and yes, i have heard many rock groups that in no way promote things of this world. to be honest, rock music is something i can identify with. United Live has brought me to tears just listening to the CD.

And yes, crank the music up, and give the ones who dont like it earplugs. David said to praise the Lord with song. even with “stringed instruments” and “Cymbals”. He never said what kind of music they had to be playing, he just said who the music was to focus on. It’s about the content, not style.

But above all it is important to show God’s love.

Here’s what gets me.

It is a common strategy among missionaries to adapt Christianity in certain ways to the culture they are trying to reach. I’m not saying that the ones in Africa who support sacrifices as part of Christianity are right; personally i dont know. I’ll let God judge that. What I am saying is that I dont see anything wrong with changing the terminology to make something understandable. For instance: in one culture, missionaries had to say “have Jesus come into your throat” instead of “heart”, because the culture believed that the throat was the center of the spirit. Or, when translating the Bible, some missionaries will say the Christ will cleanse as white as a dove instead of snow, because the culture has never seen snow. You have to meet people where they are. Christians have to be the ones striving to meet on some common ground, because those we are trying to reach dont have any motivation to.

Is God sending us sinners to catch sinners? All I know is, with the guys at work, the only thing we have in common a lot of times is music. I’ve been working on them, and have managed to start spiritual conversations with almost all of them. This wouldn’t be possible if I couldnt identify with them some way or other. And I’d choose having music to identify with them rather than drugs, alcohol, fighting, sex, or many unmentioned illegal activities……

1. It SOUNDED cool (or awful)

1. It SOUNDED cool (or awful)
   -this is the surface level
2. I like the meaning
   -this is where the next level comes into play…….

For number 2, sometimes it takes awhile for the meaning to sink in. Some wont get it the first time. Personally, there is some music that a lot of people thinks sounds cool, and i like musically as well, but when i interact with it on a different level, not only understanding the meaning but embracing it, that’s when my heart is stirred the most. That’s when I am worshiping my creator, crying out with my heart with unspoken words, and with sung ones. Not all the songs that do this are “worship” genre, but they are all worship songs in one way or another. The worship genre is probably the easiest to do this to, however…….

Maybe you dont have to play “different” styles to attract different people. Maybe the worship leader just needs to make sure that the ones already commited to Christ are thinking about the meaning (Matt, you prob do this better than any other WL i’ve personally seen, including tomlin, crowder and delirious……). If there is a non-Christian there who sees that rejoicing, maybe that’s all they need. I know how it is to feel out of place because you cant sing the words and honestly mean them. To this day I struggle with singing “Better Is One Day” because I can never completely “feel” it when I sing it. Heck, I signed up for eternity, not just one day!!!!!