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Is “Stairway to Heaven†Appropriate for Church?

What is appropriate for church?

What is "church"?

"Church" in this context (the word church having different meanings) is the corporate worship of God. We are not there to be entertained by music, but there to worship God as a body of believers, commune with Him and each other, and be equipped to take the gospel out into the world.

Music is an integral part of worship to be sure. But, we Christians really need to get away from changing a few lyrics on some old rock hits and calling that worshipful.

The worst church service I ever went to did this. In this one church service, the "worship team" sang "Then I saw His face, now I'm a believer", "The first time, ever I saw His face" (just the first verse, but if you read the rest of the song you'd know outrageously inappropriate that was) and a version "Peaceful Easy Feeling" with the lyrics reworked.

This was not worship. This was lazy Christianity trying to be worldly enough to appear hip to non-Christians...nothing that we are called to be in Christ. And nothing that has to do with worshiping God in spirit or in truth.
 
Chris said:
Really guys music (instruments) itself is harmless, only verbal communication (sung lyrics) can influence minds to do things and only music that has lyrics that are not against biblical principals and/or is god praising something you would consider of god. The remainder does belong to the devil. Even if the artists really didn't intend it that way songs about cheating on spouses, greed, sin etc are of the devil.
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I have said a million times on this board, that it is not the instruments, but it's the lyrics that make a song bad.
 
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself for the battle(1Cor 14:8). To entertain the idea that musical instruments HAVE to convey only neutral feelings is absurd, musical instruments can touch the spirit of a human and musical instruments can definitely excite the flesh nature of a human. Placing biblical words on SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE, or GREEN ONIONS, will not work because the music itself excites the flesh nature.
 
Sam21 said:
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself for the battle(1Cor 14:8). To entertain the idea that musical instruments HAVE to convey only neutral feelings is absurd, musical instruments can touch the spirit of a human and musical instruments can definitely excite the flesh nature of a human. Placing biblical words on SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE, or GREEN ONIONS, will not work because the music itself excites the flesh nature.
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YouTube - Lux Aeterna By Clint Mansell

There is a good example of that even though it never had lyrics. You would have expectations of something impressive is about to happen. Good or bad you wouldn't know though.

Imagine that as a build up to a baptism or a sermon.

ps lux Aeterna means eternal light.
 
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hey Elijah23,
things got a little off track a bit, but if its the music of "stairway to heaven" that you like (and the music is nice) change the words of the song .. i asume that you are not going to play the cd in church but maybe were going to play yourself. i cant write songs but i do take songs out of the Baptist Hymnal and put my own music to it. i play a little guitar and enjoy re-writing the songs.

good luck and God bless
 
If you forget who wrote Stairway to Heaven, and why it was written, and simply look at the lyrics, I still wonder if you won’t find some useful symbolism. I would remove the verse about “There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west …†since it seems nonsensical to me.
 
For instance, “to be a rock and not to roll†= “do not backslide†?
 
“to be a rock and not to roll†= “do not backslide†?
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Combined with the preceding lyrics, "as we wind on down the road" (that would be the broad path, the path to destruction upon which the majority tread), and "if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last" (it's the piper who's calling the tune - that would be the demon Pan - from which we get the word 'panic'), "when we all are one and one is all" (ah, that would be 'universalism' - another heresy hatched in the pit), "to be a rock and not to roll," Plant is talking about the culmination of a spiritual journey (a journey that is antithetical to Jesus Christ) that has resulted in the woman finding out that life is about certain things which supposedly bring far more joy than any material possessions can. "To be a rock and not to roll" is stating that you have to stick with your own path (so much for being born again in Jesus Christ...), and don't follow what everyone else says is happiness. It's a fairly simple message from the most subtle beast...
 
When I saw them in 71 or 72 I was not into Jesus then, I was also tripping on LSD that night when I saw Zep, so I had a ball. I can still remember that concert in vivid detail. I and all those other kids just thought that it was just plain old rock music. We didn't put to much into the words of the music at that time even though the whole building knew the words to Stairway To Heaven. At that time Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Grand Funk, Jethro Tull, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Alice Cooper were my hero's. I and those other kids had not a clue at that time. Here in Led Zepplin's own words is how Stairway To Heaven came about.

Stairway to Heaven - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Guitar World Magazine, April 1997: "(Randy) California's most enduring legacy may well be the fingerpicked acoustic theme of the song "Taurus," which Jimmy Page lifted virtually note for note for the introduction to "Stairway to Heaven."

Randy California played guitars and vocals for the band Spirit.
 
when bands seem to have a relationship or affinity to what people would refer to as "the dark arts" or "witchcraft" or "satanism", people must realize that none of these are the focus of the musical groups; music is the focus. Music is the primary goal. The rest? The themes? the overtones? Its all apart of the spectacle, nothing more. They are theatrical elements. Bands who employ these forms of spectacle do this not to emulate or exalt the ideas therin, but simply to add to the performance. Did Ozzy bite the heads off of bats? Yes, but they were fake bats. (one was real, however, but it was unintentional as a fan had thrown a dead bat onto stage) Do some bands have overtones of darkness? Did Ozzy proclaim himself the prince of darkness? Yes, but its not like he ACTUALLY believes he is Satan. Its just apart of the show.

Its apart of the show, and should not be taken seriously as anything other than fantasy and imagination. Why did Kiss dress up in such elaborate and scary costumes? Because it sells tickets.

Why does Lady Gaga do everything that simply makes no sense? Because it sells tickets. It sells records. It sells advertising. It sells. It sells. It sells.

Its not as if it means anything other than a new bell and whistle for people to be distracted by as they purchase terrible music.

Is Stairway Appropriate for Church? Well, I suppose that depends on who you ask, and in what Church with wha congregation. It is wholly subjective.
 
...none of these are the focus of the musical groups; music is the focus. Music is the primary goal. The rest? The themes? the overtones? Its all apart of the spectacle, nothing more. They are theatrical elements. Bands who employ these forms of spectacle do this not to emulate or exalt the ideas therin, but simply to add to the performance.
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Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Mat 12:33-34)

...Its apart of the show, and should not be taken seriously as anything other than fantasy and imagination.
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"Imagination"?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness... they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Rom 1:20-23)

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Mat 12:35)

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (Tts 1:15)

Its not as if it means anything other than a new bell and whistle for people to be distracted by as they purchase terrible music.
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Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen... (Jer 10:2).

Is Stairway Appropriate for Church? Well, I suppose that depends on who you ask, and in what Church with wha congregation. It is wholly subjective.
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Let 's ask God:

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. (Phl 4:8)
 
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mpok1519 is right, most bands do this stuff because it sells tickets and buys Rolls Royce's, million dollar homes, private jets and many more goodies. Alice Cooper who I have seen in the early 70's is now a born again Christian. And you now have 2 people in the heavy metal band Korn who are now saved. And use the band as a way of talking to people about Jesus.
 
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lovely. it still not appropriate for church.
besides i'm NOT liking the direction ccm is heading. more wordly as we go along.

not all bands but its about la mulah.

what does the gma/dove award really have to do with the ministry of god and what the lord says about seeking rewards.

isnt god alone going to award us in heaven?
 
Lewis W said:
Jason what are you talking about ? Breakdown please.
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the dove awards is award for the amount of songs sold by a gospel singer.

arent these guys ministers?

i just had a gospel quartet at my church that is nominated for the dove award and they are worth the time to listen too. but its sales and while i know they live off the gospel.

but shouldnt we uplift the lord first

would you want a best pastor reward and have a national ceremony with a trophy given to the most liked sermon?

is that what the lord wants?

i have the most atrocious spelling and the hardest posts to read/understand

yet i KNOW that some are touched and convicted by this fool's post.

i have been told that in private and on fb.
 
elijah23 said:
You all know the song “Stairway to Heaven.†If you eliminate the verse about “There’s a feeling I get when I look to west …†is this song appropriate for church? In other words, is it a song full of meaningful symbolism, or is it just sort of a cleverly written secular song?
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Personally, I feel it's the most overrated rock song ever and it certainly has no place in a worship environment. :yes
 
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