If you’re been a believer in America for any time or have visited, you’ll run into what many claim is harp and bowl.
They mean musical worship with some individual prayer thrown in for good measure. But it’s really “loud amplified guitar(s) with drums” and bowl.
Let’s take a quick look at where these saints get this concept in the Revelation 5.8:
When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Some thoughts appear.
First, the elders are on their face, so could they play any instrument since the other hand holds the bowl? Second, have you ever heard a harp play it’s music? It’s soothing and melodic to the soul, not grating. I used to play the electric guitar in a band and know a thing or two about loud amplified music that causes the ears to ring for hours afterwards. Third, the uniform report of the New Testament record shows the saints praying “in one accord.”
That’s not every man or woman for themselves. Even singing appears to have the same flavor: in one accord where we can clearly hear each other over any musical accompaniment. How does this compare to your musical and/or prayer worship experience?
So, then, where do we get the idea that “loud guitar (or guitars, drums, bass, et al)” and bowl is of God? It certainly appears to be another in the long list of inventions by modern man to “improve” upon what God has uniquely designed for His pleasure. It’s also part of the juvenilization of American Christianity.
Of course, in Psalm 47 there’s shouts of joy! That is not loud guitar and drums. In Psalm 98 there’s trumpets and a blast of the ancient ram’s horn. This is not loud guitar and drums. Let us be crystal clear on that point. As an ex-rock musician, personally I know the vast difference between the two.
“Dearest Lord God Almighty, help us by grace to hear the admonishment of our brother Paul to ‘hold firmly to the traditions’ he handed down, and not the traditions of men. You’re gracious commands bring You pleasure in all respects.”
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
+++
Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
Marc and Walk Worthy are supported in part by the body of Jesus Christ. Please consider donating on a regular basis:
You may view our Archives here: FRIDAY FIRE – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
Sister Cathy says
Dear brother Marc,
Thank you so very much for your admonition to avoid the rock music influence in today’s unbiblical institutional church “services.” We all know that type of gathering is neither described nor prescribed in the New Covenant! Many of us need to detoxify from practicing a pagan type of celebration. It’s so very good to see joyful shouts and trumpets. But the loud guitars and drums, as you pointed out, are never seen in a celebration that pleases our God. I’ve listed some passages below because I didn’t want to hit and run like so many other so-called Christians do when they might disagree! Again, thanks for your hard work in His vineyard and the 100’s of other posts you have listed on your ministry site to help people on to our great God!
Psalm 47:1 Living Bible (TLB)
Come, everyone, and clap for joy! Shout triumphant praises to the Lord!
Psalm 98:4-6 New International Version (NIV)
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.