music during prayers and the reading of God's word

[miamited]

Hi guys, So, I've had this long running distaste for music being played during prayer. For me, it's a distraction. Especially if it's a song that I like. My mind can't help but go following the music rather than what's being said as the prayer. Now, my fellowship has recently begun playing music, and I'm speaking here of just soft background piano music, during the reading or God's word portion of our service. Again, same distraction. I liken it to be like elevator music, which is designed to entertain the mind while traveling quietly with a group going through the floors as the elevator moves up and down. I have no problem with that, although even the building operators nowadays seem to have stopped that practice. I honestly can't recall the last time I was in an elevator that had such a service, but I live in a small town without many elevators so I could be wrong on that. Does anyone have a testimony as to an elevator that plays music?

But anyway, I looked up the practice and found a site called worshipmatters.com and it gives four examples in the Scriptures where music during a particular service was used that apparently is what this practice is today based on. 1 Chron. 25 beginning in vs 1, 1 Samuel 10 beginning in vs 5, and finally 2 Kings 3 beginning in vs 14. I looked them up. These are all about playing music as people were prophesying, not praying. Finally, it referenced Ephesians 5 beginning in vs 18. This discusses believers generally speaking to one another through psalms, hymns and songs. Still doesn't seem to be addressing the act of praying. In fact, this passage speaks of the music coming through the Spirit. Then it speaks of singing and making music from your heart to the Lord. That's the way I like to use music. Singing and making music from my heart to the Lord. But not so much in times of praying.

So, I'm just curious and would like to find out if others find this practice somewhat annoying, and yes, I understand there may be some that it isn't something to argue over and I'm not trying to start an argument. Just a discussion on the matter. If anyone is willing, how do you feel personally about background music being played during times of prayer and Scripture reading? I mean, if it's to make us behave more spiritually, then why shouldn't we do it throughout the teaching, also? Anything to offer?

 

[WIP]

Hi guys, So, I've had this long running distaste for music being played during prayer. For me, it's a distraction. Especially if it's a song that I like. My mind can't help but go following the music rather than what's being said as the prayer. Now, my fellowship has recently begun playing music, and I'm speaking here of just soft background piano music, during the reading or God's word portion of our service. Again, same distraction. I liken it to be like elevator music, which is designed to entertain the mind while traveling quietly with a group going through the floors as the elevator moves up and down. I have no problem with that, although even the building operators nowadays seem to have stopped that practice. I honestly can't recall the last time I was in an elevator that had such a service, but I live in a small town without many elevators so I could be wrong on that. Does anyone have a testimony as to an elevator that plays music?

But anyway, I looked up the practice and found a site called worshipmatters.com and it gives four examples in the Scriptures where music during a particular service was used that apparently is what this practice is today based on. 1 Chron. 25 beginning in vs 1, 1 Samuel 10 beginning in vs 5, and finally 2 Kings 3 beginning in vs 14. I looked them up. These are all about playing music as people were prophesying, not praying. Finally, it referenced Ephesians 5 beginning in vs 18. This discusses believers generally speaking to one another through psalms, hymns and songs. Still doesn't seem to be addressing the act of praying. In fact, this passage speaks of the music coming through the Spirit. Then it speaks of singing and making music from your heart to the Lord. That's the way I like to use music. Singing and making music from my heart to the Lord. But not so much in times of praying.

So, I'm just curious and would like to find out if others find this practice somewhat annoying, and yes, I understand there may be some that it isn't something to argue over and I'm not trying to start an argument. Just a discussion on the matter. If anyone is willing, how do you feel personally about background music being played during times of prayer and Scripture reading? I mean, if it's to make us behave more spiritually, then why shouldn't we do it throughout the teaching, also? Anything to offer?

I agree. Prayer through music is one thing and that is what I believe hymns and psalms are but prayer time with God personally is something entirely different.

 

[Who Me]

Talk to the minister about why must every reading and 3very pray be accompanied by elevator music.
Do ask what the connection between his prayer/reading was with what ever hymn music was being played, demonstrate by giving the wrong understanding of said prayer or reading.

 

[miamited]

Talk to the minister about why must every reading and 3very pray be accompanied by elevator music.
Do ask what the connection between his prayer/reading was with what ever hymn music was being played, demonstrate by giving the wrong understanding of said prayer or reading.

I have mentioned it to the pastor, but I did have a discussion about it with the music director. I also pulled the pastor aside yesterday and mentioned that I didn't think getting politics involved in the business of the fellowship of believers was a good plan. His response to me was something along the lines that it was going to be.

Sadly, and I may have to abandon the Southern Baptist aligned fellowships altogether, but there seems to be this undercurrent now that believers assignment from God is to go out and condemn the world of its sin and tell their followers who to vote for. I am amazed honestly of all the support that has poured forth from the 'church' in this matter.

 

[Whatever]

I have mentioned it to the pastor, but I did have a discussion about it with the music director. I also pulled the pastor aside yesterday and mentioned that I didn't think getting politics involved in the business of the fellowship of believers was a good plan.

This seems to be a ploy (An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver) to not having to deal with things - just label it politics.

 

[miamited]

This seems to be a ploy (An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver) to not having to deal with things - just label it politics.

Hi Whatever

I'm sorry, but 'what' seems to be a ploy? My asking or the pastor's response? Or the issue of the fellowship getting involved in politics? I'm not clear on what you're referring to as a 'ploy'.

 

[Whatever]

I'm sorry, but 'what' seems to be a ploy? My asking or the pastor's response? Or the issue of the fellowship getting involved in politics? I'm not clear on what you're referring to as a 'ploy'.

The pastor using politics as a reason to not have to deal with it.

I wondered if a Sunday School teacher was teaching witchcraft in her class and you brought it up to him if he would say "he didn't think getting politics involved in the business of the fellowship of believers was a good plan."

A person could label anything as "politics" as a way to avoid dealing with it.

 

[miamited]

The pastor using politics as a reason to not have to deal with it.

Hi Whatever
Again, to not have to deal with 'what'. What is it? I believe that many fellowships are allowing politics to be a battle cry to their fellowships. I'm not clear on what 'it' is that you're saying the introduction of politics, or the pastors response to me concerning the subject is referring to.

I wondered if a Sunday School teacher was teaching witchcraft in her class and you brought it up to him if he would say "he didn't think getting politics involved in the business of the fellowship of believers was a good plan."

There are several errors in that statement. You start off seeming to say that 'you' wondered about a SS teacher teaching witchcraft and referred to the teacher as a 'her'. Your next words were that 'you' brought it up, seeming to be referring to me, and now refer t o the person as a 'he'. Then say that 'he' didn't think that getting politics involved in the business of the fellowship was a good plan, which is a statement that I made. I'm the one who told the pastor that I didn't think getting a fellowship involved in politics was a good plan. Maybe you could write out what you intend to convey in that statement a little more clearly.

 

[Whatever]

Since this is the fellowship lounge and not the debate lounge, I don't know what to say.

What I am saying has nothing to do with you but with the pastor. It seems that he does not want to deal with situation X and thus labels it "politics" and off limits.

Situation X could be anything he simply wants to avoid.

 

[Who Me]

Just keep on commenting how much you enjoyed that song, but what relevance did it have to the sermon!
Or singing whatever song is being played.