Thinking theologically about praise teams
Shana and I sang on the praise team again this past Sunday. I want to talk and think about that for a minute...
Some people think you go to hell if you have one.
Others have had one so long that they think you can't worship without one.
Some see them as a great aid to personal worship for the people in the pew.
Others see them as a great hindrance to personal worship for the people in the pew.
The first question is, "Why?" Why do I like it? Why do others hate it? What's the big deal?
The second question is like it: What does a praise team have to do with theology? What biblical principles can be applied to praise teams?
I'm not out to convert anyone or bash anyone by this post... if there are some readers who feel strongly against praise teams, please comment. I assure you that I will treat your response respectfully if it is well thought out and actually addresses the issue. If you condemn me to hell up front, well, you started it.
posted by Jason Fry @ 7:14 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
what do praise teams have to do with life in Christ?
Jason,
Define "Praise Teams" for me?
I may have a totally different idea
so lets define terms.
DB
Good call, Terry...
When I say "praise team," I mean mulitple microphoned song leaders. Typically there are one or two people who sing each part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass). They may be standing up front with the "regular" song leader, or seated in the pews.
In my experience, the expressed purpose is usually twofold: 1)to assure a certain quality of sound, which is assumed to better encourage the congregation, and 2)for the teaching or singing of music with which the congregation is unfamiliar.
Praise teaming. This is one of those topics that I think really really really doesn't matter. :) But I'll give my un-thought out opinion on it, anyway. :)
I personally prefer not having a praise team, which is funny since that's the "conservative" stand and I usually don't fall on that side. I just would rather not go hear a "concert" when I am at church. But I don't think there's any theological issue with it. When it comes to choosing a congregation I would like to attend, whether or not they had a praise team would be near the bottom of the list of criteria.
Good questions. I'll be interested to see the answers you get.
so what does having a praise team or lacking a praise team have to do with life in Christ?
really?
I am trying to define the perimeter based on what I know about the core. I have seen people around me make such a fuss about PT's that I thought it might generate some discussion.
I'm with Ann and Travis: it doesn't matter to me. I think that if you can't worship with one, or can't worship without one, you've got bigger issues.
If Miller's going to ask the same question twice, I ought to give it at least one answer. Not much. To me, worship is the bigger issue. I've been around alot of people who will argue all day against praise teams without ever thinking about what it really means to worship God. ("What it really means to worship God" is a great topic for another post some other time)
To be honest, I have an agenda to make PT's a minor issue, or to get them off of the table altogether. We should spend our time on more important things, particluarly in churches. If I can blog about PT's and get even one person to drop the "issue," then I've made progress for the kingdom.
Well I gotta agree with most that if it is a must or a must not to worship then there is a bigger issue to deal with.
We call ours worship teams and they are a bit like having a choir except
it is a band. Yes we have instruments. ;) We even have a youth one.
The worship teams sing mostly "praise" songs. And this is usually where
the pointless debate starts. "praise" vs. hymns. To me both are praising
songs. And usually the rule of thumb is the older folks (or ones who are
used to hymns) like hymns and younger like "praise".
I have seen people fight at church meetings about this issue of
praise songs vs. hymns which leads to fights about the worship teams in the
end.
I can go to worship services with them or without them. But some just cannot
live with or without.
As my pastor says often, "as long as it is not effecting ones salvation and walk then what are we arguing about." Usually he says when talking about the hot points Believers argue about that divide them. Perhaps that is along the lines of what Miller asked and the point trying to be made.
DB
what about singing praise along with the radio? what about the sixth grade girl who leads a small group in song assisted by third day, rich mullins, and others?
i guess i wonder about a definition of singing praise and worship that seems to be limited to something that takes place on sunday or wednesday from 10-11AM and 6PM-7PM.
the most important praise times i've ever experienced have been when i'm alone and free to sing as loud and weep as freely as i want.
i think we need to address the deeper issues of how worship and life intersect... but this ain't my blog.
One issue at a time, Miller, one issue at a time :)
I'm thinking I'll open up a thread on "what is worship" in the next few days, but I don't want to put a cap on the current discussion by starting a new one just yet.
Jerry, Jared, mom, Molly, Kim, Stan, anyone else?
Sorry I haven't commented lately. Been kinda busy. Did a funeral last week for a 15 year old. A victim of the choking game. Anyway, PT's or not is not an issue with me. Neither is instruments or not. My concern is the heart of worship - giving to God. I agree that if you cannot worship with / without them then the real issue is not the PT. There are times I am blessed and worship while listening. Like today, at the end of Sing Song (yes I writing from Abilene) the entire audience sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" I didn't sing, I was blessed. One of the hosts sang Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable" with the jazz band. I was blessed. Both times brought me into God's presence in a very powerful way. We are real good at making HUGE issues out of matters of opinion that do nothing but incite near riots. I think the world is still waiting for a body of people to appear where, despite of their differences, all they want to do is share the Glory of God. Maybe this makes sense, maybe not.
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