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Post by mom2fourblessings on Jan 17, 2007 8:03:33 GMT -5
WOW.. thank you for this. Being raised in the South and growing up on Southern Gospel, I must say I am a bit shocked My dad (stepdad) has been a gospel musician all his life, and loves watching the Gaither's I forwarded this to him, as he will be extremely shocked and well, I am sure offended at what they are representing and support and what the industry is coming too.. Until recently he has always been in or sang with a Gospel group, not like the ones represented here mind you.. they didn't get paid, (even though they could have) they sang for the LORD and about what the LORD had done for them and what they wanted to do for the LORD. I know they will all be outraged at the way things are looking and especially with the Gaither homecoming stuff. I know recently he had a chance to go see them live in Knoxville, and I was going to get him tickets and he didn't say why, but said no, they just aren't what they use to be and things like that.. so I am not sure he may already know about this.. but anyway, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for sharing.. I have passed this along to MANY that I know here in Southern Gospel Land.. I may make a few enemies, but I hope not, this is something everyone needs to be aware of.. In Christ's Love, Heather
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 17, 2007 11:51:29 GMT -5
Dear sister Heather,
I think the point is being missed here. I originally started this post in August of 2004. Since then, I have continued to speak out against this deceptive music. Southern Gospel music is based in carnality and those who struggle with their flesh in the area of music feed on it often.
Many think music is amoral, that is to say, it is neither good nor bad, but it is what you make of it. Hog wash.
Several years ago I was asked to speak at a daytime meeting. There was a popular camp meeting preacher there and a popular Southern Gospel musician also. I didn't know and in my message I took SGM to task. After I spoke, the singer got up, said he was going to sing some "good ole" Southern Gospel music, and did so. I was sickened.
Flash forward in time over a decade. I am sitting in church and the pastor reads a prayer letter from a singing group that wants to raise $5000.oo dollars of God's peoples money so he can do the godly endeavor of...........make a Southern Gospel music CD. Wickedness! I spoke out against it, in a spirit of humility, but firmness. It was the same group that got up and sang after I preached several years before. This was an Independent Fundamental Baptist group! We were shocked! This was 12 years ago.Friends, if you dabble in this genre of music, you are in the devils playground! As I said before, I am a white son of the South, and my natural tendency is to country, bluegrass, etc. This music is in the category, works of the flesh. It must be confessed as sin, and repented of.
We have for years on this site been exposing the evils of Southern Gospel music. It is carnal and shallow ( feel good music) and now it not only produces poor, pitiful fruit, but now we see the rotten fruit (devilish) it is producing.
Yesterday, I posted that one look at these fellows and one can see through their phasade (sp?).Just one look at this picture tells me alot. These men look strange, polished, ungodly. They look like the kind of men who would steel away the heart of wives and silly women. These men look like there trying to look good (attractive). The brethren are not to look like this.
If you look at godly men they present themselves much different than this.
I personally do not think they look fat. I think they are trying to look attractive. I would not trust their testimony, much less their music. They are selling more than music here. They have an image there selling, and it does not reflect God.
A picture is worth 1,000 words. Today, you stated...quote: I am sure offended at what they are representing and support and what the industry is coming too.. The industry is not coming to a bad state, it's just finally yielding visible bad fruit. The ''Country beat'', and ''repetitive, shallow, feel good verses in the songs'' have always been the problem from the beginning. The ''Southern Gospel Music singers '' ''SGM'' Take Country music ''the beat'' and put feel good words ''containing christian phrase's'' and they sing with great emotion, thus moving the listeners flesh. This music is spiritually week. It's pitiful. Little ditty's that make you feel good and that contain christian phrases. You know...''good ole Southern Gospel music.'' I'm a Southern girl born and raised in Ala and later moved to Ga. It's in my blood. We'll my old blood. Jesus gave me new blood when I got saved and new desires, the flesh likes that music, but the Spirit loathes it, It cringes when it hears it. I even get a sick feeling sometimes.quote: Until recently he has always been in or sang with a Gospel group, not like the ones represented here mind you.. they didn't get paid, (even though they could have) they sang for the LORD and about what the LORD had done for them and what they wanted to do for the LORD.I'm sure your Uncle is a good man, and born again too. The problem is not with those that sing the music, but with the music itself and the fruit it produces.Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Satan is at work in the realm of music, he's tricky, he's a sly ole fox.Also we have to remember that satan is at work to deceive. He's called an angel of light. 2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.He makes things look good and appealing ( and sometimes he even puts a christian label on it to deceive Gods people into buying his lie ), he makes you have a good feeling when you partake in it. Think of all the areas of struggle in a christians life. This is so true. All the aspects of vanity and fashion, sensuality, TV and movies (videos), books, magazines, amusement parks, fairs, cartoon figures, MUSIC, etc.....Brother Ben said it well..... Friends, if you dabble in this genre of music, you are in the devils playground! As I said before, I am a white son of the South, and my natural tendency is to country, bluegrass, etc. This music is in the category, works of the flesh. It must be confessed as sin, and repented of. Dear sister Heather,
Thank you for posting about your uncle, we are all learning, and growing in the Lord, we are all at different places in our walk and understanding and I appreciate your post, I just wanted to clarify the point were trying to make here about Southern Gospel music. Were not just disappointed in their direction, we believe the music is not the music a christian should even listen to at all.
I hope I have come across in a kind and clear way, that was my intention. You are a bright spot and a blessing on this site and I enjoy your posts and your sweet spirit on the issues we discuss and stand on here on this site.
Blessings to you dear sister.
Love, ~ sister Darlene ~
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Post by mom2fourblessings on Jan 17, 2007 13:31:47 GMT -5
Dear Sister Darlene.. I am sorry, I guess I got off on one side of the issue, I appreciate your post. I did get the message from the post about the whole issue, I think I just got stuck on that article about the Gaithers and such because they are/were such a hit with my singing family. (I however can't carry a tune in a bucket.. LOL) It was my dad/stepdad (not uncle... )that has been the singer for all these years.. I wouldn't call what they sing southern gospel, they sing the classical hymns from the old Baptist and Church Hymnals, the ones I grew up with in Church. One of my favorites that he sings well is "Sheltered in the Arms of God" and "Lily of the Valley" and "Unclouded Day" just to name a few, but that is the type music he has always sang.. not sure if you call it southern gospel or not. My grandfather went from Church to Church teaching singing schools where they sang accapela (sp?) and learned to sing by shape notes.. Anyway my dad did the same thing even though he plays guitar, as does my brother, they usually sang with just themselves or a piano sometimes a guitar, but it wasn't a modern beat or anything like that.. But anyway, that is way off the original point I started with.. LOL I have a terribly rambling brain today.. LOL I did understand what you and Brother Ben were talking about with the beat,and stuff of the music, and not just the one issue.. And I appreciate you all psoting about it because I never really thought about it that way. I was always of the mind set I suppose that music didn't really affect you that much as long as the words were right.. (Not searching for the fruit of it know what I mean) I have always appreciated many, many types of music as far as the rythym at beat goes, but have never been a real fan of country, rock, pop, or anything like that because of the message they send (cheat on your spouse, do this ungodly thing or that.. ) but I never really associated their beat with having anything to do with it.. but now that you mention that and relate it to music I have always enjoyed listening to, I am forced.. (want) to reexamine the gospel music I have in my house and that I let my children listen to, because they may hear something that has a good beat, when they are away from home and think because it is similar to what they hear at home then maybe it is ok to listen to even if it is a terrible song. On the other side, Josh and I have discussed before how he doesn't like the music that plays on your emotions either, he said many Churches he went to growing up were the worst for playing songs about dead relatives and such that played more on peoples emotions, that many would then mistake for being spiritual feelings, and not just emotions that were being stirred up.. Does that make sense.. I am not wording it like he does, but basically what he was saying is that many times people are led to believe that they are being moved by the Spirit when in all reality they are being moved by the words of the song that talks about mamma went to heaven and stuff like that (just an example I can think of right now).. I mean I know it has happened to me with songs before, that I am just moved to tears and so touched, only to realize that it is emotions not Spirit that is being moved by the beat, words or whatever of the song.. I guess we just have to be extremely careful with all music that we listen to because as you said (and Josh's favorite quote) 2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. He tells the children all the time to be careful, as satan will make things that are ungodly appear godly and to look for the fruits of the work.. Anyway, I hate email/typing sometimes as it is hard to convey emotion, but just so you know, I REALLY appreciate your post and the time you put into it. No offense at all was taken... I believe that we are called to teach each other, and to admonish each other just as the Bible tells us to, and to do so with the scriptures... And if it is done with a heart of love and concern for the other person (as things always seem to be done here) then no offense should be taken.. Romans 15:14 " And I myself also am persaded of you, my brethern, that ye also are full of foodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
2 Thessalonians 3:15 "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."Those just to name a few.. I have always had peace here knowing that any admonishment or anything was given with the purest of intentions and love, and not to judge or be used against someone but done in love to help and to teach. So do not worry about me taking it the wrong way, as I know that as a dear sister all you say is said in love, and with a pure heart for the Word of God.
You are a dear sweet sister and I appreciate greatly all that you and Brother Ben do here. It is a place where I feel safe and comfortable and where I find like minded fellowship that I struggle so hard to find in the world around me. I Praise God for both of you and your ministry. Thank you.. Thank you for following God's leading and taking time to teach the Gospel of our Lord to a lost and dying world.
In Christ's Love, Sister Heather
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 17, 2007 15:19:58 GMT -5
Dearest Heather,
Thank you for your sweet response!
oops! I mean dad/step dad ;D
You were right about... our children learning to like and except the beat and in the future....the devil will woo them with bad music that contains that same beat. It's the beat that moves us...and draws us.
Also what your husband had to say about emotional lyrics moving our emotions and we mistake that strong feeling for the Spirit.
Wrong beat and strong emotion can lead us far from Gods will and way.
~ sister Darlene ~
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kscarle
Member
Philippians 4:4, Romans 12:1, John 14:15
Posts: 97
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Post by kscarle on Dec 1, 2007 23:26:59 GMT -5
This may not be surprising but since I listened to rap before I was saved, so I thought southern gospel with its vast difference must be alright. I still have struggled with this issue, but one day my husband and I were riding in the car and we had my 12 year old nephew with us, I wanted to hear some music but he made a comment about me listening to country music, so I turned it off. I like to listen to the Victorious Valley girls, and some church choirs.
Kristie
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