In this episode, Josh Teis talks with Robert Bakss about the important issue of worship in churches. Robert pastors a growing church in Rockhampton, Australia. He has recently authored a book about this topic entitled “Worship Wars”. This podcast will touch on several of the concepts that are covered more deeply in the book.
Quotes from the episode:
“People have made an issue out of something that isn’t that big of an issue.” – Robert Bakss
“As soon as you play any style of music, people then assume, that you are positioning yourself that everyone has to play this. And that’s not necessary.” – Robert Bakss
“What people have tried to do is make the approval zone equal to the acceptance zone and that is where the issue is.” – Robert Bakss
“It’s almost as if the church has redeemed out of the world, instruments that were at one point used solely for bad things and now use them to worship the Lord.” – Josh Teis
“Is what we have been told just something traditional and history or is it truth.” – Robert Bakss
“The longer something happens, the more scriptural you think it is.” – Robert Bakss
“Do you think God sits in heaven and looks down upon that service and says, ‘I’m just waiting for them to get this over and done with, so they can get to the real thing.’? He inhabits the praises of his people.” – Robert Bakss
“If we get emotional during the music we might be associated with charismatics, but let’s get extremely emotional during the preaching and there’s no problem with that.” – Josh Teis
“You never judge a farmer by his tractors, or his sheds, or the music he plays in his tractors, or the clothes his farmhands are wearing. You judge a farmer on the fruit that comes out of the farm.” – Robert Bakss
Resources from this episode:
The Case For Christ – Lee Strobel
Connect with Robert Bakss
3 Comments
Branden Lawrence
May 10, 2016 at 7:58 pmOk, here’s another quote from the video: “that would be like saying you have to comb your hair the same way I do” or “I have to dress the same way you do”. To continue to use the illustration… I don’t know that the issue is that I want everyone to comb their hair the same way that I do but rather the fact that if you choose to have long hair then you have crossed a Biblical principle and therefore it is not a spiritual hair style but rather it is carnal. For me the real issue isn’t that I think everyone has to dress the same way that I dress but that if a lady walks into church in her swimsuit than a line has been crossed over to an area of dress that is sinful. Now, back to the topic about which these illustrations were given…Of course there can be variety within music (there’s plenty of variety withing the hymnbook itself: There’s Power In The Blood is varied from Holy, Holy, Holy) but just like a guy having long hair would be wrong… there is music that can be worldly and thus music that doesn’t follow the application of Romans 12:1-2. So, I’m just curious then Bro Josh, in your opinion, is every style of music good to use (rap, heavy metal, blues, pop, alternative rock, techno, disco, punk rock, light rock, gothic rock, etc…) with christian words or would there be any music style that you would deem as sinful or worldly? In other words, to make the question clear and concise, do you believe that music is amoral? (which is a concept that has long been taught and pushed by the Contemporary Christian Music movement)
Josh Teis
May 10, 2016 at 10:34 pmHey Brandon, Thanks for listening. To answer you question, “Is every style of music good to use (rap, heavy metal, blues, pop, alternative rock, techno, disco, punk rock, light rock, gothic, etc.),” I guess I would ask in return, “Which of these styles (or other) are good to use and why? Are there specific styles of music that are more moral than others? How do we know this? From which passages of Scripture do we learn this?
Your question is a VERY good one and I believe it is answered perfectly in the book we are discussing. I’d love for you to pick up a copy. Let me know what you think of Robert Bakks thought on the subject.
truly appreciate the feedback
Branden Lawrence
May 11, 2016 at 12:57 pmThanks for responding. Your response though was a question to my question :0) which I don’t mind answering but first could you answer clearly whether you think it is ok to use any music style for Christian worship?