Maybe I came across as a little condescending. Okay, yeah, I was defensive and annoyed that Michael would come in and argue something I wasn't even talking about, an argument I saw flaws in. I viewed it as an attack and got defensive. I'm human.

Anywho, I think this conversation can be considered over. No one's getting anywhere. =)

What are your thoughts on the psalm that says "Make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord."?
We are also ordered to SHOUT with a voice of triumph, too.

I agree that most christian metal songs have a defensive edge, and whose messages are meant for certain times in our lives and not all times in our lives, but I personally believe that God can speak to someone through any type of music. Every person is different and every person receives God in a different way. Metal isn't for all, but it is undoubtedly the defining moment in someone's walk with Christ.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I was discussing this with someone the other day. Secular artists have the privilege to be honest without fear of criticism. Therefore, they see things from an honest perspective and don't have to adhere to anyone's opinion.
Even beyond metal, there are artists like Coldplay and Ben Folds that I can absolutely feel the presence of God in certain songs. It's because of their truly artistic minds and their fearless approach. It's because they don't have to self-censor like Michael just said.

I can so relate to this. I love metal music. In fact, for a few years, I listened to nothing but rock and metal. I love all types of music, and have since broadened my horizons hugely, but there is still something about a good metal song that feeds my soul like no other p+w song can.
Demon Hunter, of course, is my favorite, and I find that within their lyrics I think more about God, my relationship with him, symbolism, and philosophy, than when I listen to a CCM song. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE old hymns. I would seriously fall out of my chair if there ever was a proper combination of the two.
I was at the live show in Nashville that they filmed and released. It was the first metal show I had been to where I actually knew all the lyrics. You know what? I found myself raising my hands and feeling God's presence. Just like I would in a "traditional" church service.

As stated before in many others comments, The only definition b/t secular and christian music is what our culture tells us.
How many 'Christian' songs nowadays could be played on a secular radio station as a love song to the opposite (or same, for that matter) sex? Why are they afraid to put the word "God" or "Jesus" into songs, without already using words that have already been written or them by other artists, not to mention the endless quoting of the bible? Get your own inspiration!

One of the most intriguing sounds I've heard in a while is a band called A Hope For Home. They mix amazing lyrics with singing and screaming/growling (sometimes at the same time) and they aren't afraid of the words "God" and "Jesus". One of my favorites of there's is a song called "Absolution: Of Flight and Failure". It uses the mythological story of Icarus' Flight and parallels it to our tendency to use our own understanding and judgment. I've spent many hours mulling over that one.
Check them out, seriously. You won't regret it.

Sorry, I'm very passionate about this subject, as you can see. ;)

I agree that the organ tends to be a gentleman's instrument. Our organ player (plays every Sunday, and most Wednesdays) is insanely amazing. He's a middle-aged white guy, but man does that man have soul.
Our piano players (one a woman) also can play organ when he's out of pocket, but it just doesn't sound the same. I think the organ was a dying breed, but now that all past decade trends are coming/have come full-circle, it's back in the loop. People crave the way things used to be in the world. At least the all the people I know do.

OH! And just as a side note to the Phantom reference, I was asking my brother just yesterday as I expounded upon my love for Phantom's orchestral and operatic genius... that when they travel on tour with the broadway play, do they bring their own pipe organ? I mean, I don't see a regular organ or a keyboard with an organ setting sounding the same. I've not been to see it live yet (DYING TO)... Anyone out there who has and can answer for me?

I too, love that song. Classic.

By saying "God isn't subject to the morals of today's society" I meant that God doesn't follow our laws about prison and murder. God doesn't judge sin according to it's severity. It's all sin. In fact, Jon Acuff has said that right here on his blog. So by saying "our morals" I didn't mean the morals he set up in the bible, I meant the morals of the world we've all fallen victim into confusing with God's morals.
God does follow his own goodness. And he also follows his own laws. I would count the bible false if the NT God didn't abide by the same principles as the OT God. If he were to discount himself later, wouldn't that make everything in it a contradiction? We know it's not, and can conclude that ALL of the bible is the true word of God, not just the NT. Have you realized that all the books in the NT refer to the OT? Every apostle and prophet's books are, very simply put, sermon notes. Just as a preacher today would get up and teach life lessons from the bible, they did the same with what was the bible back then: The Old Testament. It's pointless for me to sit here and explain it all when there are thousands of books out there that can do it better. Check them out.

Going back to what I was saying in my original comment, I was merely pointing out that the God of the OT and of the NT are the same God, regardless of the contrast. There is plenty of scripture to back that up.
I guess most of my frustration was built on people always preaching prosperous messages about God. Yes, he loves you and died for your sins. Yes, he wants to bless you and keep you. Yes, he puts grace and mercy with forgiveness and wipes your slate clean. But that doesn't mean you won't suffer at some point. That doesn't mean that he won't allow bad to happen to you. That doesn't mean that you should live your life the way you want and take for granted his grace. Paul said in Romans 6, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?."

Just because there is grace doesn't mean that God will 'prosper' us no matter what we do. That's the point I was trying to make. That whole "murder and justice" argument is bordering irrelevancy.

You do realize you just compared God to man, right? Since when is God subject to the morals of today's society?

If you go back and read every single instance in the bible when God punished someone, it was because of direct disobedience. Would you expect God not to punish you? Would you even expect a human father not to punish his kids for disobeying him?

It's the law of sowing and reaping. We all have the choice to do good or bad. Regardless, we will reap the consequences of our actions. Punishment or Pink Roses.

I think most of these posts relate to the OT God vs. the NT God.
Yes, they are the same.
I think what distorts our opinion of that is what we perceive love to be.
Love isn't teddy bears and pink roses.
Sure, it can be pleasant and uplifting, but love is so much more.
In the "mean" things God did, he was ultimately showing love.
The Israelites were a hard-headed people, and they often strayed when there wasn't a trial going on. (much like people today)
God allows trials in our lives to bring us closer to his love.

I personally think it's a matter of our own openness to God. I hear reports from those much more mature and disciplined in Christ saying that they have, in fact, heard the audible voice of God. I believe them. And if not that, they are so open to hearing his voice that it comes as an unction, an extreme conscious thought that is so strong you can't call it your own.
Maybe because of the doubts in our minds (on whether or not God could verbally speak to us) he doesn't converse openly. I've found one thing to be true in my walk with God, He will only come into my life as much as I let him.
I'm not saying you are doing something wrong or that it's your fault, but it is a major growing process. One doesn't become a christian one day and then start verbally conversing with God the next. If God did that, the immature heart of a believer couldn't handle it.
Look at the story of Moses on the mountain of God. He told the Israelites not to look at the mountain the entire time he was up there. Why? Because the unwarranted presence of God was up there. Ever wonder why when going through the bible you find stories everywhere of people who come across the presence of God and fall on their faces, wishing death because they have seen the glory of the Lord? The phrase "Fear of the Lord" isn't just a metaphor.

Anywho, sorry for the book I just wrote. Hope that helps!