And this week it all started with…..
James Ovung: Youths of Christians, rock music in churches, what to we perceive, why it so appealing to many young people of this age? If we look out, we will find that it is nothing but a rehash of the secular style of music. Many Christian songs use hard rock technique to accompany the supposedly gospel songs. The world has change a lot!
Alobo Naga: Sorry Bro, me being a Christian & Gospel singer/musician I don’t agree fully to what u wrote. For me, every form/genre of music is a gift from God to Praise & Glorify Him. We have different people with different taste, so in order to reach out to those who love Rock music, I have to put the Gospel inside Rock music and reach it out to them. It all depends on how you use them Its not the music but its the word, the motives behind that is important not the sound alone. It is changing because we are trying to reach to the unreached. The Bible said let every sound comes out & every breath praise the Lord(Not only soft & melody sounds)
Nuno Rongmei: I totally agree with Alobo Naga, that we being Christians/Christian Musicians believe that & we know for sure that every type of music is from God & we just use it to not only to reach out to the unreached but to refresh the young hearts in the church with different types of genres as a tool whether it's a praise & worship from Hillsongs to the different Contemporary/Rock/Metal music. If we think that this is too much of genres & stuff then can you imagine our Creator who created everything, how much other genres/types of music He has up His sleeves? I believe we don't just wake up one day & say, "Ok I need to make a rock song based on a Bible verse". I believe Christian Musicians or all Christians hear this divine voice in any form & follow it to fulfil His calling & the bottom line is our God is a very creative God.
Pongener Taliakum: There is no such thing as 'Christian music' but only 'Christian lyrics' as Rick Warren's bestseller 'Purpose Driven Life' says. The personal relationship with God is of utmost priority. The musicians must be committed and know their spiritual stance in the purview of the most high and holy God that we worship. Everything must be directed to God. If there is anything - be it music, thoughts, character, words etc that breaches the quality of God is unacceptable. As Joyce Meyer always says 'You cannot give out what you don't have.' If the God you are singing about is not in you, which is outright blasphemy. While having a biblical stand that there is not thing such as 'Christian music' only, 'Christian lyrics' I would also like to rope in the status of the 'Gospel' bands in the land. There has to be singular focus on God. There is no middle ground in the kingdom of God. The Bible also lines in crystal clear proportions that 'lukewarm' is not acceptable and will be spitted out from the mouth if anything is lukewarm in His mouth.
Molona Wati Longchar: It doesn't matter if we worship God with an orchestra or a rock band. What matters to God is the Heart of the worship. And I don't think a God who created all types of sounds and music is a God who would discriminate any worship songs and music if our hearts are wholeheartedly seeking, praising and worshiping Him!
Vitoto Vieli Sakhrie: All music should have been God's music. But after the fall of man, that Chaloo with the tail and horns in a red jump suit, took advantage of the music creativity in man(an attribute of God) while we were all trying to be religious and trying to impress each other with our "Holiness", the music industry fell into the wrong hands and we need to claim it back for the One who created Everything!!! Well that's what i think.
Pete Z Krose: Do u think that there are head-banging, screaming, howling (name the rock type musics by urself) in the Holy Place as the angels worship God and do u ever think that there will be such kind of music when we get there? Do u think such music will lead the Host in heaven to enjoy and worship the Almighty? Our dress, music speaks volumes of what is in our heart. Remember we cannot take the devil’s music, Christianize it and glorify God. This is the most dangerous hypocrisy of our generation. It is abominable. Sorry for writing so frankly!
Peter Rutsa: James Ovung planted the bomb, now he is nowhere to be seen. Tricky fellow!! :-)
Raajellung Gonmei: This debate is like whether a chicken or an egg came first. No one can give an answer without referring to the History recorded in the book of Genesis. Going against the sentiments of the die-hard Scientists the world over, we Christian can say that Chicken came first because God created it. This argument of Rock Vs Soft music can also be summarised likewise. As stated by writers above, Satan just can't lay claim to Rock Music nor are we to give credit to Devil for the Rock Music. Of course, Rock Music never gets mentioned in the Bible just as Horse is the fastest mode of transportation described in It. By saying this, I mean to imply that Rock Music came to be described as with the availability of instruments fit to be played with as in now. Going back to the Bible, Satan happens to be the prince of the world even to this day, so whatever God created with intention for men & women to enjoy and worship Him, satan re-produced all as if he created or devised it. Nothing is spared from the influence of Devil in this world including Music. However, how we use Rock Music for the expansion of His Kingdom and to worship is a different entity altogether for it is just a means to please God or use it for His Kingdom. It is not an end in itself. Since not a single soul created is the same, therefore, Christians with varying views is what God created and thus varying opinions on Rock Music. The only question we need to ask is 'Am i really glorifying/praising/worshiping God or am I just fulfilling my selfish desires as I listen/play rock music/soft music/so-called gospel music genre etc? Theology is Confusing but God is simple to understand. So it’s better not to theologize Music. Let’s just learn to enjoy Music of varying genres in right perspective with God. If looking for answer to this debate, we will find none on this Earth.
Pete Z Krose: God NEVER created any EGGS!!! The Chickens came FIRST.
Peter Rutsa: Amen.
(The Naga Blog was created in 2008 by Yanpvuo Kikon & Alem Ao.
This column in the Morung Express will be a weekly feature every Saturday)
