Contemporary Christian music hot this summer (on MainStream Radio)

Stars & Stripes (Pacific Edition) ^ | 17 Aug 03 | Brian Bowers

[cherry]

my hubby is a relative of that Stacy girl....

[bets]

If I weren't a Christian, and I heard "I can only imagine" in the radio, I believe it would touch me.

I was just at a state fair witnessing in a booth w/the Full Gospel Businessman's Assoc., and I sat for hours watching people walk by on a Sat. night. It made me very sad to watch these people walking by (not in judgment, mind you), but knowing that they were w/out God, totally. SO, PLEASE, anything and anyway to reach them is good -- don't get so picky about the Christian music. Millions of people need to hear about God's love and the Truth....and they need it now.

In other words, while you're arguing over which hospital to take them to, they bleed to death in front of you.

[tdadams]

most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts.

You're probably right, sadly, but there are also a few with an admirable amount of integrity.

I know one Christian artist who was offered a seven figure advance by the president of Capitol records (Charles Koppelman), but turned it down because they refused to let him have final say over the lyrics.

[aruanan]

“In Not Of,” “Adonai,” “Testify To Love” and the other hits are still catchy and uplifting but the three new songs seem relatively routine.

I don't know. "Testify to Love" is pretty good.

[MalcolmS]

>>>For this reason, the Christian cannot sanitize rock...

For too long the church has assumed and taken for granted its musical heritage which is rich in great hymn and gospel composition wedded to magnificent texts <<<

This controversy has been going on since the beginning of the church. Some thought we were all on the way to hell when we went away from Gregorian chant. Look in your hymnbook. Whenever you see something labelled traditional or author unknown, chances are it was originally a secular tune. Not only that, but many of these were drinking songs.

Many great hymns come from a period when Martin Luther was writing Christian lyrics to drinking songs. Bach wrote harmonies (shocking!) to many of these hymns.

When challenged, Luther is reported to have said "Why should the devil have all the good tunes?"

[aruanan]

I don't mind the music...it's just that most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts. For many CC "artists" "The Word" is a convenient way to make a buck while they're trying to make it big.

Here's how the above would be more appropriately written:

I don't mind the music...it's just that I imagine that most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts.

It's my personal opinion that For many CC "artists" "The Word" is a convenient way to make a buck while they're trying to make it big.

The question now becomes why you believe that "most" or "many" CC artists are like this. Are you stating that you know "most" or "many" CC artists and that they have revealed to you that this is their motivation? Are you projecting? Are you applying some sort of Sunday school spiritual calculus that since most of the world is lost in the darkness of sin, and since the group comprising CC music is in the world, that "most" of CC "artists" must, therefore, be lost in the darkness of sin? Or are you just generally cynical, believing that anyone who is any kind of performer must be in it for the bucks and the fame?

Your use of "artists" belies your "I don't mind the music."

[xzins]

???????

[Taliesan]

You sour people would have mocked David as he danced before the ark. There is no biblical worship "style"; in the temple they used every instrument known to their culture.

I think some CCM is a spiritual disease, and some is inspired by the same Holy Ghost who moved David as he watched the sunset over the sheep.

Some music in your and my most conservative hymnal is divine; and some is a spiritual disease.

[RaceBannon]

I dont buy any, nor do I have a favorite station, but those are actually two different issues in a way.

When I listen to music that is known to be worldly, I already know in my head and heart that he music is designed to appeal to my flesh and have no spiritual benefit. Like Happy Birthday or Inna-Godda-Da-Vida.

What is supposed to be Christian, though, it is there that we need to be critical of the message and music, precisely because it is music that is supposed to make us aware of God and spiritual things.

If some so-called spiritual music makes me want to boogie or uses the world's fashions, then it is clear that it is not a genuine Spiritual misuc form.

[Theo]

What is a "hymn"? Are people still writing them? What is a "Psalm"? Doesn't Scripture encourage the singing of "Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"? Don't the Psalms themselves encourage singing unto the Lord "a new song"?

You wrote:

... the predominant Scriptural suppport seems to be for Psalms and we should worship God not according to the 'he didn't tell us we couldn't' attitude, but instead, the attitude that what Scripture supports clearly, we should try to do.

I think it is *excellent* to *start* with Scripture as you build your theology of "worship." Most people would start with their feelings, or with contemporary expressions of worship, and try to bring in Scripture to support their view. But you are right to start with Scripture. Cool. :-)

I'd argue that the primary thing we should strive for in contemporary worship music is sound doctrine. "Worshipers" should be responding to some truth about God, not to a cool guitar hook. As we ponder God's grace in light of our sinfulness, for example, we are moved to respond in worship. If guitars and synths are relevant to the congregation, perhaps it's appropriate (if it supports the theme of the lyrics) to accompany congregational worship with guitar and synth.

I'm getting ready to jump in the shower (um, seriesly), but I'd absolutely love to continue this discussion either online or off-line.

[Theo]

... the music is designed to appeal to my flesh and have no spiritual benefit

False dichotomy. Food appeals to your flesh, but it is not therefore evil. Yes, an idolatrous gluttonous love of food is sinful, but enjoying food is not necessarily evil.

My flesh sometimes feels goosbumps when I consider how the Lord has saved me, someone who was "dead in my transgressions...." The flesh is not evil. Idolatry is evil, and pursuing fleshly comforts apart from the Lord (an element of idolatry) may very well be evil. But good music that touches your heart, or music that facilitates an environment in which you want to dance a jig ... is not necessarily evil.

[Rebelbase]

CCM has brought a significant number of youth into Church. They might not dress like you, talk like you, and act as mature as you but they are in church getting a solid foundation for their turn at adulthood.

CCM has its place in reaching out to youth. old farts and fuddy-duddys will never get what its all about, sort of like the pharaises and religous teachers in the Gospel, stuck with a religous mindset unable to break free.

[GraniteStateConservative]

What denomination worships that way?

[zarf]

Sorry bud, I live in the hotbed of CC music and I'm in the bizzzz. I've talked to dozens of these kids off stage, behind stage whatever you want to call it. Trust me. It's a fact.

[AppyPappy]

A visiting youth leader sang it in our worship service this Sunday

[al_c]

MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” has been all over mainstream radio

Funny that this one is beginning to appear on mainstream stations. They recently released another CD that's become quite popular on the Christian stations and they hardly play anything from Almost There anymore.

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

Newsboys ROCK - Shine - The Hits -

When the toast is burned
and all the milk has turned
and captain crunch is waving farewell
When the big one finds you
may this song remind you
that they don't serve breakfast in hell.

Newsweek or Time Magazine did an article awhile back on the same topic.

[al_c]

I don't mind the music...it's just that most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts.

For many CC "artists" "The Word" is a convenient way to make a buck while they're trying to make it big.

Not so for Mercy Me. Those guys are for real. Same thing with Shaun Groves.

[zarf]

Let me just add...I dare say that the body piercings and the colored hair and the rest of the glam trappings all pay homage to a secular dream of acceptance. It speaks loudly about CC artists insecurity about being shunned by the "real" music business(=$).

I find it highly peculiar that these kids who so loudly proclaim the word of god dare to, in even the slightest way, dance with the devil.

On the other hand I've met some lovely kids who really believe about which they sing and do not need the trappings of the secular world......unfortunately they are in the minority.

[Taliesan]

You're docetic.