Plugged In has an article that I think complements Anne’s blog post on Music Wars. The difference between classic and contemporary Christian literature, music and worship goes deeper than just a change in generational style or preference; it reflects the drastic change in the very thought process and concentration levels of a culture. The media are a culprit in this big intellectual and spiritual shift.
“Media alter the way we think not just what we think,” Meredith Whitmore writes. “. . . The way a message is delivered affects us more than the message does.” The current generation is more superficial than generations past because media, particularly the Internet, make people browse rather than ponder and analyze information. The church competes with media to get people’s attention and this has changed the church into an experience- and emotion-driven culture, where feelings and simple impressions reign over logical and well-reasoned thought, affecting the way people read Scriptures and worship.
Regarding Anne’s post yesterday, the question remains: How do we determine musical excellence, especially in the eyes and ears of God? Because when everything else has been taken into consideration, we all want to sing and play beautiful music to God.
It reminds me of the final act of The Music Man, where despite the poor quality of the River City Boys’ Band's rendition of Beethoven’s Minuet in G, the parents were, nonetheless, enthralled by the sight of their little boys playing music. Because of this, the show ends with musical con man Harold Hill being released from capture. Is this how God hears our music, too?
Into the Fray
By: Alan Eason|Published: February 8, 2012 6:57 PM
We are very excited about all the great commenting that goes on The BreakPoint blog. It is growing and more people are getting engaged. Only one hitch -- it is pretty much "among Christians."
I'd like to invite you (even those have not commented here yet) to go out to the front lines with us -- to the Colson Center YouTube channel. Click below to find out why.
Eric Metaxas, who for two years was a member of the BreakPoint writing staff, was the guest speaker at this year's National Prayer Breakfast, held a few days ago at the Hilton in D.C. See him pictured here, making President Obama laugh. But after the jokes, Eric gently spoke truth to power regarding abortion, just as Mother Teresa did some years ago when she spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast.
In another case, a 15-year-old Wisconsin student was threatened and verbally abused by school superintendent of Shawano High School for writing an op-ed in opposion to gay adoption. Ironically, the article was a school assignment.
Five or six years ago Focus on the Family released “The Truth Project” DVD series, and I went through it as a discussion leader of a small group. I haven’t looked at it since, so when a friend of mine said a group was going to go through it and invited me, I agreed. I thought it would be good to refresh what I learned from the DVDs and maybe learn some new things I missed the last time.
What a sad statement about the growing culture of death in the Netherlands: Advocates for euthanasia and assisted suicide are celebrating a decade of their legality by hosting a weeklong film festival called the "Week of Euthanasia."
Sadly, after getting their foot in the proverbial door, the advocates continually redefine the criteria for which people "request," voluntarily or involuntarily, suicide. READ FULL ARTICLE »
