I'm a worship bassist- how should I answer this question??

Fassa Albrecht · #1 09-15-2007, 02:26 PM

Sorry for me whittering on about worship band but I really need some help with a question that was asked to me tonight by one of my flatmates...

Flatmate..."I've never agreed with worship music"
Me: Why
Fl: It just seems 'worship bands' are not actually worshipping God but music instead..."
Me: But the message of the music is about worship"
F: But the music is too in-your-face and there isn't anything in the Bible about churches having bands"
Me"..............uh"

How do I explain that the worship is done through music and that I am not putting faith behind music??

Rotundor · #2 09-15-2007, 02:33 PM

I'm a worship bassist as well.

As long as the music doesn't take precedence over the words then I'm ok with that.

As soon as you start doing stuff like shredding then maybe the focus is a little too much on the musicians

.

As for music in the church: Psalm 150 (from the Torah and the Bible) is all about using music, AND bands to worship God.

Psalm 150

refinedbass · #3 09-15-2007, 02:36 PM

I've gotten that one before actually, but the first question that you have to answer is who Jesus actually defined as the church. The church is not a building, it is the people. The building is just where the church meets. Then, if you look at it from that view, there are tons of biblical references for the church using music, for instance, the entire book of Psalms to start. Hope that helps

Buzzgroove · #4 09-15-2007, 03:59 PM

In my worship 'band' we place a lot of emphasis on spontaneous or improvised worship which is led by the Holy Spirit. The effect of this is to lead the congregation into singing in tongues, prophesy and further moves of the Spirit.

The instruments play the major role in this type of worship and it is totally different from self indulgence, words rarely come into it. We have been involved with great times of encouraging worship in this way with both large and small groups.
There is room for all things within praise as long as we're not letting our ego loose.

Dave Muscato · #5 09-15-2007, 04:12 PM

Tell him that God gave you the gift of musicianship, because (in your interpretation), he wanted you to worship him through music.

I once read about a guy in India who raised one of his arms up about 20 years ago, as a way to worship God. He's had it up the entire time - it is now locked in place and he wouldn't be able to lower it without extensive surgery.

To each his own.

HollowBassman · #6 09-15-2007, 04:22 PM

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 150:2-6

That sounds like a band to me!

(I know that this was in a link above, but I wanted to post it anyway for anyone who might have missed the link.)

Crazyeelboy · #7 09-15-2007, 04:52 PM

Fassa Albrecht - Christian worship has incorporated music for about as long as there have been churches. Take your flatmate out to some of the old churches and cathedrals in Europe (there are probably some right around the corner from where you are) and show him the organs which take up practically the entire back wall. Then ask him whether that was too much "in-your-face".

Don't let anyone sow seeds of doubt about how you worship, bro.

Munjibunga · #8 09-15-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Flatmate..."I've never agreed with worship music"
Me: OK, good.

End of conversation. Why would it matter whether he's "never agreed with worship music"?

peaveyuser · #9 09-15-2007, 06:27 PM

Hmmm maybe it can be about BOTH just because there is great music behind the song doesn't mean the lyrics can't be meaningful too. Heck I love the song "Sympathy For The Devil" by the stones cause everything about the music is great and sounds awesome, but the lyrics also have a good message (which really is not Satanic BTW).

Here's my question with worship bands.

How can you make a whole genre where the lyrics are about worshiping the same thing I mean wouldn't you run out of new ideas for lyrics and wouldn't it get a bit repetitive?

(BTW this question is just something I'm curious about, it's not meant to offend or question any beliefs you have)

JoshC · #10 09-15-2007, 09:14 PM

When Paul and Silas were in jail they sang hymns.

JansenW · #11 09-15-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshC

When Paul and Silas were in jail they sang hymns.

I try to keep this in mind when ever I start complaining about the conditions I have to play and sing in.

gweimer · #12 09-15-2007, 09:29 PM

For starters, we have a whole genre of music called Gospel. It's some great music, and it was written with the vibrance of believing. The fact that it's also great music lends itself to help with the preaching (listen to Kings X, and in particular, the words to "Over My Head").
A whole lot of classical music, was commissioned by the church. Bach?
As long as you play to support the song, you're not stepping out with your ego. I played in a couple of contemporary church bands way before it was the norm. One of the first guys I ever played with is now the musical director of the Willow Creek Church. Look them up. They are now the second largest church in the nation.

heymelbs · #13 09-15-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

F: But the music is too in-your-face and there isn't anything in the Bible about churches having bands"

I don't recall anything in in the Bible about churches needing to have organs either. If we went by what the Bible said in the Psalms, then we would be worshipping with the harp & lyre - which were the accompaniment instruments of the time when the Old Testament was written. Organs, pianos, guitars, basses, drums, etc. are all acceptable accompaniment instruments of our time. It's just the way that we choose to use them in worship - Glorify God or self.

**T. B. Player** · #14 09-15-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowBassman

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 150:2-6

That sounds like a band to me!

This is proof from the Bible. God bless our brother bassist you said that the Church is the people. Therefore, "not playing music in Church" means to "not play music among the the people" - which sounds a little more "Talibanistic" than Christian. EVERYTHING is a gift from God, even if it may not look like a gift at the time. With God, all things work together for good and all things are possible.

The loud cymbals would be the "crash" cymbals...the high sounding cymbals would be the hi-hat. May we all praise Him on our stringed instruments in whatever venue we play, since we ALWAYS play before Him.

g00eY · #15 09-15-2007, 09:37 PM

I see worship as anything you do that glorifies God. It doesn't necessarily have to be music, even though I choose to use music as my main expression of worship. Saying "Hi" to that person that no one likes can be a form of worship because it expresses the heart of Jesus.

joninjapan · #16 09-16-2007, 02:17 AM

your friend has a valid point in this statement;

"Fl: It just seems 'worship bands' are not actually worshipping God but music instead..."

it is true in too many instances.

spencer · #17 09-16-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaveyuser

Here's my question with worship bands.

How can you make a whole genre where the lyrics are about worshiping the same thing I mean wouldn't you run out of new ideas for lyrics and wouldn't it get a bit repetitive?

(BTW this question is just something I'm curious about, it's not meant to offend or question any beliefs you have)

Every genre of any type of music has to do with love for anything, love for killing, love for music, love for money, <-- big one, love for fame ect. Any people haven't ran out of ways to describe something they love yet..

Etbass · #18 09-16-2007, 07:34 PM

I think this is all a bit of an odd arguement... didn't Jesus play bass?

Seriously though, I've played in a worship band before, and really the only limiter in what is and isn't appropriate is the band leader, and your own sense of what a church is meant to have in it. I reckon the more music, the better - it's just a different medium.

fenderhutz · #19 09-16-2007, 07:37 PM

Pose this question then.

Do you think a person playing at a church service should get paid (not traveling bands, the local church players)?

I have my own thoughts on this.

mccartneyman · #20 09-16-2007, 07:52 PM

http://www.praiseandworshipband.com/

Nice discussion of the biblical basis for paying musicians.

BTW, yes, they should be paid (I am). It's up to the musician what to do with the pay -- to refuse it or to give a portion back to the church as an offering.