[nuabuncarnigo]

So what do you guys think about Christian rock and all its off shots including Christian Death Metal I think even the death metal could not compare to a good olde fashioned liturgy by John Chrysthom! and if you heard christian rock being played in an orthodox church how would you react

[CedssypeEdids]

Dear Tony,

I would say that although I have not heard of Christian rock (I have heard Christian pop music), from what I understand about rock, it would not be compatible with Orthodox praxis. The harder death metal, would certianly not be, it's very name for one, Orthodox is about life, the Life (Christ), death in the understanding of the Church has been conquered by Christ's Resurrection.

Should I hear it in an Orthodox church (although I'm sure that would not happen) I would most likely be quite worried as to what was going on .

In Christ.
Daniel,

[ZZipZZipe]

isnt christian death metal a bit of an oxymoron.....i guess someone just had waaay to much spare time

[loginptsa]

if you heard christian rock being played in an orthodox church how would you react

I think that there is an underlying flaw in assumption here. There is a vast difference between liturgical music and popular music. Popular music of any stripe doesn't really have a place in the corporate worship of the Church. Unlike the post renaissance West that has welcomed contemporary compositions, Orthodoxy has maintained a greater emphasis on the traditional forms for liturgical music. (OK, I know that some of the Russian pseudo-classical romantic Church compositions tread very close, if not over, this line) This is due in part to the fact that the Liturgy (and the other public prayers of the Church) are a cooperative and corporate work of worship whereas in the West, the Church services have evolved into a spectator event.

Popular music is about entertainment and caters specifically to the passions. Christian popular music (classical, folk, rock, even metal) fills the popular form with Christian themes. This is not worship - it is entertainment - and it has not place in the Church. But it has a pretty acceptable place outside the Church based on personal preference of course. So what do I think ...? Whatever floats your boat I guess for entertainment sake; but don't confuse entertainment and worship - they are not the same thing.

Fr David

[BILBONDER]

I was Referring to Rock music being used in worship, Padre David, and how one would react if it is done in an Orthodox Church
well here is a comparsion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZx_799ftLc (Joel Osteen and whatever his denomenation is) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxTGLbNMGVk (EO), I honestly would take John over Joel anyday of the week...

[PilotVertolet]

I was Referring to Rock music being used in worship, Padre David, and how one would react if it is done in an Orthodox Church

Moot point - it wouldn't happen and if it did it wouldn't be Orthodox worship.

Fr David

[leahjhburton]

well i think the EO should at least becarfull of this stuff! Ive heard its been creeping into Catholic churches already! Christian rock isnt even that good anyways, alot of it is just cut n paste....

[zzquo0iR]

well i think the EO should at least becarfull of this stuff! Ive heard its been creeping into Catholic churches already!

you might want to look again at my original response to this. Western Christianity (and the RCC is the "grand-daddy" of these) have increasingly invited popular music into their services and they have also moved more and more towards services as a spectator event. Orthodoxy has not taken this shift in emphasis.

Fr David

[hotsaucemidl]

ahhh now i understand ...thanx padre!

[virtuah]

Dear Tony,

I read in the religion section of a major newspaper, a respondent say that, "...the Church has to change, in order to reach modern man." Immediately thought of the changeless Truth as presented in Holy Orthodoxy.

An arch-priest once said, "Do the services well, and they will come." When the rock, metal, or rap fails to impress and draw people to a service, what then will be the tool to use? An old Protestant line goes, "It was good for Paul and Silas, it was good for Paul and Silas, it's good enough for me."

[pupyississido]

In the words of Hank Hill when Bobby joins a Metal Christian band - "Your not making Christianity better your just making rock n roll worse!"

[retrahdggd]

if you heard christian rock being played in an orthodox church how would you react

I would walk up and proclaim from the ambon:
128940560931739179.jpg