The Battle in Religious Music
Music was created to be a language of the human spirit. It was never meant to be called the language of the soul. Man is a spiritual creature and singing is one of man’s highest ideals. Life without music and singing would be dull and empty. Not only is music a language of our human spirit, it is also a primary language of our worship. The human spirit is our direct line of communion with God. Spiritual singing unites us to Him for fellowship and life. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Singing was ordained by God to be full of Him, His words, and answers that satisfy our daily longing after Him. Modern music is similar to Modern art and Modern living, it is full of questions with very few answers. It is like a painting full of color with no capturing scenes. Modern music is almost totally the same theology as the “positive thinking” ideas of Robert Schuller. Rick Warren calls his church, “The flock that rocks.” You are not likely to find a liberal church that is now called “The Emerging Church” that sings Gospel music. Modern/Contemporary music is the music of churches that have left the fundamentals of Holy Scripture.
I have spent about two weeks trying to listen as much as possible to music from both the Gospel styles and the Modern styles. As I have listened, I have kept extensive notes. I use these two terms to cover the many variations of each category. Please understand that I know there is a little decent music in the Modern variations, and there are some very bad songs and styles in the Gospel variations. My words are not meant to sweep with a broom that is too broad, but I must speak truth.
While listening to Gospel music, I have found an overwhelming abundance of themes straight out of Holy Scripture. Here are some of the actual words that fill the songs: Calvary, forgiveness, being Born Again, repentance from sin, and the consequences of living an unholy life are constantly present. The Blood of Christ is also a constant theme. The Born-Again life of happiness and holiness is heard over and over. Terms like “straight and narrow,” “whosoever will,” “Jesus Christ died for one and all,” and “He set me free” are sung in many songs.
There is an extremely strong presence in Gospel singing of the prophetic messages in the Bible. “The Rapture,” “the sounding of the trumpet,” “going home with Jesus,” and “in the twinkling of an eye” are some happy themes often heard. Our future robes of “spotless white” and the great “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” are never forgotten. In fact, after one straight session of only ninety minutes, I had heard every theme I could name out of the Holy Bible. By listening to Gospel music — including Southern Gospel, Church Hymns, etc. — you will get an understanding of the Christian life, along with the great truths that we believe and love. It’s easy to understand that Gospel singing is going to be the music of any strong Bible-believing church.
Listening to the Modern music has really been an education for me. I find it almost impossible to explain my experience. I have not heard one whisper of prophecy in all the Modern music to which I have listened. I heard the Blood of Christ casually named one time. I made a note for myself after a full hour of listening, “One hour and not one word of His blood or Calvary, not one word of repentance or sorrow for sins.” That hour had been nothing but “praise and thanks” that gave no valid understanding of what brought them to such a state of ecstasy. Believe me; the “state of ecstasy” had been on a pitch above normal even for a Pentecostal like me.
After Sirius XM, I tried the Billy Graham station in Black Mountain, NC, and all the songs were of no understandable difference. I heard one requested song that was played for a woman in the hospital. The theme was, “I waited for you today, I needed you today,” but there was never an answer given to that lady’s needs. As I said earlier, the only answers in the Modern music I heard was to just “praise Him” regardless of the situation. It’s like praising someone that you have really never come to know in the great revelations of the Holy Bible. It was religious “positive thinking” saturating every song.
It appears to me that once an individual is hooked on Modern/Contemporary music, there is no turning around. It is soulical music and it creates a strong religious satisfaction and bondage that defies escape. It’s religious noise that drives the human emotions wild. It’s a “god” without standards, convictions, or adherence to Biblical truth. Their response is “I just like it so, leave me alone.”
I have come to believe more strongly than ever that Gospel music is music that is full of answers, while Modern/Contemporary music is full of vain repetitions. While most of the questions are not bad, modern theology and music has forgotten how to proclaim God’s straight Biblical answers to human life. Gospel music is Christ-centered and Bible-centered, while Modern/Contemporary music is man-centered and emotions-centered. Gospel music is the source of great joy because it blends the answers with the questions. Gospel music is also full of praise, but with great understanding of the God and Christ we are praising.
I know this article is incomplete because no one person has all of God’s answers. Please be a part of discussing this article by going to our Internet and adding your own postscript. It is located at the bottom of the page containing the full article. I will be reading your opinions and watching for what I expect will be a healthy discussion. The URL for this article, “The Battle in Religious Music,” is http://www.pawcreek.org/salty-saints/the-battle-in-religious-music. Please be a part of these discussions.
To leave a comment, please scroll down to the bottom of the page! Click on “Submit Comment”!
Taylor
I have visited a couple of churches, searching for a church to call home, and both have not impressed me with the music. I had just left a church where we sang both hymns and contemporary music with a mix of praise and, basically, hymns about Jesus’ sacrifice. The first church I visited made me feel very uncomfortable because I didn’t feel like I was there to honor God with worship, I felt I was there to show who can raise their hand higher or who can outdo the others in this “rock concert” setting. The music was just saying “God you’re awesome” which is great…but that’s the only thing it said. And though I am young I enjoy singing the Psalm’s of David, the sacrifice of Jesus, and even the Rapture. I love the tempo and the sound of the new and modern Christian music, I just wish it had some of the messages the old Gospel hymns have.
CJ
About a year ago I re-discovered Keith Green’s music, and now have many CDs of artists who spoke the Biblical truth around the early 1980s – Chris Christian, Andrew Culverwell, to name a few. There is a striking difference between the music on the radio these days and those old songs. The older Christian music I can usually understand the words, and many of today’s songs I can’t tell what they are saying.
There is even a recent song on the radio that I have to turn off because I have a bad feeling it is not of God, and that is “God of this City”. That song bugs me for some reason.
I am sad there are so many who don’t have a church home where the focus is on Jesus…I have been seeing things change slowly toward more feelings-based music in what I thought was a solid strong Bible-teaching Baptist church too. ‘Twould be scary times if I wasn’t saved!
Ellen Stewart
Great Article. The gospel is watered down in every area nowadays and music is right there at the top of the chart. The comment by #2 caught my eye when he mentioned Third Day. I don’t know many of these new artist, but I bought a CD by this group one day and got through the second song…pulled it out and put it back in the case and took it back to the store. When people say “Christian rock” it’s like saying Christian beer or Christian porn, it’s an oxymoron — just doesn’t go together. Satan is using this modern music to filter out the true messages of repentance, living a sanctified life and the enormous sacrifice Jesus paid for us. Thanks for standing strong.
Ron
i push a key on the piano and i can’t tell which key is for the soul and which one for the spirit.. when i push several keys in a row- i can use a combination that sounds good to me.. but i can never tell if what i like hearing is coming from the spirit or the soul or if it is good or bad.. what can i do?
richard
There are a lack of christian songs discussing the rapture. This song below is the exception. It’s called “The Golden City”
Just Amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iyMjeVoP8s
Becky Davis
Thank you for writing on this subject. One of the reasons we left our previous church was because of the music. It was repetitive, irreverent, shallow and extremely loud. Starting the corporate worship service in this manner left us frustrated as it was hard to be in the right frame of mind for worship. We finally found a church, a smaller one whose preaching from the pulpit was not watered down and we sing hymns. We’re home.
Audra
After my conversion, I couldn’t listen to secular stations any more, so I listened to the local modern Christian station. That was okay for a while, but I noticed that a lot of the music was very vague and/or extremely self-centered. It just didn’t seem right when every sentence starts with ‘I.’ So I bought a praise and worship CD. That was great for a while, until I began to notice that much of it was like a beautiful but empty cup. Very little truth was contained therein, and as you said in the ariticle, it was just repetitive praise. There were a few songs that had that light of truth – of what it really is to be a Christian and the relationship we have with our Lord. So now I am thinking I should go back to the old ways…to the classic gospel songs you mentioned in your article. On one hand, I am happy my walk with Christ is deepening as evidenced by my changing preferences, but on th eother hand I am sad that there is such a thing as Comfortable Christian Culture. That is my experience with it anyway. God bless you all! Remember the old ways.
Elizabeth
I find that contemporary church music leaves me cold. I find no spiritual depth in most of these songs; most just repeat a few phrases over and over that speak to emotions. But old gospel hymns tend to be full of Biblical truth and constantly remind that Christ shed His blood for salvation and He is the only way. I won’t ever attend a church that uses contemporary music again. I am so thankful that I found a church that uses a traditional hymnal.
Steve Smith
By reading the comments posted it appears that you are quite literally preaching to the choir, so I thought I’d throw in another point of view. I grew up in a Christian home and attended Christian schools in the 70’s and 80’s, and was constantly told by my parents, my teachers, and my pastors that rock music was Satanic. Usually focused on the lyrics, and for the most part I couldn’t argue the fact that many of the lyrics of rock songs did not glorify God. However, whenever I pointed to rock songs that didn’t have any objectionable lyrics or even Christian rock music with lyrics that specifically praised God, I was told that it didn’t matter—-the way that the musical notes were arranged in the music made them Satanic! Huh? Of course one of the benefits of a Christian education is that I knew how to read a Bible, and nowhere in the Bible does it say that the way that notes are arranged on a page makes them any more or less glorifying to God. Whenever I pointed this out I was usually told something along the lines of, “The Bible says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, and I don’t find that..(pause for effect)..garbage joyful, so therefore it doesn’t glorify God.” That was usually followed by an admonition that I needed a haircut.
So gospel music is the only “good” church music? I’m tempted to make a snarky comment wondering how the Church survived for over 1800 yrs without gospel music, but I’ll let it pass. My father listened to southern gospel music almost exclusively on the radio, and I remember that several gospel groups even remade some rather ribald modern (for the time) country music songs into gospel songs. I heard no objections from my dad or the church. I guess as long as the lyrics were Christian they had no problem with it. Hmmm….
Too many times Evangelicals make the perfect the enemy of the good. Sure, God is perfect, but man is not, and much of what I hear in the article by Pastor Chamber and the listed comments is not a matter of spirituality, but a matter of personal taste and opninion. If you don’t like Contemporary Christian Music that’s fine, but that doesn’t make it Satanic and it surely doesn’t “darken the Church.” I am not a huge fan of CCM, but I have not heard anything I would consider objectionable in the lyrics. The lyrics to some of the songs may not say all the things you want to hear, but old hymns like “Bringing in the Sheaves” don’t exactly speak to me or answer very many of my spiritual questions either.
Last, but not least, I have to concede that I don’t know a lot of CCM songs either. My daughter and wife do, and they sing them from memory. I have discovered, however, that if I want to follow along with the lyrics all I have to do is read them as they’re displayed on the screen projected above the stage. One person in their comments said that they haven’t heard any CCM songs comparable to “Amazing Grace”…..well I have. Word for word in fact. Some CCM artists have taken some of those old hymns and merely substituted the old music with a more modern sound. So let me ask this: Is “Amazing Grace” sung to a faster beat less glorifying to God than the original? If the answer is an emphatic “yes”, then can you defend that position scripturally?
Diane Brewer
This summer my 3 and 5 yr. old grandchildren went to DVBS for a week. The music was called Galatic Blast. All of the children were divided into planet groups. They had to scream, Praise the Lord to see which group could shout the loudest. My little ones couldn’t read the screen so they didn’t know what children were yelling. That’s not worship. Most of the time they jumped up and down as if they were at a gym. Sad
walter oliver
I started my christian life in the Church of Christ where no instruments are used and mostly hymns are sung. Even though I no longer attend the Church of Christ, I miss the singing tremendously – I remember going to the church camp and spending hours singing around a bonfire, in a small group to encourage someone whithin the group who was experiencing hardship, or simply singing because we wanted to express joy and gratitude to our Lord for being together – it all had a purpose other than being emotionally stimulated. All these experiences brought a spiritual renewal in my soul that would last for weeks after being back home from camp. I must confess when I started singing contemporary music I felt a void in my heart, could not understand why at that time – I thought it was “watered down praise”, or something man had made up to impress God. Today hymns are “old fashioned” and rarely sung, but “It is Well With My Soul” because I have my own hymn collection at home! Unfortunately, my wife is hooked on Comtemporaty music and she simply cannot enjoy my hymn collection, “unless I am in a stadium watching them sing” she says.
Charles
Repetitive…Hmnn…most “hymnal” music consist of a few verses and 1 chorus that is repetitively sung…sure, there are “good” contemporary songs and “bad” contemporary songs just as there are “good” hymns and “bad” hymns…the Hymn book is NOT the Bible and as such is NOT a sacred book…there is only one sacred book: The Bible…Most of this argument is simply personal preference and nothing more…
Mitch
I agree there is a battle over the style of music that you find in the various “flavors” of worship experience you find in our churches today. I am sitting at the computer now listening to Southern Gospel, I love it. But I also listen to Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Matt Marr (sp?) and love that too. A certain portion of the Psalms were songs of praise and lament; a different style but yet praises to the Creator God.
Putting music aside the real challenge to the faith today is the fact that “believers” (hope so) sit on the padded pews singing the “old standards” or “CCM” and never make the connection with the fact that we are “commanded” to take the Gospel (Good news) to the one’s that are not part of God’s family. The average “Church member” drives to Church on Sunday’s twice and a couple times during the middle of the week, never realizing that the “drive-by territory” (homes along the path)have within hurting families (drug/alcohol problems, family problems, unsaved)and make no effort to “Love they Neighbor as Thyself”, make no effort to reach those that need it most. So singing the “right songs” (old standards) or the “wrong songs” (CCM) does not garner congratulations or condemnation from the Lord, but rest assured a lackadaisical (disobedient) attitude toward his command given to us in Mathew 28, might just get “a rise” from Him. The most beautiful old standards and the most inspirational, emotional contemporary christian music is but a “tinkling symbol and sounding brass” unless the one singing is “active” in the “ministry of reconciliation” to those that need it most OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR WALLS OF THE CHURCH BUILDING.
I could speak about living “Monday through Saturday” as we profess on Sunday being more important that the style of music that is sung in the service, but that is for another day.
J.Bowman
I grew up in a Baptist church enviornment. All I seen was the “hype” of “having church!” How can someone ‘have’ church? I noticed once the pastor did his “hoops and key changes style preaching”..the organ and the drums started’ followed by people becoming “EXCITED” but I also noticed during the worship..NO WORSHIP..just EXCITEMENT on faced, upbeat songs, not the slow heart centered songs. Keyboard player left the church and the church crumbled not knowing how “church” would continue without MUSIC!! And where was Christ? I’m just curious. Music plays a major part in people’s lives. I know Christian friends who one; listens to the “Behind the Veil..Juanita Bynum worship music, and some who like something upbeat. My question is what is the messsage saying to you? And perhaps we should look at ourselves and focus on is it the drums and beats we’re focued on..the feel goods? Perhaps us beleivers should look at the messages they influence and begin to discern. Because honestly I’m only 21, and I’m at a poisiton in my life where if I’m listening to a song, and I’m noticing that my head is moving more than my heart is recieving..something is wrong. Gospel music is turing to R&B, and some gospel artists are literally compormising their salvation to put a securlar artist on a song??? What ever happened to “Do not be conformed to this world”? (Roman 12:1) I mean I used to be big on Deitrick Haddon..but I dont apologize for taking him off the ipod so to speak. Our walk with Christ is a daily sacrifice to throw off our old selves and put on a new nature in him..I dont need to feel how I used to feel living secular. So I focued my attention to songs that take to to a place of focusing on Christ…not a beat..tempo..certain artist to favor. Michael W. Smith, Hillsong,..This may sound funny but I’m African American and I let Balck Gopsel go!! I mean I can only share my views and opinions on this topic. Eventually, as I grew in my relationship with Christ and gained wisdom..I’m left beleiving that music shouldn’t be the basis of our Christian walk. Christ is the reason we are saved. Music didn;t and never will save us. But can music keep division in the church,(Not 4 walls) but the body of Christ. It can even become an idol. Denominations and..traditions. Come on Saints..we are all ONE! Growing up in a baptist church I only saw the church fellowshipping with the black community..and vice versa. there comes a feeling of unease when not around what youre USED to. Thats not the love of Christ. Perhaps thats why We’re told in the bible to “Sing unto the Lord a new song” A song that comes from the abundance of your hearts to God. To cry out to him from your spirit to his. A song of true worship.from within. I believe that’s the Music God finds adorable to his ear. Regardless of the church you attend, at the end of the day its just you and God.
Bobby Cantwell
I haveb’t read the other coments since I have difficulty reading any print smaller than 60 or 70 point. However I do have an opinion with contemporary “religious” music. It turns me off completely. I have watfched Zola Levitt for years and since the new face been on, I still watch, but when the Guitar beating begins I turn it off. I can’t attend church anymore for health reasons but when I could I tried my best to not go to the contempotary service. I guess I’m saying that I concure with your views.
Christy
I am a bit confounded in regards to this article. I am not sure which you were listening to; either secular contemporary music or christian contemporary music. I live in the Northwest and there is a very strong anti-christian mentality here and yet I have listened to a number of christian radio stations that are full of praise music, prophetic and scripture based lyrics.
You are absolutely correct if you are speaking about secular music. My children bombard me with some the most annoying songs I have ever heard. (I did the same to my mother.)
And yet I find myself singing Fly Away by FFH (Rapture reference) East to West by Casting Crowns (Sacrifice of Christ) Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns (JOB-ish life troubles).
Modern Spiritual music is out there and I love it.
Mark Andersen
I grew up in a church that only sang hymns and when I am in a church that does sing them I can almost hear my father singing in my mind so I have a great appreciation of them, however, not all CCM is bad as stated by many posts above. I specifically remember a time in my life where I was strugling with trusting God to solve a problem in my life and I was leaning heavily on a song called “God is in Control” by Twila Paris. It encouraged me and was a constant reminder to me of who I needed to count on. I don’t think the Hymn “Only Trust Him” would have helped in that situation. A previous post metioned hymns that have been remade, for example “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin is a great example of that, and a another group Billy and Cindy Foote also do that with various hymns, I beleive they wrote the “Not a God” song made famous by Phillips Craig and Dean, and to hear her sing it live you can’t help but worship. I think it has to do with words and heart motives. Not all hymns have great lyrics (like, just what is a bulwark? I kinda get lost in that old english)and neither does CCM.
Roger Mariner
If it has drums I avoid it like the plague. Drums are used for calling up demons – there is no place for rock music or any worldly music in God’s worship. Read the Bible – no drums there. I marvel at the lack of discernment and wonder if folks are actually saved who like this stuff.I don’t think they are.
Ron Mattingly
My wife and I have been married 8 years and for 7 we have been dealing with this problem. Whatever church we have been to we have dealt with this. We have talked to pastors and worship leaders about music and no one has dealt well with our info. We usually,find ourselves starting a new church and then going later and later because the music is such a hinderance. If we stay for the full music session I find I am not ready to receive the Word. We understand there is no perfect church but if the music brings you away from God rather than towards him it is not the church for us.
While I’m on a role I would like to comment about catering to the young instead of our older saints. The young do not support the church the older saints do. Like every other part of society we are not trusting the wisest of our people. The young need to conform to the standards set up over time. We should not be bowing down to the young to learn WHAT? Thank you and God bless His saints.
Ron
Dr. Arthur Birkby
Many contemporary so-called “praise choruses” are disgraceful. They often depict a corrupt viewpoint of God’s purpose, and demean our efforts to use music for God’s glory. The necessity for the text to be appropriate goes without saying; it must extol our Creator and Savior, and may also evangelize.
Adapting worthy texts to tawdry and inane so-called “music” with few melodic, harmonic, or structural virtues is the equivalent of putting platinum plating on a garbage can. The can still contains garbage, and the can’s value in no way improves the garbage. Similarly, placing platinum into a putrid, toxic container does not enhance the container. Good texts require good music.
Song writers have always had sources for worthy texts, especially when the source is specifically Scriptural. Creating original music settings with intrinsic value is more difficult. This requires innate musicality and compositional skill derived from exhaustive study and practice. These attributes are not available merely by hoping or wishing; and few that be who possess them.
If the above circumstances mean that some would-be writers of Christian songs should leave such composing to others, doing so would be a blessing to all.
Robin
I love all kinds of music and can worship to anything normally, but let’s make sure it is scriptural. I can still remember what we used to call “choruses” from back in the 70’s that to this day touch my heart, because it is the Word! It never returns void, spoken,read, or sung!
peter legge
I am a pianist and a Christian from an early age. Hymns with wonderful Biblical content have had a great effect on me despite their being quite simple tunes in many instances.
Modern church music with its syncopation is often loud and attention demanding. It is mostly without scriptural content and often demands repetition and excited response.
The old Hymns with little or no instrumental accompaniment led to deep personal praise and joy. There was also the liberty to sing in parts which gave the music an amazing quality.
Dwight
I am 53, My Daughter in Law was is very involved in the music at our Church. At 9am they have a worship service for the Young people with the Praise and Worship Band, and at 11am a service for the older people. Is God and Christ devided? I disagree with this CCM. If it sounds like the world, then it is of the world. The long hair and full beards and ragged blue jeans it looks like a rock concert at the 9 am service….. Is being a Christian not supposed to be different than the world? Sound different? The Devil has ruined many churches in America with this worldy music. Older and Younger Chrisitans should be worshipping together. Satan divides, Christ unifies. This music is for a church such as is in America today, the feel good church of me and my wants and needs. It’s Hottub Chrisitanity that makes one feel good with out really being good. The Church of Laodicea is well represented today, and it still makes The Lord sick to his stomach, just as it did in Revelation 3. What happened to using the Hymnals? Because the churches got overhead projectors are the Hymnals no more good? Some of those hymns are almost as sacred and inspired as The Scriptures. I bet 500 years from now they won’t be singing these little ditties, as we do Luthers “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”! I have had epic disagreements with my wife and Daughter in Law about the suttle deceptions of that old serpent, and his established “Bulwarks” in many of our churches today….and he ain’t leavin. The church can split, but the rock music is here to stay…..call it what it is….Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1Jn 2:15-16) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (Jas 4:4)
jeanette bahr
I am an older christian and i love gospel music that exalts Jesus and brings repentance in a lot of cases. I also love the choruses we sang in the 70’s and 80’s. This modern music which is supposed to glorify God, leaves me feeling glad when we sit down and the sermon begins. Not all of it is bad but leave me out of the so called contempary gospel music, i dont like it.
Dwight
spell checked
I am 53, My Daughter in Law was is very involved in the music at our Church. At 9am they have a worship service for the Young people with the Praise and Worship Band, and at 11am a service for the older people. Is God and Christ divided? I disagree with this CCM. If it sounds like the world, then it is of the world. The long hair and full beards and ragged blue jeans it looks like a rock concert at the 9 am service….. Is being a Christian not supposed to be different than the world? Sound different? The Devil has ruined many churches in America with this worldly music. Older and Younger Christians should be worshipping together. Satan divides, Christ unifies. This music is for a church such as is in America today, the feel good church of me and my wants and needs. It’s Hot tub Christianity that makes one feel good without really being good. The Church of Laodicea is well represented today, and it still makes The Lord sick to his stomach, just as it did in Revelation 3. What happened to using the Hymnals? Because the churches got overhead projectors are the Hymnals no more good? Some of those hymns are almost as sacred and inspired as The Scriptures. I bet 500 years from now they won’t be singing these little ditties, as we do Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”! I have had epic disagreements with my wife and Daughter in Law about the subtle deceptions of that old serpent, and his established “Bulwarks” in many of our churches today….and he ain’t leavin. The church can split, but the rock music is here to stay…..call it what it is….Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1Jn 2:15-16) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (Jas 4:4)
Nikki
I love to sing the hymns that I grew up with. I also love contemporary Christian music as well. Much of it is communicating how great our God is and to listen to and sing along is truly a time of praise for me. A perfect example – the song “I can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. What an amazing song that only brings to closer to Jesus Christ as it makes us think about the day we will join him.
Cindy
My husband and I left a church a year ago partly because the old hymns were not sung at all. We asked many times over the three years that we attended to please let us sing some of the hymns in addition to the modern songs. Very few times was our request honored. We now attend a little Baptist church that we love and they sing out of the hymnbook not off the screen. We also get to hear the message of salvation every Sunday as there is an old fashioned altar call!
I like some of the contemporary songs but too many have no message to them, just vain repetitions!
Christine
I am sorry but I disagree with some of your article and some of the replies. I listen to the newer christian music. I hear tons of it with scripture of all sorts. I watch for that too. and also, yes drums are too in the bible. they are tambourines, and i am sure regular drums also. yes, they can be used otherwise. our church is Holy Spirit lead, focusing on Jesus, and we use both hymns and contemporary music. And drums! and believe me, Jesus absolutely loves it. I think the drums can speak of His power and might, too. as for the modern music, keep looking! there is prophetic music out there too that is scriptural.
James
I grew up in the Catholic tradition of the same songs accompanied by an organ, sometimes a guitar. Repetition brought no insite into the words of the bible for me. The Community Church that I now attend has the old school music and some of the best of the the new. Everysong that we sing, at least to me is in honor of the living God, be it a full band, drums and all or just a simple tube thing with beads in it. I am almost through with reading the full Christian Bible, and I have not found any restrictions on singing to the Lord our God.
Daniel
I listen to Gospel, Messianic, Praise and Worship, and turn off songs that beat around the bush tryin not to sing the Bible verses and making it all fulffy like instead of warning people of the coming judgment and great tribulation and the CHIP in the right side hand arm or forehead to buy and sell which is the Mark of the Beast government and an automatic damnation if you get it! Repent and come out of Babylon and be filled with the Holy Spirit ! Only those with the Spirit will make it through the coming destruction and test!
April
Seems to me like you want to start a fight
Lisa K
I’m going to have to give this one some thought. I absolutely love gospel
music but I also enjoy quite a few Christian contemporary songs as well. I just
don’t think it’s that cut and dry. There has been some Christian “rock” I could
do without which sounds like a bunch of noise.
Just last week we had Evan and Sandy Wickham as the worship leaders- well- you take
a look and see what the lyrics say. Some of the contemporary songs are just simple heart
felt love songs/expressions of human longing for the Lord & I guess I like that too.
August 08, 2010 – Restoration
http://maranathachapel.org/index.php?p=198
Here is a sample of Daniel Bentley’s songs/lyrics(“Faithful”, “Come Down Father” & “Shelter” are my favorites) http://www.lighthousedenver.com/index.html#/music/
Errol James
Being a professional musician for the past 35 years and a believer who plays most Sundays in my local church I would like to share my comments.
When I first began playing in bands in the 60’s the Beatles had just come on the scene. Lennon and McCartney had this marvelous gift of writing songs with simple melodies that were catchy and that everyone could sing along with and remember the lyrics. Many of the chorus’s that came out in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were the same—- people were able to remember the lyrics and quite often I would go to a venue, have no overheads and people could still remember the lyrics and sing the songs. Not today, it seems our church “has” to keep introducing new songs without singing some of the older songs, and so people never get a chance to learn these new songs properly.
A lot of the new songs introduced to our congregation are originaly sung by solo artists and are not conducive to congregational singing and often I look out over the congregation and hardly any one is singing.
Lastly, I have found if the band is too loud and people cannot hear what they are singing, most people will switch off and not sing.
But I do have this question…How do you reach the younger generation? They are listening to a totaly different type of music these days which I personaly don’t have much time for.
Sue
I really miss all the gospel songs and hymns. I also miss the praise songs from the psalms. We recently had a change of music at our church and I just cannot get into it that much. Once in a while we will sing a song that warms my heart, but most of the time I leave the worship service feeling like I didn’t really get a chance to worship. I have been feeling like something is missing from the worship music for awhile now. Nothing clicks and I cannot for the life of me remember any words from any songs we sing.
I disagree though that there cannot be good music unless there is just a piano or organ for accompaniment. Back when the hymns and gospel music came out, any kind of accompaniment was not acceptable. Most music was sung using voices only. When they started using pianos and organs in the church there was a lot of objections as these were used in the “modern” music of the day.
I like the added instruments in the worship service, but I can do without the loud volume and the “punctuation marks” in the music. I really miss the piano and organ accompaniment though.
I also miss choirs and solos. Our church only has a worship team and even though I have musical abilities, I just cannot get into the worship team idea. I am feeling left out in one of the areas that used to be such a great part of my life. Would love to see a return to scripture oriented music.
Troy
This is certainly disconcerting..here we are talking about music and styles and whether one style is better than another. Lets think about this logically here..when the psalms were written they were written because of somebodies “feelings” and circumstances. So to say that one displays God centeredness over another that is a foolish assumption..that would be like saying well..only the psalms of David are the only true psalms and the sons of Korah arent really relevant. Listen everybody..if you prefer the old Gospel songs then thats wonderful..i would suspect that you are an older crowd and those were the traditions of the church that you grew up in,..nothing wrong with that whatsoever! But as we know..God is not interested in the traditions of man..is He? Scripture shows that Hes not. This commentary in my opinion,..just as this article is opinion,..is misguided and i think that Joseph Chambers can do better than this. If we all agree that Christ Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and we agree that He died for the sins of the world and for our own personal sins..then we are in agreement. And whether we listen to “Gospel” music or “Contemporary Christian” music what does that have to do with fulfilling the Lords commandments to preach THE Gospel to the world? nothing. So instead of writing an article that divides those who are unified in Christ Jesus lets show a united front and stand shoulder to shoulder with those who write music out of there own heart-showing praise for Him who sits on the heavenly throne in a style that is contemporary,..lets not have Satan defeat us and cause us to be divided by saying, well, im a better christian than you cause i listen to the old Gospel music and that is how i worship..we worship Him whom we have come to know by His grace, with whatever gifts that He has given us. So let us stop this nonsense and pettiness and focus on the task at hand..which are the commandments to preach the Gospel to the world and to love our God with all our hearts all our bodies and all our souls and love our neighbors as ourselves! God Bless everyone.
Jon
I’m not sure where to start but I go with I’ve been a Christian just over two decades. I grew up in the age of Rock and didn’t attend church until my mid 30’s. I’m not surprised by the high number of comments that support this article. There is a lot to be desired when looking at contemporary Christian music. Much of it is pure hogwash! Before you pass judgment on this last comment, let me also say it is my preferred style to listen to and worship along with select hymns with my favorite being Amazing Grace. I personally believe that those of you that think that your preferred style is the correct way to worship should instead be thanking God that the people who are lifting their hands to or bowing down before God to contemporary music are in church and hopefully growing in knowledge and love towards our Creator. Of course that leads to a whole other conversation regarding what’s being espoused from the pulpits much of which is pure hogwash also. I believe the term is to toss the baby out with the bath water and that is my take on the majority of the opinions expressed as negative towards a particular style of music. Some lyrics are just plain wrong but if the lyrics are God honoring then to each his own. When I started attending my church they truly had a style that wasn’t my preference but the message couldn’t be more right on. Sorry to say it was very “hick” and did not have the best musicians. Over time it has evolved into a great music ministry (Rock Style) with excellent musicians and leadership and yes we still do the old hymns too. Sometimes it’s too loud but my church isn’t looking to cater to a already convinced believer who is church shopping but to a non-believer who has been invited or who on their own is feeling the call to seek out Christ. This person may love our style or not but we do our very best to attract this individual with our best efforts in current style. As the Church is not just a building but Born Again Believers. The where we gather has more to do with what we are doing. In our church’s case we gather on Sunday to communicate to the crowd (non believers and believers) a solid biblical message along with music and other forms of media (Art, Video, Drama, Personal Testimonies Etc.) We meet in smaller groups to facilitate knowing and caring for one another along with Bible study. The goal of breaking down the larger gathering that happens on Sunday into smaller groups is to help make Disciples of Jesus Christ and to put into action those beliefs wherever the Holy Spirit directs us. You are probably wondering by now why have I gone to such great lengths to describe my church and the reason is this; we play loud rock style music on Sunday in the main church. Many and I repeat many lost souls have chosen to repent of their sins and follow Jesus as a result of this style of church with contemporary music. It’s just a different style and yes one can certainly focus their heart and mind on God even if others who like a more traditional style of music can’t or won’t. I hope you will receive this as an encouragement to accept styles other than just the ones that speak to you. God can and does use many different avenues to call the lost to repentance and faith in Christ. Maranatha!
SandyL
Oh Brother Chambers, how well your article expressess my frustration of these “choruses” as I LONG to sing of my “Blessed Redeemer”, “Our One Foundation”, “At Calvary” etc. We are desperately searching for a local church that will preach/teach the full counsel of God’s Word.
I too am turned off by the “Praise Team” — my question, When did it change from, the congregation worshipping God through hymns, to the congregation needing to be “ENTERTAINED” by the praise team or choir?
Timothy
I live in a small town in New Mexico, there are a a lot of “rock” and “hard rock” Christian bands around here. They do play music a little faster and alot harder than most Christian bands, but they do play songs that speek of prophecy, gods love, the rapture, biblical stories, glorification of God, Jesus’s teaching, ect.. I understand that a lot of people do not like that type of music, but it does not mean that it is not Christian or that it is Satanic music. Its a personal prefence issue. I do enjoy the old hymnals and the new “rock” and “hard rock” Christian music.
I do have a hard time finding a church around here that I enjoy going to, worshiping at, getting spirtitual guidens from, and just feeling welcome at. Because most of the churches around here are more worried about the way people dress and the way people look rather than what is in their hearts. God does not care what people look like, how they dress or the way they style their hair, Church should not be a fashion show or a competition of who can sing the loudest and wave their hands the most. It should be about worship and the word of God.
May God bless all of you
Cindy Carroll
I find this funny strange as I wrote a note to Mr. James about this very subject.
I was a child of the hippie generation and I grew up in a musical family. I was playing hymns by ear at 4. What some forget of the music of the 70’s is how much of religion was there. The Byrds did
a Pete Segar song and made it a hit. To Everything Turn Turn Turn. Right out of Ecclesiatics.
Doobie Brothers did Jesus is Just Alright With Me. The words were there, just understood by the
listener. So I grew up with hymns and gospel as well as the Andrew Sisters and as I can use special headphones to liten to music still as I am going deaf and enjoy all of it. From the Hills of Kentucky to the rock, rap and folk of Christian music. Now I think the important thing to
remember here is the generation. They are no where close to any other generation I’ve known. They
have a much different approach but the meaning is the same. Jesus is the Way. And I feel that if you offer the music with the styles as rock, heavy metal or rap with a message of Jesus, it’s better than listening to Anthrax or Poison or Rapper who ever. I can compose it , put it to music sheets and play it but if it isn’t the “Now” sound, It sits in dust. If I have one thing in this life I know I will take with me to heaven, it will be music.
James Pizzulli
I am 73 yrs. old and have watched the evolution of music as you have so aptly described in your article. I have found that when when I hear this modern music on my radio dial, I turn it off, it is a sound that rivals the worlds attempt to honor a different God! I often visit Chic Filet for breakfest where they play this modern religious music. I have tried to hear the words very carefully and found it a laborious job only to find that it was a song rearranged that I knew. I find this ungodly use of music meant to bring praise to the Lord who has CHANGED us, and makes our WALK and WITNESS in a world that needs to see Chistians as different, in its actions and enjoyments. I know that many who say they just enjoy this music, well maybe we ought to find out why we have so much enjoyment in the worldly style music! I do know that what I have said will seem to be things that come from just an old man out of touch with the times but I feel like other Old Men who had to stand alone when the times seemed to call for change. Men like Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekial, Paul and others who made a difference by standing out. Your music will be, and must be a witness.
Twelve
I know you mean well, but obviously you didn’t look very hard.
Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman
So what kind of love could this be
That would trade Heaven’s throne for a cross
And to think you still celebrate
Over finding just one who was lost
And to know you rejoice over us
The God of this whole universe
Is a story that’s too great for words!
I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me
…if you haven’t heard it, you need to, and you’ll understand…
We Love You Jesus by Greg Long
You are the Living Word by Fred Hammond
Bread of Life, sent down from glory
Many things you were on Earth
A holy King, a carpenter
You are the Living Word
Awesome Ruler
Gentle Redeemer
God with us, the Living Truth
And what a friend we have in You
More by David LeMieux
The Lord our God is strong and mighty
The Lord our God is mighty to save
The Lord our God is more than able
The Lord our God is able to do more…
Than I can ask or imagine
Than I can dream or even comprehend
Again and again, He surprises me
Immeasurably more
Bloodstained Pages by Crystal Lewis
Whenever I stand before my Maker
And the book is open wide
Where the deeds of man, both good and bad
are recorded there inside
…
for the crimson blood of Jesus
Keeps my sin from being found
…
Lee
There’s a lot that has already been said about this topic. I’ll try to be brief.
I was recently challenged by our pastor on this subject.
Think about the account in Genesis 4 regarding Cain & Able. Both brought an offering before the Lord but God rejected Cain’s offering. Now, I’ve heard a lot of explanations why God rejected Cain’s offering – none that I’ve really been fully satisified with. Both Cain and Able seem to be trying to please God with what they are offering and God rejects Cain’s offering – it just seems a little hard-nosed on God’s part to do this. But that is who God is – He is Holy and He must be worshiped the way that He says we should worship Him. So if we take music that we really like and offer it up to God as worship should we be suprised if God rejects it – just like He rejected Cain’s offer of worship??? Our music that we worship God with should be that which He defines as acceptable to Him, not music that we like and God should accept it because we like it.
Jimmy Nickelsen
When the “christians” began to gather to worship in the first century they began with what they knew. They sang, as in the jewish temple, the psalms. Protestant Christian denominations today do not sing these songs. The church was kept alive by the monks in the middle centuries who sang in various ways and styles from Africa to Constantinople to the areas of England and the continental European lands. We do not sing or chant in that style.
If you argue for “Gospel” style music because of it’s lyrical content I understand your concern. If you argue based on musical style, your argument has no merit.
If you don’t like songs which praise but don’t don’t illuminate theology you must also criticize the first three and half centuries of the “christian churches’ music. The church fathers, of whom we have writings, did not begin to focus on theology until then. They focused on praise and edification.
Evan Cooper
As a born again believer / musician / youth leader I find this discussion very interesting. I grew up in the 60s listening to Jim Reeves, and others of that ilk, got saved and started playing keyboards in church in the 70s also began listening to Andre Crouch and others like him. In the 80s heard groups like C ommission and immediatly started to tell everyone how “worldly” their music was. Over the following years however I have come to the conclusion that as long as the lyrics of a song have a clear message that can be heard that the style is secondary. Whilst i might not like “Contemtorary” i nevertheless have found there are writers who have penned some wonderful lyrics which are both scriptural and edifying.
We have to understand that the aim of “Church” music is twofold mainly to worship and to evangelise. The music which evangelises may take the form of milk to the unregenerated then once they have come to faith in Christ they can be fed with not only the “Meat of the word” but can draw on “worship music” which should have a deeper level in which fellowship with the Lord is obtained.
One last thing i would like to say is that whilst music can be an intergral part of a christians life it is not and should not be the heart and soul of a believers walk with God. Read the Psalms and you will find King David continually exhorting listeners to “hide Gods WORD” in their hearts not the music.
in closing i would just say that while discussions such as these are important we should not ever allow ourselves to close the door to something new. God has a way of doing things which may not always appeal to us however remember that “his ways are past understanding” and “trust in the Lord with all thy heart and He will direct thy paths”. We may not understand, we may not agree but it will be the end results on judgement day that will show the “truth” of the music,
MARANATHA
Gloria Sykes
Although I enjoy hymns and gospel music, I attend a church that does contempory music with some hymns mixed in. A lot of our songs speak of sin, repentance, the blood of Jesus, forgiveness, the resurrection, the gospel, the cross and I could go on and on. I would like to say however, that my pastor teaches chapter by chapter, verse by verse; I am a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and I have learned more of the Bible sitting in this church than any other church I have been a member of, and those churches did traditional music with a ten minute sermonette at the end. My pastor teaches for about 45 minutes to an hour on Sunday mornings and about an hour and half on Thursday nights, straight from the Bible. I really think this is a distraction from what is important right now, namely spreading the gospel to those who don’t know Him because time is short. I listen to Contemporary and Older music and I know I am saved. When Amazing Grace was first written I recall hearing there was a firestorm from churches about that hymn but now it is an all time favorite. We sing it at my church. Please don’t use this to divide. There are far more important issues to discuss.
Dan Henning
I am a Pastor and Worship leader at my church. I have performed music professionally frm age 8 playing dance jobs with my father. I got saved at 23 yrs of age and at 45, I still fervently serve my Lord. I find music an extremely powerful tool, weapon, gift, an art form used for good and evil, a medium to communicate an emotion to someone (love, forgiveness, sorrow, joy, thankfulness, and most importantly my love and exaltation of Jesus my savior. Music cannot be evil in and of itself. It is merely a tool, or means. There is NOTHING wrong with singing a love song to my beautiful wife. (See Song Of Solomon). There is nothing wrong with singing or writing poetry about extreme sorrow, hurt, anger, or othe emotions respectively. (See David’s Songs). Music IS a form of communication, but it is not to exalt or glorify ANYTHING that does not glorify God, or edify the audience. There is nothing wrong with singing about what a beautiful day it is. (Just listen to a child…”Praise is perfected in children” and I doubt they are Bible scholars. No sir, I am not a liberal mega-church, seeker friendly guy. And believe me, there is a lot of evil in both secular and some christian music. Unfortunately, we have record producers that are more concerned with their profits, than God’s Prophets. I love Jesus with all my heart and I serve Him with every fiber of my being (including my music that may contain blues licks, rock chords, or bluegrass banjo picking! I love music, and I lover serving God with it. I believe education is the key with the you. When my son was younger, we sat and talked about EVERY song and lyric he heard. Most he pitched out by his own decision. Some we examined closely. Not only the songs, but the artist’s lifestyles as well. Some of his music had no lyrics! So we judged the titles, the spirit of the melody (not a real spirit, but what emotion did it promote), and again, the artist. Hope this helps. You may email me if you have any further questions. Music is powerful and complex, and not easily discerned sometimes. GOD Bless you for your article, and bless you for your passion and concern! Pastor Dan Henning (firstlovedan@adelphia.net)
David Bach
The greatest gospel musician of all time (King David notwithstanding), Johann Sebastian Bach, had the following “laudatio Dei – recreatio cordis” motto (though my translation of it may not be perfect, which I apologize):
The ultimate goal and reason of all music must not be anything else but the glory of God and the nourishing of the spirit. Where this is not the case, there cannot be any real music but only satanic chanting and street organ “playing”.
It seems to me that the last sentence is today very much alive and well in popular music (eg some Heavy Metal stuff and computer loop -based disco stuff). The gospel musicians should indeed use their talents effectively and to the point, so that also the real music that Bach refers to, would flourish.
Carl
As a church Choir Director and Musician myself, I find it very hard to believe that God is pleased with this 7/11 music. ( 7 words, sung 11 times) I grew up in a Bible believing church and was saved at age 14. We had young people coming from everywhere to sing in our youth choir. The music back then was southern gospel. God hasn’t changed His message or His mind on any Biblical truths. I find it hard to understand the words of the younger generation when the instruments are so loud. While I believe our young people should use their talents for the Lord, I don’t think God would be glorified to hear a lot of this bar room music as I call it. There is a new contemporary radio station in my city of which I have listened to for several days. All the tunes, words and music sounded the same, song after song. It got on my nerves so bad I had to turn it off. Young people like this contemporary and praise and worship music because it gives them the idea they are in a rock concert.While I am glad they are in church, I wonder how much spirituality and depth they get in God’s word. My dear old grandma use to sing in her rocking chair, “Kneel at the Cross, Christ will meet you there.” If God has not changed then why would we want to change to fit what the world wants to hear. While most of these contemporary churches are being filled and over-flowing, the money keeps pouring in and these smaller churches are closing their doors. There is no more preaching about sin, salvation,the blood of Jesus Christ and why He died on the Cross. I agree we should Praise and Worship Christ, but not forget what we are called to do and that is to bring lost souls to Jesus Christ.
Mary
I think that the issue is not contemporary music per se. There is much contemporary music that contains all the themes of the gospel – sin, repentence, the blood of Christ covering us. I like a mix of the old-time Gospel tunes and the youthfulness and fresh energy of contemporary music, if it is biblically sound and Christ-centered. There is much out there like that and I have a discerning radar for those tunes. It is not prone to a pure emotional experience. It is worshipful.
Deborah
What a wonderful article and I completely agree with you! I’m so frustrated by the music at my church and elsewhere. The worship leader is more aptly called ‘concert man’. Sunday service attendance is dwindling by the week and I can only conclude that this music entertainment is not pleasing to many others as well. The words are not only ‘vain repetition’ but also very inaccurate such as ‘He wrapped Himself in light’ which implies that He wasn’t light at all until He did something about that. Again, thanks and God bless you!