[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