Posted on 08/04/2014 8:38:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery. So let's admit it: if we swop the lyrics of a Taylor Swift ballad with some of today's contemporary Christian worship songs, no one would know the difference.
Others have noted the "Jesus-is-your-boyfriend" style worship songs clogging the airwaves of contemporary Christian radio and Sunday morning worship sets lack depth and reverence to the Almighty. They're right. But there's an even bigger problem when contemporary Christian songs downplay, even scold Christian's public witness for the sake of couch-potato Christianity.
Last week a fellow pro-life, pro-family activist turned on his local "family-friendly" contemporary Christian radio station while driving his kids to camp. As his kids were belting the words to a new hit, my friend was shocked by the lyrics.
The song was Family Force 5's "Let It Be Love," number #14 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs list. Of course this means it is one of 20 songs that local contemporary Christian radio programs play over and over ad nauseam. The song's lyrics go:
I've never seen a soul set free Through an argument I've never seen a hurt get healed In a protest… It's not about the stand we take But the grace we give
For my friend, the first line "I've never seen a soul set free through an argument" couldn't be further from reality with the conservative Christian movement. In addition remembering that the Apostle Peter urged Believers, "[A]lways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
My friend witnessed a life changed from a same-sex lifestyle to a redeemed follower of Christ thanks to a bold, counter-cultural argument presented at a Parents and Family of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) event. A young gay man made the decision to offer over his life to Christ after listening to Robert Knight, Senior Fellow for the American Civil Rights Union, described God's love for humanity and purpose for sexuality and marriage.
Most devastating is the lyric's second line, which reads, "I've never seen a hurt get healed in a protest." I'm not sure what kind of protests these band members have attended, but they must not have been pro-life oriented.
A beautiful example of lives transformed at a protest is told by Wendy Wright, former President of Concerned Women for America and Vice President for Government Relations and Communications. Wendy spent many days peacefully protesting outside of abortion clinics. She and her fellow protestors not only offered hurt women prayer and side-walk counseling, but worked to save the lives of their unborn babies.
Wendy was blessed to come face to face with a young woman whose mother protected her from abortion because of Wendy's abortion protest. "After speaking to Generation Joshua home school students, telling stories of rescuing babies from abortion," explained Wendy. "A young woman asked, "Have you ever met one of those babies that you rescued?"
Shaking her head no, Wendy explained that while she hadn't she would love the opportunity. "I was rescued from abortion and adopted because of you," the young woman told Wendy.
Lives are changed, in part, through vessels willing to "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people" (Jude 3) Sadly you wouldn't know that based on the premise of this "Christian worship" song.
To be fair, Family Force 5 is correct that grace is a necessary component to lead others to salvation in Christ. But it alone it is not enough. Grace without substance is pity and nothing more. Behind our compassion must be a willingness to share the totality of Christ's character and His command to turn from sin.
Contemporary Christian music has a tremendous ministry opportunity that expands beyond the borders of the local church. Christians cannot present half-truths for the sake easy listening and broader audiences. As followers of Christ, we can do better. Or at least turn off the radio.
-- Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University and frequently contributes to conservative outlets
He Is So Precious to Me
By Charles Gabriel, 1902So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my king;
His praise all the day long with rapture I sing.
To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling,
For He is so precious to me.Refrain
For He is so precious, so precious to me;
For He is so precious, so precious to me.
’Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,
For He is so precious to me.He stood at my heart’s door ’mid sunshine and rain,
And patiently waited an entrance to gain.
What shame that so long He entreated in vain,
For He is so precious to me.Refrain
I stand on the mountain of blessing at last,
No cloud in the heavens a shadow to cast,
His smile is upon me; the valley is past,
For He is so precious to me.Refrain
I praise Him because He appointed a place
Where some day, through faith in His wonderful grace,
I know I shall see Him, shall look on His face,
For He is so precious to me.
You might like these.
Learning to Lean BY FINAL AUTHORITY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKsjLbW87M
What a First Christmas The McKameys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu-60CHU-bg
The Chuck Wagon Gang Hallelujah We shall rise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI6prraK8_E&feature=related
And one time our classic hymns were new and modern.
Good thing they were judged on their individual merit and not people protesting the fact that they were new.
As they did then, keep the baby, throw out the bathwater.
My church is using a large choir and choral adaptations for contemporary music. We have found it to be very effective for Worship. About 200 people on my campus, it is an excited choir and the congregation worships with us and sings along with us.
Everybody in our church sings. Everybody.
Or perhaps much of modern music is awful.
Even my three kids, ranging in age from 17-23 realize that.
My 20 year old sings in grunge garage bands. When she go to church she expects a sense of transcendence not provided by much of the modern “christian music” industry.
“...since they worship Mary and other dead people”
A lie that has been pointed out to you repeatedly.
To all: Any Catholic who worships Mary or anyone other than God is automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church, “ latae sentia”, by the very act. You can easily verify this independently.
Repeating the lie after you have been told is ‘bearing false witness’ or is that not in your protestant bible!
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
All modern US music is pretty awful, especially grunge, metal, rock, “rap ain’t music” and even new country. Just bad all around.
Like TV bad.
One could say that Paul got a little self-centered here in Galatians (13 references to “self”):
Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I guess it’s all about context...
Why do great hymns HAVE to be modernized? What is wrong with singing a great piece of music the way its author intended?
And your remark about seniors...in my church we spend 20-25 minutes singing CC dreck every Sunday, all in one concert set, and our seniors stand for every minute of it. They don’t sing, but they stand for it until the 19-year old ‘worship team’ leader says to “have a seat”.
I go to my church because it offers superior Bible teaching. I sure don’t go for the music.
HA!
Correction: 14 references to self.
Of course.
selfish ... I’ll bet you even got alone and asked only for yourself ... right ?
“The tune is from 1830—when Jackson sat in the White House, Texas and Utah were part of Mexico, and Arkansas and Michigan were not yet states.”
The tune is “Columbia” published in 1834.
Do you pull out old love letters from boyfriends and sigh ?
**selfish ... I’ll bet you even got alone and asked only for yourself ... right ?**
I’m not a selfish person. I don’t understand your statement.
Were you trying to mind-read again?
Selfish to be sure!
Look up synonyms for self....
I, me, mine, us, we......
Pitifully God comes in second place... Again.
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
1(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
May we not worship the Lord for the effect of grace in our lives from a personal perspective?
That's fine on an occasional basis, but there's more to worship.
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