Music in the Church

[Nessa]

Also if music in a church is causing so much disharmony then maybe people to need to ask themselves are they there to sing along to their favourite worship songs or to purely worship God?

We have alot to learn from each other.

[B. W.]

One of the problems with music is the music industry itself.

In the field of Christian Music industry ... there is a certain style genre that sells. That style has crept into the church. It is more about marketing.

Likewise, in many churches, thankfully not all, worship music is geared with a marketing strategy to boost membership with statistical deliberation of increasing a tithing/giving base.

I suggest folks search out the Christian G12 movement or program. Many are using this model to market church for a certain demographic.

People like concerts so why not give non-offending concerts during a worship service is man's justification. Just make sure those in the band fit a certain age and look and sound like what you hear at a Christian concert. Attract the 26 to 40 year old market by use of the G12 model and seeker sensitive model. Hook them with music. When used in such manner, something is missing during a worship service inside a church. That I think is what folks here are seeing.

However, the same songs sang at a concert by professional Christian musicians will minister to folks in marvelous ways. It is not so much the songs as it is what is the intent of the heart.

King David wrote songs in Psalms. His music touched on despairing of mortal life to the most outward praise to God as love songs as well as prophetic songs such as Ps 22 and elsewhere. That is Genre of Praise music: what we go through life and how God gets us through the worst of times and best of times.

There are Christian songs I have written and copyrigthed that would cause me to be chased out of church such as one entitled:

Why you bring'n that Devil to Church
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved

Nice blues sound to it and only one verse would cause a stampede which is from the middle verse of song that reads:

Hey There decon taken in a Peep show late at night –

Watch’n what you shouldn’t even be seeing

(Chorus)

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Life’s’ all a mess – cause you bringing that Devil to church....

(Coda/Bridge)

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Jesus Christ is in your house – to set you free

So why you keep bringing that ol’ devil to church

In the Book of Acts they brought all this stuff to burn

So you won’t keep bringing that ol’ devil to church

Why you bring'n that Devil to Church
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved

Not exactly a praise song but like King David, a song that addresses sin...

I have others that would be hard to sing inside a church like:

Riding my Harley to the Sky
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved


They all say ‘n - I was born under a bad sign

He’s sure one mean son of a gun

Ridi’n an ankle bust’n 71 FX Super Glide

Then I met Jesus Christ – Turned a 180 with my life

And now I am riding my Harley to the sky

(Break)


Once wore black leather, colors, and strutted with attitude

Had the latest chains, Iron, and a wore a gun in my boot

Road with Cutty Shark – and Ol Granddad

Then I met Jesus Christ – Turned a 180 with my life

And now I am riding my Harley to the sky


(Break)


Use to spend my time with Miz Mary Jane

That woman clouded my mind nearly ruined my brain

Ride’n all night with the Prairie Hogs

Then I met Jesus Christ – Turned a 180 with my life

And now I am riding my Harley to the sky

(Break)

Now burn thru life’s highway gathering the Rem-n-ant

Decking out the bride of Christ in her fine-r-y

With the Word of God in my mouth and bible in my boot

Cause I meet Jesus Christ – Turned a 180 with my life

----- Now I am riding my Harley to the sky ----

Hey, what can I say, some songs can be sung outside the church building that can help others find Christ and repent!


Oh Yes, I write praise songs for church as well:

Heal thy Brokenness – (Oh that Blood of Jesus)
Copyright 2016 By B. W. Melvin
Capo 4 (fast) in F#


Oh the Blood of Jesus --- Oh the Blood of Jesus

Oh the Blood of Jesus --- shed by Holy love pro-found


Oh the Blood of Jesus --- Oh the Blood of Jesus

Oh the Blood of Jesus --- will heal your broken-ness


Oh the Blood of Jesus --- Oh the Blood of Jesus

Oh the Blood of Jesus --- Grants us Resurrection Power


(Bridge/Break)


Oh that Blood of Jesus, Oh that Blood of Jesus

Oh that Blood of Jesus --- will never let you down


Oh that Blood of Jesus --- Oh that Blood of Jesus

Oh that Blood of Jesus --- wash-es a-way all our sins


Oh that Blood of Jesus --- Oh that Blood of Jesus

Oh that Blood of Jesus --- earned us a crown


(Bridge – Break)


By the Blood of Jesus --- By the Blood of Jesus

By the Blood of Jesus --- You will be-come sound



By the Blood of Jesus --- By the Blood of Jesus

By the Blood of Jesus --- takes away eternal shame



By the Blood of Jesus --- By the Blood of Jesus

By the Blood of Jesus –-- all you devils flee

I write from the heart about real life experiences that glorify the Lord and help others understand that Jesus is not a big meany and that folks can come to him just as they are and find true life that endures all pain, sorrow, happy times, and learns to love God more and more with each passing day.

The Lord made music and satan corrupted the sounds for his own ends. However, as Christians, let's take back music to enlighten others about who God is and is like breaking down barriers and setting folks free.


Blessings!

B W Melvin

[Storyteller]

You never cease to amaze me

[Storyteller]

Music in church.

See, I love hymns.
Lord of the Dance.
Christmas carols.

I don't actually know many worship songs, yet I sing to God all the time.
At church, I would expect to hear traditional songs, and would love, love, love kids runnung around, and yes, why not run? Celebrate life, fully, live it, right in front of God. Having said that, if kids are involved they tend to take part rather than run amok.

[B. W.]

Okay, here is the song lyrics that can't be sung inside a church...

As you can see why...

Don't Bring'n that Devil to Church
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved
Capo One

(Intro: Slow and drawn out)

Why you – bringing- that devil to church? (repeat)

Life’s’ all a mess – cause you bringing that Devil to church

---------------------------------(Lead into with- moderate blues rhythm)

You there stay’n out - gamble’n -- all night long

Family’s busted and all you want is another roll of those dice

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

There you are - another bottle down – on a Saturday night

All you find’in is red lights flashing in the night

(Chorus)

Over there - reading - Horoscope and play’n with a board

While your bible grows dusty on the shelf

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Hey There decon taken in a Peep show late at night –

Watch’n what you shouldn’t even be seeing

(Chorus)

You over there, smoke’n and token – do’in your body and mind no good

Thinking you’re a’ escaping all the pain you cause

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Hey there smooth talker selling sweet talking lies

Can’t ya see that she don’t even want to be around you?

(Chorus) (Break) (Coda/Bridge)

(Chorus)

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Life’s’ all a mess – cause you bringing that Devil to church....

(Coda/Bridge)

Why you – bringing- that devil to church?

Jesus Christ is in your house – to set you free

So why you keep bringing that ol’ devil to church

In the Book of Acts they brought all this stuff to burn

So you won’t keep bringing that ol’ devil to church

[B. W.]

These make good evangelistic songs. I use these to live'n things up a bit in meetings. They break down barriers as well as shock folks too! Mostly cannot sing them in a church setting...

So I play guitar, and try to sing, then afterwards I preach on Christ.

Often solo using a Jam man and Boss Looper to help out. I use a ABY box with one acoustic Guitar and one Stratocaster tapped in to pedal board. I use a compressor/sustainer, OCD Blues drive, Chorus Ensemble, MXR delay, and Terra Echo along with the loopers

I use many of the old hymns like Leaning of the Everlasting Arms, Power in the Blood, Standing on the Promises, How Great thou Art (in a country beat), to the newer songs out there. Days of Elijah is one I like in key of A, My Chains are Gone, etc and etc...

Two of my favorite song lyrics I wrote and like to use are the ones copyrghted below... They are copyrighted so beware!

Splash a Little Water
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved
Capo One


Come to the river of life my friends

Leave all your frown’in behind

Let’s all run and jump right in

(Let me) Splash a little water all over you


Didn’t I promise living waters?

To gush forth from your heart

Come re-build with me a new way

(Let me) Splash a little water all over you


(Lead Run Break)


I keep a knock’in on your front door

Come on wake up you sleepy head

Let’s go outside and play to-day

(Let me) Splash water -- all over you


How come you always want’n stuff?

Did you forget I gave you abundant life?

Have you forgotten how to smile?

(Let me) Splash a little water all over you


(Siren sounding Break)


When I return to earth

Will I find any faith at all?

Wake up – time to get going

I’m kick’n water -- all over you


Without any pain there can be no change

Hey, where’s that cup of water?

Come on now -- It’s time to arise

I’m kick’n water -- all over you


(End Lead Run Break)

This next one hits home for many...

One of those Days
Copyright 2016 Bryan W Melvin
All Rights Reserved
Capo One (Country beat)


Ever had one of those days – Where everything just seems to go all wrong?

Kids are hungry and there ain’t no money to make it all work

That’s just life on - ol mean street


(Break one to Chorus one:

Jesus come – redeem - me from this shame

Set my feet upon the Rock, a-gain

Jesus Save My Soul)


Ever had one of those days - that you don’t just know what to do?

The car won’t run and the man just wants all your dough

Just another day on - ol mean street….

Ever had one of those days – where everything just seems to go all wrong?

Another curve ball - another strike out

That’s how it is - on ol mean street….


(Break two w/lead then to Chorus One:

Jesus come – redeem - me from this shame

Set my feet upon the Rock, a-gain

Jesus Save My Soul)


Ever had one of those days – that you just don’t know what to do?

You try and try but that brass ring remains out of reach

That’s just life on - ol mean street


(Interlude then to chorus Two)


(Chorus Two – beak then Bridge to ending chorus)

I feel your footsteps thundering behind me, Jesus

I feel your arms lift’n me from this mire

I feel you carrying me away

(From old mean street)


(Ending Chorus end with Intro lead)


Jesus came - redeemed me from this shame

He set my feet upon the Rock, a-gain

New song put he in my heart

Jesus Saved My Soul

(From ol’ mean street)

Enjoy! Maybe I'll put these on MP3...

[JButler]

I'm not musically gifted so its hard to imagine the words set to music. Would like to hear your MP3.

[B. W.]

Need to have someone record these as what I have for recording does not work very well...