Is it okay to sing pop and rock Christian songs inside the church?

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Jon_Mallory said:
Pardon my heated post. I get very emotional when it comes to these topics. I have no problem with the guitar or piano accompaniment so I am not in the rigid traditionalist camp. I mentioned suffering in connection to chant because while chant itself does not cause suffering, it puts one in a somber mindset that is more accepting of the role of suffering in the Christian life. Music affects our way of thinking. Fasting and pious living is the last thing on my mind when I listen to a pop or rock song.
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That is needed sometimes. However Mass is not always and only about somber suffering. Sometimes the Mass is a celebration, which we call feasts days. Since the topic is music, here is what the instructions to the Mass say about this topic:
The Christian faithful who come together as one in expectation of the Lord’s coming are instructed by the Apostle Paul to sing together Psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles (cf. Col 3:16). Singing is the sign of the heart’s joy.
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Now I won’t defend rock. I do not like it for liturgy, but as far as more modern music, some of it is quite sober. Right now, for Advent, we are singing My Soul in Stillness Waits, as an example of a more somber new song. Likewise, I have always found the Gregorian Gloria to be quite exciting and uplifting.

Thinking back, I remember going to my one and only Life Teen Mass. I guess the music might be called rock, if I were generous with the term. Some of the music was celebratory, but as the liturgy of the Eucharist began, the music became much more sober.
 
I know it is the exception in Episcopal churches but my local Episcopal parish has 4 services. A Sat night service with acoustic guitar and piano. 2 Sunday morning traditional services. And a late Sun morning service with a band, bass guitar, drums, the works. The bass player from my understanding previously was part of Stevie Wonder’s band for 10 yrs. The contemporary service with the band is their 2nd most heavily attended after the mid morning traditional. The contemporary is also attended by all ages. Young families to age 80. The priest believes different services for which best speaks to you. Another Episcopal church nearby has a jazz service on Sat evening. The UMC church near me has both traditional and contemporary services. I’ve never been to a Catholic Lifeteen Mass but what types of Christian songs are sang at those Masses?
 
Sy_Noe said:
I’ve never been to a Catholic Lifeteen Mass but what types of Christian songs are sang at those Masses?
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The one I was at used what might be called contemporary Christian music. Think early Petra.
 
Alright, I don’t have to cite sources, somebody did that already.

I thought the pope making a rock album is alright, as long it’s not played in the mass. If you just listen to it at home or something, it’s all good clean fun.
 
pnewton said:
That is needed sometimes. However Mass is not always and only about somber suffering. Sometimes the Mass is a celebration, which we call feasts days. Since the topic is music, here is what the instructions to the Mass say about this topic:

Now I won’t defend rock. I do not like it for liturgy, but as far as more modern music, some of it is quite sober. Right now, for Advent, we are singing My Soul in Stillness Waits, as an example of a more somber new song. Likewise, I have always found the Gregorian Gloria to be quite exciting and uplifting.

Thinking back, I remember going to my one and only Life Teen Mass. I guess the music might be called rock, if I were generous with the term. Some of the music was celebratory, but as the liturgy of the Eucharist began, the music became much more sober.
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My Soul In Stillness Waits if simply gorgeous.
If sung well, and not too fast…with the appropriate musical pauses…
LOVE IT. I always used it.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
I reject the “each to his own tastes” argument when it comes to worship. It’s fine reasoning when you place it in the right context–listening to music for enjoyment or for studying. Here’s my problem: certain objects demand an appropriate affective response. Worship of God should never be something casual and fun, like joining a party with your high school buddies. Rock and pop engender a casual fun loving emotional response. The saints of the Church make it very clear that to grow closer to God, we have to endure suffering (St. John of the Cross). It is not good enough to keep doctrinally sound lyrics but also have them played to the tune of just any instrument whatsoever. The emotional response becomes more governed by the sound than the content of the lyrics. Rock music brings you down to earth. It does not lift you up to Heaven. I am deeply sorrowful that the RCC has given in to the urge to modernize. It introduces a “hermeneutic of discontinuity” in my opinion. Now, those who love the old ways are regarded as no more than quaint individuals with outdated “tastes”.

Again, think to yourself: is it appropriate to have pop music playing in a reliquary as I experienced or is that not rather a mockery of a holy place? Also modernizing the Church’s worship is definitely not a good way to improve ecumenical relations with the Orthodox.
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Did I post that rock/pop was okay in Church? No. I was discussing personal musical tastes regarding the Pope’s pop/rock album. You are making an assumption.
 
SAVINGRACE said:
Did I post that rock/pop was okay in Church? No. I was discussing personal musical tastes regarding the Pope’s pop/rock album. You are making an assumption.
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Is worship something that only takes place within the four walls of a Church? Ask yourself, what is worship? I know Catholics say that worship only occurs in the context of sacrifice but if I sung praise to Ba’al, would that not be considered idolatry? And is not idolatry something that only takes place in the context of worship? So, might these rock songs be considered worship (not saying they’re idolatrous). If I make an assumption, it is only because I am operating from a clear definition of worship. Worship is something you orient your entire self toward and is expressed in practices that include songs. If that is not worship, then I can sing praises to Molech and it not be considered idolatrous.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
Is worship something that only takes place within the four walls of a Church? Ask yourself, what is worship? I know Catholics say that worship only occurs in the context of sacrifice but if I sung praise to Ba’al, would that not be considered idolatry? And is not idolatry something that only takes place in the context of worship? So, might these rock songs be considered worship (not saying they’re idolatrous). If I make an assumption, it is only because I am operating from a clear definition of worship. Worship is something you orient your entire self toward and is expressed in practices that include songs. If that is not worship, then I can sing praises to Molech and it not be considered idolatrous.
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What on earth are you rambling on about? :confused:

I am talking about personal music tastes, what I listen to at home and in my car. I won’t be buying the Popes latest album because I don’t like rock/pop. I prefer gregorian chanting in my car because it’s calming and soothing.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
Is worship something that only takes place within the four walls of a Church?
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No, but liturgy takes place (usually) within the walls of the Church. The Catholic Church does make any restriction, rule, policy or guideline on worship outside of liturgy, as you are defining “worship”. Private spiritual devotion is just that: private.
 
SAVINGRACE said:
What on earth are you rambling on about? :confused:

I am talking about personal music tastes, what I listen to at home and in my car. I won’t be buying the Popes latest album because I don’t like rock/pop. I prefer gregorian chanting in my car because it’s calming and soothing.
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Sometimes I like to ramble on other different topics loosely connected. Sometimes, my ramblings are understandible but most often not:blushing:
 
pnewton said:
No, but liturgy takes place (usually) within the walls of the Church. The Catholic Church does make any restriction, rule, policy or guideline on worship outside of liturgy, as you are defining “worship”. Private spiritual devotion is just that: private.
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Your cat avatar keeps on scowling at me😥
 
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