Jehovah’s Witnesses: Do recent African American converts have problems with your unexciting music?

Why do JW's like Superman think that Jehovah's Witnesses have a corner on the market when it comes to using Jehovah's name in worship?

This link is to a video of Judy Jacobs singing "Days of Elijah" (No God Like Jehovah). This is a powerful worship song, and we sing it often in my church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUIa674GGCo&feature...

The title of this song is "Yahweh" by Tal and Acacia, but it also praises Jehovah's name:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6p2-NX9kk

There's "You Are Jehovah" by Eddie James that many of our children and youth love to use in worship performances at our churches and out in the community for sidewalk Sunday School (Take your pick):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj3Fwft89Nc&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuSh3n7mzsY&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBtE_okn7Go

"Because of Who You Are" praises God as Jehovah Jireh (provider), Jehovah Nissi (victorious), Jehovah Shalom (Prince of Peace), Jehovah Rapha (healer), Jehovah Shammah (ever present with us), and Jehovah Sabaoth (Strong Deliverer):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohl6TM3YT24

Toby Mac's "I Was Made to Love You" praises Jehovah. Our youth group sings this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NDIq82H5s

These are just a few of the worship songs that we sing to praise Jehovah in Protestant churches. But even the "Divine Name" publication acknowledges the fact that the term "Jehovah" was invented by a Spanish Dominican monk who combined the vowels from Elohim and Adonai with the Tetragrammaton to form a prounounceable name for YHWH. If the Catholics were the first to bring the name into use, it logically follows that they most likely use the name in worship today.

I attend services at my own non-denominational church AND at the local Kingdom Hall, sometimes on the same day. (I'll go to the public talk on Sunday morning and then slip out to join in worship at my own church). I want our local Witnesses to know that I love them and that Christians DO NOT serve Satan the devil. I have to agree that the songs at the Kingdom Hall are very dry--almost forced--especially since the new song book came out. When I leave there, I can't wait to get over to my own church and join in the heartfelt praise and worship where I'm free to raise my hands, clap and dance before the Lord.

The problem is not that the songs themselves are unexciting, because many of the songs sung by JWs are beautiful and uplifting, and some are very rousing.

When I was a JW I used to love to sing them, especially at conventions.

My personal favourite (in the old songbook) was 13 (my baptism song, and one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard), 141, and 171 (about the Exodus account of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery).

I also liked the one (can't remember the number or the title) which begins with the lyrics "There is a song, a happy song of victory..." and the chorus is amazing, one of the lines begins "Bow down all flesh?" Anyway, it was a beautiful song.

I think the problem that you're getting at is that they don't show much emotion when singing in the Kingdom Hall and they're obviously not allowed to dance, clap hands, raise their hands to the heavens etc. Which I think is a shame. You're right, King David praised Jehovah like that and they should too.

@ "grnlow" when Rustic referred to the 3 songs, he was clearly referring to the amount of songs sung at each meeting.

The Protestant church I was raised attending had eNORmous encyclopedic-sized song-books... But, we only ever sang 3-5 of those songs, over the 8-odd years that I attended!

Now, that WAS boring!!! ..."Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord God Almighty" --which typically avoids the use of God's name-- is the one that sticks in my mind. We oft sang it twice the same day...

(I never asked, but, I guess maybe the organ player was limited in which ones she could play.)

Contrast that with the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses have 135 Kingdom Songs,

which they take turns singing, throughout the year...

Three songs are sung at the weekend meeting,

and 3 more are sung at the weeknight Bible study.

Care is taken so as not to repeat the same songs,

except that the (oft-times visiting) speaker for the weekend public talk chooses a song that goes with his talk (which might have recently been sung by that congregation)...

So... Over a year's time (52 weeks), and at least 5 different songs sung each week,

Jehovah's Witnesses sing different Kingdom Songs a minimum of 260 times per year (135 one time, + 25 repeats at the end of the year)... *What* is boring about *that*?

The names & tunes of these are online at:

Kingdom Melodies -&- Disc 1 of their Vocal Renditions:

http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQZRQVNZHFVP

Have a 'listen'!

Jehovah's Witnesses who play instruments sometimes get together to play the Kingdom Melodies, and some congregations actually sound like a professional choir. We do what we can with what we have 'on hand'.

"Music—God’s Gift to the Heart"

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200805b/article_01.htm

"Music That Pleases God"

http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000601/article_01.ht...

*shudders* Ack! I cannot get theta mind numbing music out of my head. I grew up as JW. There were several highly talented brothers and sisters in our Hall that wanted to form a band, they were told that in NO WAY was this allowed as it would anger Jehovah. (Really? Anger him? How so?) but those questions were never answered.

I find that we can honor our creator by excelling at the gifts we possess, each of us has a different gift- so why not pursue it and show off what wonderful talent we have to our creator? It would make him proud and exclaim, " Look! See the joy I have created!" (well, unless he's an old fart who gets migraines easily) LOL

Hi Rustic

You are perfectly right, Jehovah does like happy music. And no, David is not at all despised!

I admit that some of our music leaves a lot to be desired, sound wise, but have you ever HEARD what we are singing? It is mighty difficult, I would think to make a catchy melody with every song when the whole point of singing is to praise our Creator, rather than just do it all for fun - which is included. I LOVE to sing to Jehovah and when we are all in accord, it is truly amazing and the background sound is lost due to our voices!

It is hard at the moment because we are learning new songs, but once we get the hang of them, it is hard for me to not sway a little!

I actually do not like seeing people jumping up and down and putting their hands in the air! It really puts me off, actually. I MUCH prefer the way we sing, because it is the words that matter, not our shouting and hands raised!

I can appreciate why you would think it was silly that we KNOW that Jehovah is pleased, but it is true! The reason for this is because of WHAT we sing! We are literally praising our Creator and that is melody to His ears.

If you were to see us singing at our hall, you would certainly NOT see unhappy faces! Plus, we have a couple of sisters and brothers from the Congo's and other parts of Africa, and they are not unhappy when they sing!

It is very easy to capture faces when they are not happy. We live in a world that is rife with difficulties. Most of us have personal issues to contend with and so when we sing, we are feeling sad. I know there have been times, I have silently cried with my unhappiness, but so glad to be amongst people who love Jehovah.

So, no our African brothers and sisters do not find the music unexciting!

Edit: Ok, I have just looked at both! Song number 13 is a BEAUTIFUL song and so to dance and shout etc, would be to DISTROY the meaning! The second one; albeit, joyful - all I could see were people having fun, but I wonder if they paid any attention to WHAT the words of the songs are? I know that when I am dancing, it is the SOUND I dance to, and I am sure it is with these people!

Thanks Rustic, for another legitimate question. This comes up from time to time and I often discuss it with others. I am black. (Just as an aside, please do not call me African American, I am not African, I am American. You may call the President African American since in his case it is so).

I grew up in Christendom – Protestant - where the gospel music was quite emotional. Let me say, please, that I do not think your comparison of David dancing before Jehovah is a fair one. Neither David nor the people were gathered together in a "worship" mode; the account of 2 Samuel 2:12-19 reports that the Ark was being brought to the City of David. David and all the people were outside transporting the Ark. It was only in verse 17 when the Ark is set inside the tent David pitched for it that sacrifices are described as being made; no mention of David still dancing.

I have asked several interested persons in Christendom about music – theirs and ours. I asked my stylist about his visit to our Sunday meeting. He commented on the music. I asked him about the music at his church. He described it. I asked him a few questions and after a moment or two it became apparent that he enjoyed the music because they 'jammed' – his word, not mine. There is no doubt that most gospel music moves the emotions – indeed, that is what it is designed to do. Are emotions involved in the worship of Jehovah? To be sure. Should they be involved without restraint? I don't think you really mean to suggest that all restraint be removed. But a visit to many churches will yield for the observant person the undeniable conclusion that it is a concert. Do this: change the words of 'praise,' 'Jesus' and 'my Lord' to whatever else and you can readily see how it is a jam session. The driving bass, the funky guitar, the slamming drums, possibly blowing saxophones. Undeniable. Songs of praise, like any other facet of worship, must meet the standards of Jehovah God and show Him deference and respect. If it is mirroring a funk concert or a jam session, it is hardly showing deference.

No, Jehovah's Witnesses do not despise King David. (I don't think a Watchtower could despise him as you ask since it is only a Bible journal – void of emotion.) Neither do Jehovah's Witnesses despise showing respect and honor to the Sovereign Lord God Jehovah of Armies. Were King David in the tabernacle, I hardly think he would be dancing up and down or shouting. Notice the reason God commands us to gather according to Deuteronomy 31:11-12: "When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law." New American Standard Bible.

We gather to learn about the true God with a view to obeying him. Not entertaining ourselves with jam music to move our emotions and to dance in the aisles.

Hannah J Paul

Really, where do you get this stuff? It's now becoming laughable.

And I think that African-Americans should be appalled by the veiled racial slur that the music is what is most important in worship, that African-Americans are all about singing and dancing.

For shame!!!

Our recorded music is practical. And inspiring. There are thousands of congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses around the world, but not all of them have proficient musicians.

But obviously proficient Witness musicians have produced the recordings, featuring music that is beautiful, uplifting, and Scriptural.

I come from a long line of Southern Baptists, and I prefer Witness music to theirs any day. Besides, our music is based solidly on the Bible.

Can we please have a question with more serious and less stereotypical, racist content in it next time?

I had the opportunity to spend 5 days in December with South African Witnesses. There was singing on all those days of over 20,000 Jehovah's Witnesses from South Africa.

I did not notice a "boredom" or lack of enthusiasm in their voices and participation.

For any age group, male and female.

"Do recent African American converts have problems with your unexciting music?"

No, but there're getting more and more perplexed by your questions.

SINGING is a gift from God. Raising our voices in song brings pleasure to us and to our Creator. Even more, we can voice our love, adoration, and praise for the Originator of song, Jehovah.

Singing will always be a part of Jehovah’s worship. We therefore have the prospect of sharing forever the sentiments of the psalmist: “I will praise Jehovah during my lifetime. I will make melody to my God as long as I am.”—Psalm 146:2.