Re: Re: Re: Re: Slamming Praise and Worship music! WOW!
These are just a few of your words:All music must have a beat. However, the beat must be under control of the melody. A backbeat is a pulse that occurs be- tween normally accented beats, and a breakbeat is a pulse that occurs between the backbeats. For ex- ample, in music that is arranged in four-beatmeasures,normalaccents would occur on beats one and three; the backbeat accents would occur on beats two and four; and the breakbeat accents would occur any- where between the four beats. When the song utilizes a backbeat or a breakbeat, the rhythm of that song has over-stepped the boundaries of the melody and if either of these elements are present, the song is unacceptable for Christians, regard- less of the label that music wears. Even a hymn becomes inappropri- ate when itis arranged to music that has these kinds of beats (see "The Pied Piper of Christendom").Where do I begin? I re-read your letter and stand by everything I said. You are extremely opinionated, and seem to come from the perspective that you know what is best for Christians. Perhaps it is not your intent, but you come across that way. It is not your place to decide what is appropriate for anyone but you. You are not the music police. Based on your use of terms like "normal accents" (referring to beats one and three of a 4/4 measure) indicates your understanding of music theory is somewhat lacking. Accents have been placed on any variety of beats for centuries. Terms such as "normal accents" are meaningless unless contained within a somewhat broadly defined genre such as waltzes, marches, polkas, etc. I've been teaching music theory for 30+ years. You come to the amazing conclusion that accents on beats two and four (the backbeat as you call it) renders a song unfit for Christians. How do you know that early forms of temple music had no accents on the second and fourth beats? How do you know they were even 4/4? Godly and ungody music can be found in any genre. It is the lyrical content that edifies the Lord, regardless of musical content.You ask for questions. How about these.1. Can you name specific scripture that describes what music God likes/approves of?2. How do you come to the amazing conclusion that accents on beats two and four render a song unfit for Christians?3. How do you come to the amazing conclusion that hyms with accents on the two and four are unfit for Christians? Back it up with scripture, not your opinion.4. Please describe for me the earliest forms of temple music and describe their rhythmic structures. Please be sure to cite any source reference materials.Actually Melinda, you don't have to spend any time responding to my questions. My concern for you is your extremely critical spirit, and the broad sweeping generalizations you are making. Do you remember what happened to Saul's daughter when she criticized David for dancing through the streets in worship of the Lord? God cursed her. I want to strongly encourage you to refrain from settting yourself as a self-appointed authority and deciding what is or is not fit for Christians. The bible never addresses musical styles. Unless you can name specific scripture addressing God's taste in music, all the rest is YOUR opinion. Music can certainly be used for godless purpose, but that is another matter altogether. Your mention of scripture using the phrase "new song" does not in any way address any style of music. If a strong rhythm with a strong backbeat makes you uncomfortable, then so be it. For you to claim that ANY songs with a backbeat are unfit for Christians is extremely opinionated.Your letter was hopelessly awash in unsubstantiated opinion, comes across as extremely critical, and that is why the gentleman posted your letter as hating P&W.I guess my point is, lighten up. Let people decide for themselves what music moves them to worship and what music doesn't. It is not your job to decide that for anyone but you.
All music must have a beat. However, the beat must be under control of the melody. A backbeat is a pulse that occurs be- tween normally accented beats, and a breakbeat is a pulse that occurs between the backbeats. For ex- ample, in music that is arranged in four-beatmeasures,normalaccents would occur on beats one and three; the backbeat accents would occur on beats two and four; and the breakbeat accents would occur any- where between the four beats. When the song utilizes a backbeat or a breakbeat, the rhythm of that song has over-stepped the boundaries of the melody and if either of these elements are present, the song is unacceptable for Christians, regard- less of the label that music wears. Even a hymn becomes inappropri- ate when itis arranged to music that has these kinds of beats (see "The Pied Piper of Christendom").
Where do I begin? I re-read your letter and stand by everything I said. You are extremely opinionated, and seem to come from the perspective that you know what is best for Christians. Perhaps it is not your intent, but you come across that way.
It is not your place to decide what is appropriate for anyone but you. You are not the music police. Based on your use of terms like "normal accents" (referring to beats one and three of a 4/4 measure) indicates your understanding of music theory is somewhat lacking.
Accents have been placed on any variety of beats for centuries. Terms such as "normal accents" are meaningless unless contained within a somewhat broadly defined genre such as waltzes, marches, polkas, etc. I've been teaching music theory for 30+ years. You come to the amazing conclusion that accents on beats two and four (the backbeat as you call it) renders a song unfit for Christians. How do you know that early forms of temple music had no accents on the second and fourth beats? How do you know they were even 4/4? Godly and ungody music can be found in any genre. It is the lyrical content that edifies the Lord, regardless of musical content.
You ask for questions. How about these.
1. Can you name specific scripture that describes what music God likes/approves of?
2. How do you come to the amazing conclusion that accents on beats two and four render a song unfit for Christians?
3. How do you come to the amazing conclusion that hyms with accents on the two and four are unfit for Christians? Back it up with scripture, not your opinion.
4. Please describe for me the earliest forms of temple music and describe their rhythmic structures. Please be sure to cite any source reference materials.
Actually Melinda, you don't have to spend any time responding to my questions. My concern for you is your extremely critical spirit, and the broad sweeping generalizations you are making. Do you remember what happened to Saul's daughter when she criticized David for dancing through the streets in worship of the Lord? God cursed her. I want to strongly encourage you to refrain from settting yourself as a self-appointed authority and deciding what is or is not fit for Christians. The bible never addresses musical styles. Unless you can name specific scripture addressing God's taste in music, all the rest is YOUR opinion. Music can certainly be used for godless purpose, but that is another matter altogether. Your mention of scripture using the phrase "new song" does not in any way address any style of music. If a strong rhythm with a strong backbeat makes you uncomfortable, then so be it. For you to claim that ANY songs with a backbeat are unfit for Christians is extremely opinionated.
Your letter was hopelessly awash in unsubstantiated opinion, comes across as extremely critical, and that is why the gentleman posted your letter as hating P&W.
I guess my point is, lighten up. Let people decide for themselves what music moves them to worship and what music doesn't. It is not your job to decide that for anyone but you.
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