Who can play?
Tue, May 5, 2009
Our Poll results indicate 30 people say yes to those who don’t profess to be believers playing in our musical sections, 16 say no, and there were 6 undivided. The comments provide much fodder for discussion, and thanks to everyone for participating.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:51 am
I use unsaved and sometimes unsavory musicians all the time. And time and again, they get saved or move forward in their walk with God
April 28th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Ron Richard was a man in our community with cancer. He began as a man hostile to the gospel and tried hard discredit our work. As time passed he began to join us for our Friday night music Jams. Later he joined us in Sunday worship where he played lead guitar. Under the sound of the gospel he gave his heart over to Christ before passing away last year. Ron Richard,guitar player for Stompin Tom Conners, found out how Christ stomped on the serpents head! Non-believers become believers when the play in our praise teams. YES, let non-believers play, until the music of the gospel overtakes them!
April 28th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I was not saved and was invited back in 2003 to use my musical talents in the Sunday worship band. Not long after that I accepted the Lord in my life and have been leading Worship for a number of years now on bass guitar, acoustic guitar and electric guitar. I agree with Ron Farr’s comment, let the non-believers play. We’re currently praying for a guy that has played with us on the drums as a non-believer and has left the band but recent developements indicate he would probably like to come back again and God willing he comes back for the good reasons and hopefully starts his walk with God later as the worship music and people around him work in his heart.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:53 am
As a bandmaster the question I have been asking myself these days is what is our purpose and mission. Is it simply to supply music or is it more than that. Does God not call us into relationshsips, to reach out to one another, to come along side, to minister. All too often I have heard the ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ story when it relates to those on the platform and those in the congregation. My feeling is that I have a greater opportunity to reach, connect and grow with a fellow musician if they are in my sphere of influence. Being part of the band an unbeliever would have something in common with the one sitting next to them, which when trying to build relationships is key. Find something that you can connect to the person with and you have a door or window of oppportunity. They would be exposed to our devotions, our discussions about the meaning of a piece we are playing and an opportuinity to actually play the piece and allow the music to flow through them. More importantly though is the opportunity to form relationships – I say yes – if not we are missing a huge opportunity.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Back in the ‘day’ it was a requirement to be a soldier to play in the band or sing in the songsters. Just because many of these folk put on a uniform to play or sing did not nessecarily mean all of them were saved. I would much rather have an open ‘pre-believer’ than a ‘closet sinner’ participating in music groups – at least I know who to effectively work with to bring them to the point of real salvation and they aren’t trying to hide inside a uniform.
Let’em sing and play God’s power will change them as they proclaim his word.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Music is a gift from our Creator. The first question is, “who is an unbeliever” and what does that really mean? Are truth-seekers, unbeliever’s?
Who determines who is an unbeliever? Jesus definitely had some strong opinions on this… just read about the Pharisee and the tax-collector… the sheep and the goats… the list could go on… Too often we make distinctions based on outward appearances and not the heart! How many of the people who have been called “believer’s” do not have actions to support their faith position???
The one thing I have always asked of people who share in worship is that they don’t sing lies!!! If we have someone stand in front of people and sing lies then we as leaders harm them! If however they are sharing music in the congregational setting then I ask that they at least be seeking truth…in whatever form that takes (usually they won’t be there if they are not at least seeking something??). Scripture records in Deut 4:29, “If you search for him (Yahweh) honestly and sincerely, you will find him.” (New Jerusalem Bible) So maybe we need to look at all of our musicians and use the seeking heart as the test and not some of our believer/unbeliever tests!
Since 1969 I have been a commissioned YP Bandsperson, Singing Company,Timbrelist, Bandsperson, Songster and/or involved in leading worship and running “jams” and would say that too often we have asked the wrong question. Only God determines the heart and belief… most of our “tests” are man-made and determined by outward appearances. I have been in many musical groups where there have been unbelievers based on the “sheep and goats”, but it never seemed to be an issue as long as you towed the line and looked right in public!
Just my thoughts on the subject.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:11 am
All good and valid views expressed. I think it depends on the perception of the congregation and the culture of the corps. Do they look to the musicians as leaders and examples in the Corps as a traditional band or songsters might be viewed, or are they seen as simply musicians offering their talents to enrich the service? Each corps situation and context will guide the decision.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:34 am
I have been giving this a lot of thought lately, especially as it pertains to our young people – we seem to have an ‘all or nothing’ attitude which just doesn’t fly today. Certainly we shouldn’t compromise our stand and certainly if someone is in a position of leadership there should be higher expectations, but if someone wants to sing or play, we should thank God that they want to sing and play His music – obviously God is already doing a work in them and we should do everything in our power to facilitate that work. It is our responsibility then, to be the examples of God that we should be, in order to lead the new person into a relationship with Him.
April 30th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Of course they should join. The work of the Holy Spirit on the individual heart will bring them to that point of conversion or rejection, but all must be offered the opportunity. Yes, there are going to be challenges, particularly as Paul reminds us in Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”
It’s one of the ways I came to Salvation, so let’s go for it!
April 30th, 2009 at 7:21 am
the army ought to rescind restrictions on musicians. Each church is different, but ultimately to connect with people in this field is immense.The army has traditionally had so many “closed” groups that people drift somewhere else where they can participate in the life of the church. This applies to songsters, and other closed groups that make up many traditional mind set churches – corps
May 1st, 2009 at 7:26 am
Maybe I’m from the old school. The bible does speak about mocking God. It’s very hard to say no to someone who isn’t a Christian. What are their lives like? Are they out in the world (drinking, drugs, etc.) I believe they should walk with God first and then join the music teams.
If these musicians want to play, why not have a night practice where they can practice, jam, etc. They can still enjoy time with there friends. Don’t close the door to these opportunities.
May 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Matthew 8:1-17
We’re looking here at three stories: a leper, a centurion, and a woman. The three individuals are all so different, yet they belong together since none of them belong. They are outsiders, all of them. It should not be surprising for us to find them lumped together here in Matthew’s book.
Jesus lets them feel that they belong. He talks to them as if they were followers of Him. He doesn’t care that they are unaccepted by the world. He enters into a conversation with each of them and discovers that they have a need and are people of faith. These people who had low self-respect and self-esteem courageously finds strength to approach Jesus. Jesus lets them feel accepted. Once an individual realizes that they are welcomed into a presence; they begin to believe in Him.
I believe as Christians we have this theological idea mixed up. Rather than letting people feel that they belong, we sometimes want them first to believe. People want to be in relationships with people. They want to find that place where they call upon someone as a friend. Belonging in a relationship should not depend on what we wear or how we look. I want to challenge each and every Christian to accept people first, and allow them to belong, which will lead to believing rather than requiring someone to believe in order to belong.
January 20th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Why would a non believer want to play in a church service ? I think it unlikely that some one totally opposed to Christian belief would want to participate in this way. An individual who would like to participate is probably open to Christian influence even if they describe themselves as a non believer. God is probably at work in their life. They could be at a crossroads and a crucial time in life. As God’s people we have a wonderful opportunity but also an awesome responsibility. If Christ is visible in our lives and our acceptance of non believers, then the individual may feel encouraged, over a period of time, to become a believer. If Christ is not visible then they may go away disappointed. A well known question asks “why should the devil have all the best music” ? The SA has a tradition of taking the secular music and using it to extend God’s Kingdom. If there is the slightest chance of influencing people with a secular perspective and welcoming them into God’s kingdom, then let us do so every time.