There’s Demons Swirlin’ Around That Thing

That’s a line adapted from something I remember hearing Jamie Ragel say at one of our state Evangelism Conferences a few years ago. He was talking about drums in worship and how some people react to them. This wasn’t how he said he felt, but how some people do.

Dan Kimball has written about how the organ, in its early days in church, created the same sort of controversy we have these days about drums and guitars in worship. Not only that, but some of the most dearly loved hymns, especially in our Baptist churches, were criticized as worldly.

It’s interesting how we are so embedded in our own culture and how our cultural perspectives influence what we think about worship, doctrine and the like. A hundred years ago some people thought that What A Friend We Have In Jesus was too worldly and unspiritual for the church. Sometimes I wonder if a hundred years from now people in our churches will think we were strange because we didn’t like drums and guitars or because of the songs we use in worship.

(HT: Art Rogers)

Enter your comment here

100 years from now? How about…now? I find it amusing at best that people find drums and guitars controversial, especially in light what the Psalms say about various musical instruments. I would find it strange in our church if there were not drums and guitars.
There was a time when I would spend time arguing with people about it, but now I just don’t think it is worth the time.

August 10th, 2008

jasonk

Hi, I came to your site because of our shared interest in being a Friend of Missional. I am glad to make your acquaintance and visit your blog. God bless!

August 7th, 2008

Joe Miller