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Originally posted by prayerfull
August has been Youth Month at our church and yesterday, was the last day of our youth "revival". The youth choir sang some original music and one of the songs included a "rap" in the middle of the song. Some of the older church members were noticably uncomfortable by their youthful "spirit". The kids were "bouncing" and rockin' to the music...the whole nine. I, personally, enjoyed it and am happy that our youth are finding a way to express their spirituality. Our youth also want a Step Team. Our pastor is against it. However, it got me thinking.
Then, I was watching BET and all the gospel videos, etc. I'm not sure about how I feel about all of this "bling-bling for Jesus".
I was raised in a very "bougie" black baptist church. I was taught at a young age that clapping was NOT allowed or appropriate in church. I will never forget the time that a visitor came to our church and was clapping to the music, standing, and praising. One of the older church members called over and usher and ordered the usher to tell this visitor to STOP.  So, when I became an adult and my husband and I selected the church that we attend, I was very hesitant, at first to PRAISE and WORSHIP. I finally understand that it is OK to clap your hands, stand up and PRAISE THE LORD.
But back to this gospel music thing....has it gone too far? What is too far in your eyes? There are a whole bunch of gospel rap artists out these days. Does all of the "rapping" and "beats" take away from the true message at hand?
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Well Prayerfull, I was also raised in a very "bougie" black Baptist church and left (in my early twenties) because I didn't feel that I was being "fed". I now attend a church which is non-denominational, however it would be considered "holiness". Our Bishop, a TRUE man of God, one day said that many churches get so caught up in TRADITION that they forget the TRUE purpose of the church. And I agree with him TOTALLY. The church that I now attend WELCOMES creativity IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Yes, we have an awesome choir, praise and worship teams, a step team, dance team, drums, keyboard, etc. (and, believe it or not, the majority of the members of these teams are...ADULTS). We sternly believe in praising the Lord with songs, cries, hand clapping, and dance (and I don't mean the Harlem Shake).
Now our Bishop ain't no joke either. He's not going to have all kinds of non-sense going on in our church (Gosh, I just LOVE him so because he's a TRUE man of God and he's just so REAL).
But people haveto remember WHO we are praising and calling out to. In essence, this is how I see it. The Word says that God is a "consuming fire". And when He gets a hold of you, it's literally IMPOSSIBLE to be still or keep quiet. Remember also that "when the praises go up, the blessings come down". God INHABITS and DWELLS IN the praises of His people. God loves for us to worship and praise Him. Finally, I want to remind you that our God is an AWESOME, WONDERFUL, MAGNIFICENT, LOVING, TRUSTING, FORGIVING, MERCIFUL, GRACEFUL, ALL-KNOWING, ALL-SEEING, ALL-DOING God. Just THINKING about that, I know that you would agree that He's WORTHY and DESERVING of AAALLLL the praise (that INCLUDES hand claps, dances, cries, and songs).
Now doing the BUTTERFLY for the Lord is over the top, to say the least.
And I believe that many so-called "gospel" artists have completely LOST THEIR MINDS (for example, I just can't STAND Kirk Franklin). They are using the church to make a profit. But, hey, God sees them. And He's going to handle them.