What Makes Music Sacred?

[Madonna]

[quote]All I am saying is that musical tones cannot offend GOD[/quote]

I think our Church's 10 o'clock choir offends God. Mosy probably the lady that squawks really close to the microphone.

[quote]words cannot offend GOD.[/quote]

Pretty sure God would take offense if I dropped the f-bomb. That's what confession is for.

[quote]I would think that anyone who could produce a sound be it by their own voice or an instrument would impress GOD to some degree. [/quote]

I don't think God gets impressed. I think He has expectations, and maybe is really pleased when we meet them. For those who can belt it out, and do it for His greater glory, He probably says "Good job, kid. Slap me some skin."

[quote] I think one of the biggest misunderstandings we have about GOD is that GOD becomes "upset" or offended at the same things we feel are questionable.[/quote]

I don't know. Jesus seemed pretty ticked when they set up marketplace in the temple.

[quote] If we are to put GOD into the perspective of Almighty or Supreme and if we are to place GOD in the heavens then there has to be some degree of intelligence and understanding that GOD has that we cannot comprehend yet. And I do believe that GOD is above explicit lyrics and experimental musical compositions. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if GOD had his own musical preferences and they didn't match my own. In fact depending on the artist and the people involved in making any particular music they would have us believe that since these compositions came from their heart or from within that they are very sacred and personal to them and are worth sharing.[/quote]

and this just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I think I need a nap.

[carrdero]

Madonna writes: I think our Church's 10 o'clock choir offends God. Mosy probably the lady that squawks really close to the microphone.

I used to think like this too. Not so much in the competence of a singer but I have been to many churches and religious halls and it amazes me how some congregations churn out slow boring sleepy hymns as compared to let's say the Baptists or any other church that incorporates the hard driving harmonius gospel stompings that are inspiring and move people to dance and sing along. I used to picture GOD tuning into those "stations" rather than other churches than I realized that was my preference not GOD's. Like I mentioned before I do not think GOD has expectations but is just happy that people are trying and participating in something that makes them happy.

Madonna writes: Pretty sure God would take offense if I dropped the f-bomb. That's what confession is for.

I can assure you GOD does not take offense for even thinking the "F-bomb" word. Words are manmade constructs and GOD understands that we need 4 letter words to sometimes express ourselves. Man on the other hand takes high offense to this f-bomb word.

Madonna writes: I don't think God gets impressed. I think He has expectations, and maybe is really pleased when we meet them.

In all my dealings with GOD I have never recieved that impression. I do believe that GOD becomes excited if we meet our own expectations because we wanted ourselves to meet these expectations but I also believe that if GOD did have high or low expectations for people we would live a miserable existence trying to please someone else rather than ourselves. There are many people who live for other people and when they are gone from their lives they realized that they never did get a chance to flourish and enrich their own lives and enhance their own interests. GOD understands this and I think that is the reason GOD doesn't ask anything from us.

To get back to the topic at hand; I was watching a really great series from the Rhino DVD Classic Albums series and they were focusing on the album by FLEETWOOD MAC- entitled RUMOURS which was a very popular album for the group. Even though the album made them successful and garnished many song hits for them, the turmoil and the pain that was existing in their lives at the time that album was beiing produced is a testament that even though these songs are not commonly played in temples, churches and other religious halls hold a valid sacredness not only to the artists but to the millions of people who had purchased and enjoyed that album over many years.

Edited July 29, 2004 by carrdero