Praise and Worship Concert

[zab]

I want to ask for your opinion on something that is bothering my son. Our Youth Director is planning a “Praise and Worship Concert” in the parish gym. My son, age 34, has been asked to help out with this concert because he works in a recording studio and has some experience that may be of use to them. . The youth director has sent invitations to the local Protestant churches inviting their youth to come to this event. For several years others denominations have had occassional “christian rock concerts” which draw a lot of youth. Parents have been complaining that these other churches seem to have no problem getting kids to go to their youth groups and wondered what can be done to attract more of our youth. I believe that the intent of having the Praise and Worship Concert is to draw more youth to the Catholic Church.

But my son thinks that having a “Praise and Worship” Concert is not the right thing to do… He says that there is more much more to our Catholic faith than singing and praising God in a concert. He says there is nothing wrong with having fun by haveing a regular concert with decent music. He is against this “Praise and Worship Concert” because he believes it is misleading or trying to make the kids come to church because of the music not because of their faith. I hope I am getting his point across in the way that he expressed it.

What are your thoughts? Would it be better that the Catholic Youth Ministry held a concert with regular decent music or have a “Praise and Worship Concert” ?

 

[Melchior_1]

What are your thoughts? Would it be better that the Catholic Youth Ministry held a concert with regular decent music or have a “Praise and Worship Concert” ?

I’d like to know what your definition of “regular decent music” is first

 

[snowlake]

Personally, I think your son is quite right in being concerned that some might actually use music as a basis for selecting a church rather than the actual content of the faith.

That said, there is much to be said for keeping this kind of music outside of the Mass, and a concert is one way to do this. It helps keep a division between two good but separate things: secular style religious music(that which would be used at the concert), and sacred music (that which is meant only or primarily for use in the sacred liturgy.)

If this pop concert style of music is avoided at Mass, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, there might be theological problems with the songs’ texts, especially if they are not in accord with the Catholic faith.

 

[DeepeningFaith]

My opinion: You have to get the kids in the doors before you can preach.

I think that a Praise and Worship Concert is absolutely a fine thing to do IF it does not become a liturgical service…meaning, not Adoration. This type of music does draw in a crowd both Catholic and non-Catholic. This is a great opportunity to evangelize to Protestants.

I agree almost 100% with snowlake. We don’t want people coming to the Catholic Church for the music and activities and sense of community. We want them here for the Faith. This is the way to tell the Protestant youth the Truth.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

Personally, I think your son is quite right in being concerned that some might actually use music as a basis for selecting a church rather than the actual content of the faith.

That said, there is much to be said for keeping this kind of music outside of the Mass, and a concert is one way to do this. It helps keep a division between two good but separate things: secular style religious music(that which would be used at the concert), and sacred music (that which is meant only or primarily for use in the sacred liturgy.)

If this pop concert style of music is avoided at Mass, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, there might be theological problems with the songs’ texts, especially if they are not in accord with the Catholic faith.

Music programs are an excellent outreach medium for the youth. I regularly attend Gospel Bluegrass festivals in which the music is mostly traditional Christian, some call it Southern Gospel. As long as the intent is to reach out to teens through entertainment I see no problem and praising the Lord in the process certainly won’t hurt anyone. The music selections should be screened to ensure they are not anti-Catholic in nature but I wouldn’t worry about them complying to the standards we might set for Liturgical music.

 

[Catholicben]

I think it’s a pretty good idea as long as:

• It is not litirgical (not during mass or adoration. Just a straight concert)
• All of the lyrics are theologically sound (Some praise and worship songs are not theologically correct. I don’t have any examples off the top of my head though…)

If the above guidelines are followed, I actually think it is a pretty good idea!

 

[DeepeningFaith]

I think it’s a pretty good idea as long as:

• It is not litirgical (not during mass or adoration. Just a straight concert)
• All of the lyrics are theologically sound (Some praise and worship songs are not theologically correct. I don’t have any examples off the top of my head though…)

If the above guidelines are followed, I actually think it is a pretty good idea!

Forgot that point! This is a definite! I know of a few songs that are almost anti-Catholic. I recommend that the OP posts the list of songs intended prior to it so that some of us here can vet (sp?) it.

 

[CWBetts]

The idea that praise and worship is somehow wrong because it isn’t “deep enpugh” I fid mind-boggling. In addition to making sure that it isn’t part of a Mass (having the Eucharist exposed I think would be a great idea!) one should also make sure that between songs, etc there is a dynamic speaker to expound on the faith.

 

[choy]

But my son thinks that having a “Praise and Worship” Concert is not the right thing to do… He says that there is more much more to our Catholic faith than singing and praising God in a concert.

he is right, there is much more to our Catholic Faith. but the Praise and Worship Concert isn’t meant to replace anything nor is it trying to represent the entirety of our Faith (or at least i hope it isn’t). there is no misconceptions here and i agree with the other people who posted so far that this is a good way to reach out to teens and young adults and get them to become more serious in their faith.

i personally am not that big on attending such events, but i do recognize the fact there are people out there who would respond positively to this event and it will help them become more interested in the faith and learn more and pray more and live the faith more.

 

[CFXDrummer]

If people use music as a criteria for selecting a church, is that really such a bad thing? The end result, hopefully, is that they get in the door and are then taught sound Catholic doctrine. Heck, when I was in middle school, I mostly went to church because the girls in the youth group were really cute – a wrong motive, of course, but the end result was that I was raised in the Catholic faith, and now appreciate and love it for everything that it is.

As far as songs and lyrics go, I wouldn’t worry too much – the vast majority of popular praise and worship songs, though written by Protestant or Evangelical musicians, conflicts very little, if at all, with Catholic teaching.

 

[snowlake]

The idea that praise and worship is somehow wrong because it isn’t “deep enpugh” I fid mind-boggling. In addition to making sure that it isn’t part of a Mass (having the Eucharist exposed I think would be a great idea!) one should also make sure that between songs, etc there is a dynamic speaker to expound on the faith.

The OP said it was an ecumenical gathering. Having the Eucharist exposed would definitely not be appropriate. As far as a “dynamic speaker” is concerned, great care would have to be taken in selecting one (ecumenically speaking).

 

[puzzleannie]

I But my son thinks that having a “Praise and Worship” Concert is not the right thing to do… He says that there is more much more to our Catholic faith than singing and praising God in a concert. He says there is nothing wrong with having fun by haveing a regular concert with decent music. He is against this “Praise and Worship Concert” because he believes it is misleading or trying to make the kids come to church because of the music not because of their faith. I hope I am getting his point across in the way that he expressed it.

What are your thoughts? Would it be better that the Catholic Youth Ministry held a concert with regular decent music or have a “Praise and Worship Concert” ?

well I can’t comment since I don’t know the motives of those planning the concert, but in and of itself there is nothing wrong or anti-CAtholic about it. Of course there is more to our Christian faith than music, but that does not mean a concert is not a legitimate way of gathering youth or any other group within the parish. Would you criticize the senior citizens having a choral presentation of chant or taize because “there is more to our faith than this?”

If it is not a replacement for liturgy or for catechesis, but a means of drawing in teens who otherwise have not been coming to anything, so that they can receive the invitation to the deeper experiences, I cannot imagine why there would be an objection. I am assuming the venue will be such that the Eucharist and sacred space is respected, if that is your concern, check with the priest.

and no, a concert atmosphere is NOT the appropriate venue for Eucharistic adoration, unless, as in Y2K the organizers and liturgical ministers structure the event so that the concert element is separated from the liturgical element. That is usually quite skillfully done, as at Steubenville youth conferences for instance, by changing the tone of the music and providing a transition, such as a talk, presentation, skit, discussion or other break between the “fun” part and the more serious element.

 

[CWBetts]

The OP said it was an ecumenical gathering. Having the Eucharist exposed would definitely not be appropriate. As far as a “dynamic speaker” is concerned, great care would have to be taken in selecting one (ecumenically speaking).

I missed the ecumenical part. I was thinking about the Eucharistic FOPs at Steubie U

 

[snowlake]

If people use music as a criteria for selecting a church, is that really such a bad thing? The end result, hopefully, is that they get in the door and are then taught sound Catholic doctrine.

If they are Protestant, they would have to go through a program like RCIA before entering the Church, and would have to come to a belief in everything the Catholic Church teaches
and holds to be true BEFORE full participation in the Mass.

If they are Catholic, they will have to remain faithful to the Church even if this type of music
is not used in the Mass. The style is secular in nature (the compositional styles and instrumentations) even though the subject matter is religious in nature.

 

[puzzleannie]

If they are Protestant, they would have to go through a program like RCIA before entering the Church, and would have to come to a belief in everything the Catholic Church teaches
and holds to be true BEFORE full participation in the Mass.

If they are Catholic, they will have to remain faithful to the Church even if this type of music
is not used in the Mass. The style is secular in nature (the compositional styles and instrumentations) even though the subject matter is religious in nature.

OP is not speaking of Mass, or of RCIA, catechesis or liturgy in any case, so whether or not some of the youth who might be attracted to this concert are Catholic or not is not relevant in that context. I am still at a loss how anyone can object to an event designed to draw youth to the church. Do the objectors know the meaning of the word “evangelization?”

 

[snowlake]

OP is not speaking of Mass, or of RCIA, catechesis or liturgy in any case, so whether or not some of the youth who might be attracted to this concert are Catholic or not is not relevant in that context. I am still at a loss how anyone can object to an event designed to draw youth to the church. Do the objectors know the meaning of the word “evangelization?”

You really misunderstood my post. Read the quote that I was responding to and the posts before it in that regard.

And so far, no one has objected to the concert.

 

[Cat]

I think it sounds awesome! I wish I could go! I hope you rock the roof off!

I hope that this doesn’t backfire, and the planners end up with a lot of “geezers” like me instead of young people! :dancing:

You have no idea how many Protestants are curious about the Catholic Church these days. Several rock-solid Protestants have converted, people like Chuck Colson have worked with Catholics in various contexts, and Dr. James Dobson has endorsed (in his latest book) a Catholic for President of the United States.

My FIL and MIL are actually attending a Father Corapi conference. This is so majorly shocking–it’s even more shocking than if President Obama decided to switch to the Republican Party! There was a time when my parents in law scorned Catholics and considered them cultists! Now, they’re attending a Catholic Bible study and listening to Father Corapi!

So I say, go for the concerts so that these “curious” Protestants will put their foot across the threshold and start learning about the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church!

If I were going, I would make sure to wear a t-shirt about being a convert to the Catholic Church. That way, the Protestants would know who to go to afterwards to get answers to all their questions about Catholicism.