. That does not say to me that God liked music from instruments before Jesus and then decided after Jesus that He no longer liked instrumental music. These devotions sure are thought provoking! God bless all who are concerned with this for it means we care about God and want to see Him pleased.

Thanks Janice, I totally agree with everything you said. I better leave it at that. God bless :-)

God does love to hear his children when we sing, and praise him whether it is with instruments or not. I used to travel in a Gospel Quartet and there were churches that didn't allow guitars, drums or P.A. equipment because they didn't used to have them. The best defense that I ever heard against this was an older Brother who reminded the people that people used to not own cars to drive to church and so he asked the people did they want to go back to the olden days and walk to church.God blessed people to invent these instruments to praise him and I love it when people use them. God bless everyone.

With all due respect...
That last comment would possibly make some good logic... except for the fact that instuments HAD been invented as far back as Old Testament times...(and so were animals there and then for transportation!:D)
.......Jesus is the one that BEGAN the New Testament church and His chosen elements of worship. Why was He so specific about His directions? Who are we to question? There are countless Bible examples...old AND new... of His VERY specific details that were laid out about many things! That is His decision to make ONLY and not ours. He loves us dearly, but still expects obedience, just like we do with our own children. If you send your teenager to the store specifically for the loaf of bread you desire or need, and he/she brings you back cinnamon rolls with icing instead, saying "I like these better and thought YOU would too!"...how many of us would be OK with that? Sure...we would still dearly love our teenager, but we would be quick to point out that they did not obey what we had told them to do, and that they need to follow through with our directions whether we agree with them or not.

Many of you might find this very interesting and informative. Some history of music in the church from first century through the restoration and reformation periods.
http://www.bible.ca/H-music.htm
I was also once brought back to the church by hearing the music as I walked by - a ccaella singing.