Why have we allowed strange music and noise and dancing in our worship?

It seems our worship services have began to include rock and roll music, drumming, and dancing in many of our churches to say nothing of the clapping, applause. You go on Sabbath Morning, and the drums are on the pulpit along with electrified instruments of every kind and then Stadium or theater sound systems to amplify them further. My wife and I had to leave one church as the speakers were bigger than my car and hung right above us and you can imagine how loud they had them. We went to the Spanish churches thinking they would be more conservative, but they are building their churches with the same seating and huge booming speakers that cant be for the preaching of the word, but certainly to wake the dead in my opinion. Then the unseemly and provocative dancing, we just came from a Camporee where the young people were "shaking" and "swinging" parts of their bodies best left unsaid and pumping and cheering on the others to join in during Sabbath and vespers. Needless to say our club didn't budge, and our kids stayed reverent, and I couldn't sing a word I was so stunned at the behavior from the pulpit/stage. Have we so lost our way that anything is permissible during worship, is there any reverence left in our churches or are we bringing the next generation to Led Zep and Grateful Dead concerts in our worship service.

Whats happened to Christian principles and worship, to say nothing of the warnings from SOP...

A Bedlam of Noise Which Confuses the Senses. --The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working.
No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power thought to be the power of God. --Letter 132, 1900, to S. N. Haskell. (Published in Selected Messages, Book 2, pp. 36, 37.)

Music Acceptable if "Properly Conducted," Made Satan’s Snare. --The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds as passed before me last January. Satan works amid the din and confusion of such music, which, properly conducted, would be a praise and glory to God. He makes its effect like the poison sting of the serpent.

Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines, and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the Lord had given them. --Letter 132, 1900 to S. N. Haskell. (Published in Selected Messages, Book 2, pp. 37, 38.) (Emphasis Supplied)

These [in Indiana] were carried away by a spiritualistic delusion. --Evangelism, p. 595.

Blessings Rick H.,

"Have we so lost our way that anything is permissible during worship, is there any reverence left in our churches or are we bringing the next generation to Led Zep and Grateful Dead concerts in our worship service. "

Much is permitted, except for standing against WOPE or complaining about the Sabbath problems in the South Pacific Division.

My point is this; We want to be hip and be in with the in crowd.

Unfortunately, in the process, we are losing our reverence for God and His Word. I personally believe that this is one of the practices that will be shaken out of the church when the time comes.

Satan was created a beautiful musical creature: "...every precious stone was thy covering,...the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created" (Ezek 28:13).

Since music was built into his very nature are we surprised when we see him use it to deceive and enslave?

The secular model of this loud "rock and roll" style is totally immersed in immorality, occultism, violence, intemperance and other very ungodly things.
Yet, religious rock takes that music with it's LOUDNESS, syncopation and beat that overpowers any actual harmonious melody, and adds religious sounding words.
The words DON'T even match the music.

I mean -- if one sings about the love and peace of Jesus, while screeching out the words along with loud syncopated drum beating and body jerking -- that isn't conveying the love and peace of God.

When people are communicating there is a verbal part and a non-verbal part. If the non- verbal is not in agreement with verbal and especially if the non-verbal is delivered in a loud and overpower manner, which will be believed? The strong non-verbal worldly beat and sound, or the ill matched religious words? If there is a contradiction between the verbal and the non-verbal, people will believe the non-verbal before the verbal.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH -- ONE ROCK AND ROLL ALBUM IS ENTITLED:
"We Sold Our Soul for Rock'n Roll".

Pray that our church members don't sell their souls for rock'n Roll.

The Bible clearly commands us to "come out from among them, and be ye separate" and to "touch not the unclean thing"

A bedlam of noise.

Did you know that many musicians agree that rock n'roll "music" is not really music but just a bedlam of NOISE?

Never looked at it that way, but yes when the tares are shaken out, their music and ideas most certainly will go with them..

(bold emphasis mine)

That is the thinking I have have now.

In the eighties, it was mostly in the charismatic churches that I noticed heavy, loud music. That type of hypnotic, sense dulling, music seems to facilitate the emotional outpourings that counterfeit the Holy Spirit in such groups.

Hypnotic, sense dulling, counterfeit Holy Spirit, does this all sound strangely familiar?
It should, it is simply another style of Spiritual Formation!

Expect to see more of it in our Churches as the three frogs continue to make inroads.

Go to California or some of the churches in the large cities, and it is already there in full force. We are asleep my brothers and sisters, we must awake out of our dangerous spiritual slumber...

You should see Nashville. Just like LA they have full stages and sound systems that could wake the dead. I even saw pyrotechnics

Are you talking about SDA churches with pyrotechnics??

Yeap. It was special event but yes. Flame on the screen sparks falling and fog. Like a rock concert. And just like all the fallen SDA churches it was CONCERT. No one in the audience participated except by putting their hands in the air.

EVERY SDA CHURCH WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY THE HYMNAL IS FALLEN! They don't even bother putting the words of the secularized "praise music" on the screen any more so no one who doesn't listen to contemporary christian music on the radio would have no clue what the words are. And man some of those lyrics... whoa.

Amazing!

Yet another sign spoken of by Sister White, that is to occur just before the close of Probation. If I was a pilot doing my preflight checklist, I would say, "it's time to take off"!

People get ready...

What amazes me is that you can go from church to church and see as it comes into it, and the people don't notice a thing. Its like the proverbial heat applied slowly to the frog in the pan of water till he is cooked.....

In the 60's and 80's there was a floor of half converted people coming from other churches with major baggage. They brought that into our church and influenced those who had been raised in the church with objections to having the Spirit of Prophecy "shoved down their throats" to speak against what they know is written.

I am amazed how even when you can totally prove any point directly from the Spirit of Prophecy or scripture (women eldership and ordination, drums, homosexuality etc) that they can read the plain testimony and still argue against it. They are bewitched by worldly sentiments. Much of that is even evidenced here (Maritime) among those who profess to be witnesses.

But there is a remnant who will not succumb to their influence... but man this is surely a very lonely path until Jesus comes.

I don't know if some of you are exaggerating and ain't seen nothing yet.

Have you ever been to a Adventist sponsored Acrofest gymnastics event? How does that compare to what you're seeing in churches? I'd like to hear a response from each [who are] talking about how bad the music is.

I meant to say the 80's above.

Kland; Have you ever had an SDA pastor bring Catholic priests into your church in what they called a "pastoral exchange"? Playing jazz before giving the sermon on Sabbath? With absolutely nothing you can do about it? Then get put out of the church for objecting? Didn't think so.

I could give you names if you think I'm lying. Pastor David Kobliska. It was at the Andover church the year I was married there in 2009. They sent the police to my home for objecting. They didn't even let me defend myself and my wonderful wife has not been contacted even once since we were married there with half the church body attending our wedding. What a bunch of phonies. People playing church and taking over the fundamental beliefs. Insisting no one mention the Spirit of Prophecy in the Sabbath school. (Paul Beedle)

How about a public reading of Purpose Driven Life (Spiritual formation based book from Rick Warren) That was the first public outreach of the "EDGE Christian fellowship center" in Brooklyn Park after they took the SDA title completely off the church thinking it would more people in.

I could list a dozen such situations. ***** STAFF EDIT *****

I don't have any idea about an Acrofest. Yet, the music coming into the SDA Churches is horrible.

People like to say that if just one soul is saved, it is worth it. Not if it takes out 100 souls in the process!! God will work with most of these "atmospheres" to a point. Every once in a while God can pull a brand from the fire. But, it is far more likely people are being led into darkness than someone ending up saved from these kinds of events.

We must keep are services reverent toward the One, True God of Israel. This is the best way to draw people to Christ.

Reminds me of the flood of baptized paganism that became the foundation of the Catholic church we see today. Let us pray that Seventh Day Adventism fares better...

I guess what I'm trying to say is, what I had thought was bad, what you may think is bad music, is nothing. It could be considered elevator music compared to what is really happening. "Jazz" is nothing in comparison. It could be considered easy-listening. I don't know what you've experienced, but I'm just suggesting that you might be complaining about water on the doorstep when a flood has taken the rest of the house away. Not excusing music in the churches, but if Adventists think Acrofest music is fine and not outright appalled, then no wonder what's happening in the churches.

Like hard core rock music at way past 90+ decibels. Where you plug your ears and it's still uncomfortably loud with not only your chest but your back vibrating.

Oic....

Just my perspective, but I don't really see a big issue with the current trend in music. Where I am (Western Canada) I certainly don't see "Led Zep and Grateful Dead", or "pyrotechnics", or anything played at "way past 90+ decibels", or any of the other stuff mentioned in the posts.

Nor have I seen it in any churches I have visited in the US, so I wonder if things are a bit over-stated.

The Jazz wasn't the problem it was the Catholic Priests playing it for Sabbath so the pastor could get into the christian- political arena by making appearances. He became embarrassed about our way of praising God so he looked for other input.

If you want to talk about strictly the style of music, at that same church they had a kids/ young adult program called "crowded house" and after the sermon the kids would go into a cabin with a full band playing heavy metal music on the Sabbath on the property of Andover church. I can prove it. They tried talking me into organizing it because of my rock and roll history, then when I objected they made it their duty to kick me out.

I never condemn anyone for the type of music they listen too. I still have many friends in the entertainment industry. One of my best friends Tim Howard who I played with for years is the guitarist for Merle Haggard. Also friends with August Zadra with Denis De Young and the Panozo brothers of the rock band Styx and many other bands.

But I draw the line when someone cranks it up in church with drums and loud guitars and people are banging their heads and raising their hands like it causes them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is something God is very upset about.

They took away the hymnal and made it a concert. Where is the blessing in it if they're focused on the singer and not praising God?

The bible says there is a blessing for everyone to be singing hymns. But if it's a concert with no hymnal you have to know the popular music to know what to sing.

That's because you are not here in the image Beast America. But for you to say "I really don't see a big issue", when it IS everywhere here, means you have your head in the sand. What happens in America comes to your town ten years later and you know it. And it doesn't have to be loud to shock your senses. Have you ever read any scientific papers about the influence of rhythm on a developing brain?

But since you probably grew up on rock and roll (Most Canadians are rockers, I know, I traveled all over your country with Ozzy Osbourne and others) and you seem to be very liberal you probably wouldn't care if it did come to your church.

We just got back from a Pathfinder Camporee and the leaders up front were giving shout outs and other concert tactics to the kids to get them going during Friday vespers and Sabbath for church and afternoon program, and they used drums, loud music, dancing, and pumping their hands in the air while yelling. Can you call that, "worship service"?

Ive been in Pathfinders since when Elvis was still in the building, and I know when its a rock and roll event versus church. It will soon be coming to you, just a matter of time.....(even in Western Canada)

Like JAK, I haven't seen much of this type of music in Canadian churches, at least not in the prairies, it's more likely to be country music around here. Mind you, country music isn't as wholesome as its image seems to be. Some of the lyrics are not exactly G rated!

I do agree that it is only a matter of time before unholy music invades every geographic area of the Church. The disease of worldly culture is highly contagious. It has already infected much of our leadership and trickled down into our policy and teachings: the "strange fire" of dark musical choice is a symptom of this as surely as fever for a flu.

Well, my mother in law was coming over for Thanksgiving and she said our former church in Miami (A traditional Adventist church from which almost all the other churchs in Miami formed from) now has set up 2 church services. One the regular service, then a second one with all the drums and rock concert style service for those who desire that type of service. I was shocked to say the least and this is on top of what is happening to the very conservation Spanish churchs which are also being affected, with some putting in concert/theater seating and huge and extremely powerful speakers that you would normally find at a stadium or arena.

My wife came back from a trip in the Caribbean and on her island the churchs in the conference have split, with one half doing the rock concert style service and the other half with the regular worship service. One of our church brothers went to the New England area and he said the churchs out away from the cities basically consider the city churchs to have been taken over already by the music and drums, and there is a distinct difference...

I know you all may not have seen it yet, but be ready as it will continue spreading, especially in the larger churches.

Well, I for one am pretty sure it's not quite as described.

Furthermore, I actually welcome the change from traditional, stiff hymns to a more expressive, creative style of music that celebrates the freedom we have in Christ. (Ref. Gal. 5:1)

Below is a good article on this subject -- it's not just our church that is concerned over the misuse of music in Christian churches.

We are called to be separate from world --

Well, now I can see what is spreading this all over...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvXVV0-vRxQ