I read of some raucous, very loud musical instruments in the Book of Psalms. And, I know of some rocking young people today who have already done in their lives more than I shall ever do in mine, for the Lord. Their fire is real, their hearts are centered on Jesus. Dead churches will never, and should never, entice them.

So I must simply offer the word of correction to whomever will listen.

I feel that something needs to be said to youth who believe that their zeal and noise gives them the right to overthrow all. I honor those few who have seen the value of the fathers of church music, from classical, to the majestic hymns, to Gaither-like personal testimony songs. I hear those songs in their concerts from time to time. It is refreshing. I belong to a very old and very big church. Let me know that every time we worship together.

Also to those youth and their leaders, this notion. You have criticized the “old” church of being traditional, of doing the same thing week after week. But when you take control, you ignore the hundreds of thousands of songs available to the church of God, and focus on about 25 choruses in an endless cycle week after week.

Something needs to be said to music ministers who feature 95% contemporary in wild abandon, then tell everyone to sit down and grab a hymnbook, while they in the most boring way possible sing number 235, stanzas 1, 2, and 4. How we old guys cringe when we feel we are being thrown a bone.

Occasionally, it is good to repeat a chorus a couple of times. Sometimes the Spirit is trying to get a message across to the congregation, and the message bears repeating. Sometimes. But something needs to be said to those who feel “led” constantly to spend 15 or 20 minutes on one song, while so many other songs are crying out to be used.

Something needs to be said about the new tradition of having one guitar, one keyboard, and one set of drums, maybe one bass, as the only way of doing church music, while criticizing those who opted for one piano and one organ not too many years ago. Where’s the innovative musician in our day, one who doesn’t have to follow the pack, one who has his own musical mind and will stand up and use it?

Who knows? That person, and persons like him, might even help the church music pendulum swing back to majestic, or beautiful, or melodious, or gentle, or quiet. There are many ways to be lost in praise, don’t you think?

Somehow, someone needs to speak. Without being labeled a heretic. Or an unbeliever. Or a Pharisee. For, a musical priesthood has taken over the church. We love their zeal, we honor their youth. They know their Creator.

But we ask that they step back just a bit and see if there is room for the huge panorama of the entity called “music” among us. Such a huge Body of Christ we are. Is there not room for all of us in the leading of worship?