Andrews Talent Show

[Sister Marie]

Carol and I went to the Andrews Academy Talent Show tonight. One of the students there is a member of the church here. Oh the noise!! The cheering almost burst my ear drums. But I must say that the things done were pretty good, all but two that were elec. guitars. These I did not like at all and they ended it with this and it was so loud and so awful. I could only understand a few words that made me feel it was a spiritual song?? The cheering for it shook the roof it seemed. Oh how things have changed. How they can even pray after that I don't understand, but they did. The rest of the program was really nice. Several piano pieces and one violin and one harp. One with the balls and one stand up comic who was naturally at least 7 feet tall. There was one fiddle/yodeler, a girl who played and yodeled with her dad also playing the guitar. She won first prize.(regular guitar) For the most part I enjoyed it. But I felt such shame at how our school has fallen concerning the use of wrong music.

[Dora]

Sister Marie,
I was wondering what kind of music was used there?  Was it secular music or was it the loud music with a beat, yet had "Christian" lyrics? 

I have been downloading and listening to "Voices of a Dying Planet," by Brian Neumann, trying to put a sort of study together to use for my Youth class.  They have asked several things about muxic, and rather than just give them my ideas, I would like to refer them to someone with experience.  I would like to get David Asscherick's testimony, also.  Here is the link to the CDs I am using of Neumann's.  http://www.loudcry.org/main/audio/brian_nuemann/

The reason I brought this up, he says it is not the words we hear, it is the tone of the music, the beat, etc. and no matter if one puts "Christian" words to it, the effect will be negative.  One example he used was if one was planning a romantic dinner, and selecting music for it, would you use military music with a marching band?

Just curious what was used at the "talent" show.

[Sister Marie]

The reason I brought this up, he says it is not the words we hear, it is the tone of the music, the beat, etc. and no matter if one puts "Christian" words to it, the effect will be negative.  One example he used was if one was planning a romantic dinner, and selecting music for it, would you use military music with a marching band?

All the music other than the elec. guitar was nice music and showed good talent in playing it. But the elec. guitars were not played well, especially the ending one. The beat was very heavy, the words I could not understand, but they could have be christian. I covered my head in shame just to be listening to it. The exceptance of it was unreal, like people that had gone crazy. All this in Praise to God for giving them such talents. (mentioned in the closing prayer) They mixed much good with some really bad and it made me very sorry that I even came. The world's music has indeed entered into the walls of our children; entered and loved. It is so sad and makes me wonder where the parents were in the children choosing what is good and what is not good music.

The words do count.... but the way it is played even makes good words evil.

[Dora]

Sister Marie, it sounds just like the way Satan has operated since the beginning of his prideful decent in Heaven.  He mixes the good and bad together, and if one listens/looks/ takes part in his merchandise long enough, soon the bad will seem not to be so bad after all.

Ellen White told the parents to take their children out of Battle Creek College.  I have wondered what she would say now about Andrews.  My granddaughter left there for these very reasons, and has been glad she did. At the Community college she was not expected to do anything except go to the classes, and so was not exposed to anything if she did not choose to be.  At Andrews, they had to go to the worship meetings, and there were very few of those she liked, for the very reasons we have mentioned.  They were of the world, yet pretending to be Christian SDA.

[Sister Marie]

It is indeed so sad. I have heard so much. But this is the first time I have seen it for myself here in Michigan. When I say something to someone they just say things like, "you did not like your folks music did you? It is just the generation gap." But that is so far from the truth...

[Dora]

No, Sister Glass,
I think the response of my granddaughter tells us it is not the generation gap.

[Mimi]

I do not blame the youth of today as much as I blame their parents and the worldliness in SDA homes.

[Sister Marie]

I do not blame the youth of today as much as I blame their parents and the worldliness in SDA homes.

This is so true. In so many cases they never heard much truly good music as they were growing up.

No, Sister Glass,
I think the response of my granddaughter tells us it is not the generation gap.

Indeed, that is why I ended my post with:

they just say things like, "you did not like your folks music did you? It is just the generation gap." But that is so far from the truth...

[Lewis]

Parents should remember that association with those of lax morals and coarseness of character will have a detrimental influence upon the youth. If they fail to choose proper society for their children, if they allow them to associate with youth of questionable morals, they place them, or permit them to place themselves, in a school where lessons of depravity are taught and practiced. They may feel their children are strong enough to withstand temptation, but how can they be sure of this? it is far easier to yield to evil influences than to resist them. Ere they are aware of it, their children may become imbued with the spirit of their associates and may be degraded or ruined.     EGW Adventist Home p. 476-468

Every association we form, however limited, exerts some influence on us. The extent to which we yield to that influence will be determined by the degree of intimacy, the constancy of the intercourse, and our love and veneration for the one with whom we associate.    Adventis Home p.459

They have a keen ear for music, and satan knows what organs to excite to animate, engross and charm the mind so tht Christ is not desired.     Adventist Home p. 407

The Lord has entrusted to parents a solemn, sacred work. They are to cultivate carefully the soil of the heart. Thus they may be laborers togeather with God. He expects them to guard and tend carefully the garden of their childrens's hearts. They are to sow the good seed , weeding out every unsightly weed... You have before your own door a little plot of ground to care for, and God will hold you responsible for this work which He has left in your hands.    Adventist Home p. 200

[Mimi]

Amen, Lewis! Worldliness in the home means worldliness in the church. Our congregations are a direct reflection of the condition in the home.

[Lewis]

That is what I preached on this past Sabbath. What goes on in the home and your lifestyle, will eventually find its way into the church, and will impact everyone around you for the better or for the worse.

[Mimi]

That is exactly right and I am glad you preached it - more need to. And, where the father in the home is weak or missing, the burdens fall upon the mother's shoulders, thus the children miss the incredible blessings their father can give them.

Lewis, we have some great studies in the Worship Board as well as the Laodicean Board on this very subject.