Church music...

Music has become one of the most influential parts in pop culture today. Besides skinny jeans and IPhones. It moves us, shapes us, influences us and it makes girls like me wanna bust out some dance moves. Like the jerk. And fist pump better than J Wow and Pauly D. Ok, I don't know how to do the whole jerk move yet but I promised myself I would learn. And then battle my friends. I think I got the fist pumping down though. Although, I may just have to spray tan and tease my hair to do the fist pumpin justice.  Music in itself has penetrated itself into culture in a vast amount of ways. Needless to say, it's part of culture. And for centuries it's also been a major part in the church community. 

When we think of church music, we usually tend to think of 40 year old men, with parted hair dos, and woman wearing long colorful togas, singing songs that seem to date back to the Dinosaur age. How do I know this? I know this because my church went through this chorus, toga wearing phase for years. And the parted hair thing. It really happened. Several of the people in my church, growing up, were mostly people who were older and ones who held the idea that a guitar chord or drum solo was sacrilegious. The concept of "church music," however, has evolved throughout the years as various genres of music have surfaced such as hip hop, R&B, rock, indie, and many others. My church now has a worship team, with guitar and drums, and the togas were traded in for regular clothes. 

 But nevertheless, when it comes to music, and what kind of music the Church should listen to or play in service, many hold their opinions and spark a debate that is ongoing. Some believe that music in the church should be strictly hymns with piano while others hold a more modern standpoint and have Christian Hip Hop artists perform at their church. Nevertheless, when discussing this issue, we must discuss it in light of scripture. The bible gives us connotations, in various parts of scripture, that God  is not only the creator of music, but that he also delights in it when it is brought in worship. Psalm 150 And side note, worship and music are two completely different things so it's important that we don't confuse them. King David, many times encourages believers to make sweet music unto the Lord and worship through the means of music: Psalm 27:6, 95:2, 98:4, 108:1 and even in the new testament, like David, Paul encourages Christians to "make music in your heart to the Lord." So weather you decide to bust a hip hop beat in your heart for the Lord, or a simple piano piece it's all up to you. The Word of God does not give us specifics on weather we should play Rock or Cumbias during service, but it does say that "weather you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31. For about two years, my sister and I had the privilege to be part of a praise team where we both sang songs that had salsa, cumbia and some funky rhythms to them. And. We loved it! The guys we sang with were awesome musicians (still are to this day) and they played music that was amazing and at the same time worshiped God. Music, in various ways, has been influenced by culture in negative ways, so the question is? What are we, the church, doing to influence music? 

Many believe that music shouldn't even be allowed during church service, while others believe church service isn't church without it. 

What is your stance on this topic? Should music in the church be strictly a particular form or style, or is it okay for the church to allow modern music genres to be part of worship? Comments? Opinions? Speak now or forever hold your peace. lol :)