tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post3155438895101421211..comments2024-03-29T04:31:15.219-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Praise and worship?Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-70480997719238504312015-10-12T08:12:49.373-05:002015-10-12T08:12:49.373-05:00I love good P&W music, and consider it a way o...I love good P&W music, and consider it a way of lifting up Christ, the Gospel, and His church and people together. But unlike some stricter Lutherans, I also enjoy country Gospel music, Christian non-denominational music, and some hymns and songs with a more Baptist origin. Why? I do not know. But the lyrics and melodies of many Christian songs are "universally" praise music without distinction as to theology and doctrine. I play Fingerstyle acoustic guitar in a country style beat, and have written a few songs. I believe Christian music, consisting of clear and biblical lyrics in common plain everyday language of the people, combined with simple chords and solid melodies, can do much to bring us closer to God. Some songs will remind us of the trials of life we may experience, and point to Jesus as Lord and Savior. In my view, that is what good Christian hymns, country Gospel, ballads, and praise songs should accomplish.John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-87002341585515796742015-10-12T06:41:52.354-05:002015-10-12T06:41:52.354-05:00Pr P: I clicked on your link, and especially appr...Pr P: I clicked on your link, and especially appreciated Fr's commentary on the 3rd part of the article:<br /><br />"4.Relevance is irrelevant to a liturgy which seeks to bring man outside of space and time to the Eternal.<br />5.Participation in the liturgy is principally interior, by the union of the soul with the Christ who celebrates the liturgy. Any externalizations of that interior participation are meaningless unless that interior participation is there.<br />6.The Church’s treasury of sacred music is not the province of one social-economic, age, cultural, or even religious group. It is the common patrimony of humanity and history.<br />7.The Church must sing the Mass, i.e., the biblical and liturgical texts contained in the Missal and Gradual, and not sing at Mass man-made songs, if it is to be the corporate Worship of the Church and not just Praise designed by a select group of people.<br />8.Orthodox Catholic teaching on faith and morals must always be accompanied by respect for the Church’s liturgical and musical teaching and laws.<br />9.The deliberate intention to manipulate human emotions to produce a religious effect is abusive, insincere, and disrespectful of God’s power to bring about conversion in the hearts of man.<br />10.While music does affect the emotions, sacred music must always be careful to prefer the transcendent holiness of God over the immanent emotional needs of man.<br />11.The Church’s treasury of sacred music inspires and requires the highest attention to artistic excellence. It is also an unfathomable gift to the Church, and must be presented to the faithful so that they may enjoy that rich gift."<br /><br />What Fr's & your articles didn't mention was another problem w/P&W, and that is the pernicious influence of worship leaders and associated artsy types (eg vocalists, instrumentalists, and other public nuisances) who believe the liturgy to be their canvas & congregants their captive audience. In my experience, such people are theologically illiterate and militantly ignorant, valuing their alleged "gifts" over sound Scritpural teaching on worship and the church's historical practices. I'd be curious about your take on this.<br /><br /><br />Kirk Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06142889734004402296noreply@blogger.com