Musical Mush: Are We Impairing Our Capacity to Think?

When church music directors lead the congregation in singing some praise music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We had been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called, “Draw Me Close to You.” The song has zero theological content and could be sung in a nightclub, for that matter. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed at us and said in a cheerful voice, “Let’s sing that again, shall we?” “No!” I shouted loudly. Heads all around me spun while my wife cringed.

I admit I prefer more traditional hymns. But even given that, I am convinced that much of the music being written for the Church today reflects an unfortunate trend—slipping across the line from worship to entertainment. Evangelicals are in danger of amusing ourselves to death, to borrow the title of the classic Neil Postman book.

The trend is also true of Christian radio, historically an important source of in-depth teaching. Many stations have recently dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats. For example, a major Baltimore station dropped four talk shows to add music. A respected broadcaster recently dropped “Focus on the Family,” claiming it had become too focused on “moral issues.”

When a Cincinnati station replaced “BreakPoint” with music, I told the station manager that believers need to think Christianly about major worldview issues. Her reply? Younger women want “something to help them cope with life.”

This view was confirmed by a Christian homemaker during a TV special on evangelicalism. She is so busy, she explained, with her kids, Bible study, cooking, and all, that she does not even get to read the newspaper. Church for her is getting her spirits lifted. Now admittedly, modern life creates enormous stress, but can’t the Church offer comfort and help people confront the culture? Of course, music is important in the life of the Church. But it cannot replace solid teaching.

The decision by Christian broadcasters to avoid moral controversies could result in the Church withdrawing from the culture as it tragically did a century ago. The great strength of radio, as with books, has been to present in-depth teaching that engages Christians cognitively. Unfortunately, thinking analytically is something Christians find increasingly difficult. According to a government study, the average college graduate’s proficient literacy in English has declined from 40 percent in 1992 to 31 percent ten years later. The study defines proficient literacy as the ability to read lengthy, complex texts and draw complicated inferences.

This is horrifying. The Gospel above everything else is revealed propositional truth—truth that speaks to all of life. Sure, the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. But if you want to study doctrine and worldview, you need the capacity to engage ideas cognitively. Doctrine and biblical teaching does not consist of dry, abstract notions. It is the truth that must be carried to the heart and applied. And there is no escaping that it is truth that must be learned.

When Postman published his book two decades ago, he feared television would impair our capacity to think. He was right. But can we learn from this—or are we destined to follow suit, with the Church blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance?

I think he's talking about the Hillsongs tune, which is a title track from a Hillsongs United album. Here are the lyrics:

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

Yep, not much there. Of course, I'd also have to say that this is the most content-free worship song I've ever heard. It's worth noting that some classics of worship don't have much more theological content than this. Take "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus," for instance. Like that song, works like "I Will Never Be The Same Again," and "This Is How We Overcome" have important messages right out of the Bible, and they shouldn't be pushed aside just because they aren't "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

But surely, the Church is having thinking problems, and it's showing up in the clergy in a big way. This may be because we now have two generations of clergy that were raised in the television age.

There are links to further information at the source document.

If anyone wants on or off my Chuck Colson/BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

Breakpoint with Charles Colson

Thanks for the ping. In our church (Eastern Orthodox), all hymns are of theological content to learn from, and I can't really think of any offhand which talk about how we feel about that. It just is! But I sympathize, since if anyone thinks about what will happen in coming centuries, there better be at least a solid core of people who know what they believe and why, or else the rising tide of secularism will be followed, after it ebbs, by the rising tide of another faith which would gladly replace the Christian world view. (Not to mention if it ever comes to a struggle to the death such as in past times against Communism, Mazism, Islamism, sometimes your religious faith is the ONLY thing which will sustain you with hope for teh future.)

Was that from Colson? I didn't notice the author and thought it was a vanity.

Having said that I say, AMEN!

One statement is expecially pertinent: slipping across the line from worship to entertainment. So much is revealed in the language used to describe the Sunday Service. More and more the term "worship team" is used to describe the musicians. What does that make us in the pews, "worship cheerleaders" or "worship fans." A team is the one doing the activity and everyone else becomes just spectators. MAY IT NEVER BE! The body of Christ is a "congregation" and worship should be experienced by all. More and more the terms "worship and preaching" are used to describe what goes before the sermon. WORSHIP IS NOT SEPARATE FROM PREACHING! The pinnacle of worship IS the exposition of The Word of God. But the entire service is "worship."

This XVII century Lutheran hymn would serve the intended purpose much better:

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!

A Helper just He comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.

O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to Thee we open wide;
Let us Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.

Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to Thy Name!

Are we imparing our capacity to think? Maybe, but it isn't just banal and styrofoam church music that's doing it.

And the reality is that a lot of classical "church music" really is more operatic in nature than not. After the month of Mozart, I'm quite convinced of that. The great stuff is really more Renaissance a cappella. THAT makes you think, that's for sure. It's also much more instructive to great musicianship. If anyone was truly interested. Considering the tastes today, I'm not convinced all that many people are.

For my taste, I can't stand traditional hymns.

For the vast majority of them, the rhythms are all quarter notes, Booooorrrring. The melodies have nothing that grabs you, and the congregation, who usually sings them all at once, have zero musical ability as an ensemble.

And if I want theology, I can read the Bible itself, not some songwriter's ideas.

Sorry, but from an artistic and musician's point of view, many of the newer songs are much better than old hymns, and they are consistently getting better and better.

But knowing when to stop and flow into the next song is important. More than once, I have wondered when the band was going to stop repeating itself.

Yeah, I know, everyone is offended now. Go ahead, flame me!! I'm tough enough to take it.

Compare that song to one of Fanny Crosby's songs with a similar theme:

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Emphasis is different. It's more than "Make me feel good, God, cause you're my boyfriend," but it brings to mind the Crucifixion, and service, and spiritual growth.

I think when they interviewed that woman who said that she went to church to raise her spirits, we have the crux of the matter: God does raise our spirits, but that shouldn't be the goal, the reason why we go to church. It should be "all about ME." It should be focused on Him. IMHO.

YEAH!!!

And while you are at it, let's excise Psalm 136 from the canon, shall we? Such MINDLESS repititiveness of "His Love endures forever" twenty six times in a row is obviously the ejaculations of a theologically bereft cognitive cipher who only wants to whip up the emotions of the chanting crowd. After all, what did that nitwit Jonathan Edwards know about worship when he stated that "I can think of no other use for music other than to excite the passions toward God."

A little sarcasm? Sure. It is, like the above, designed to drive home a point. I am not sure if we are quoting from Colson here. I have great respect for him. I do agree that we are largely ignorant of the deep repositories of theological content and sources for worship in our history. I also think that more projects to put the older, phenomenally RICH music of yesteryear to contemporary music are needed in the church. (cf the Christ Community Church projects). Even more than that is needed a return to EXPOSITORY preaching, where men teach the Bible to our biblicallly and theologically illiterate culture. The reason we love emotive and surface music is that we have no idea what the older songs are referring to in the first place, our grasp of biblical content is so surface and shallow. I think every preacher in America should be locked up for a year with only the Bible and the works of DM Lloyd Jones, myself.

That said, I don't think that the error of our culture to substitute syrup for steak means that syrup is evil. Nor do I think that focusing on "me" in worship ( OH! how I love you, I will follow you, I love Jesus so much....etc) means that we should ignore true expressions of our love and devotion to God. They are true, biblical expressions of worship, and should not be sneered at just because we have forgotten that worship is primarily about GOD and not us in relation to God.

I would love to see the reformed heritage wake up and realize that "reformed" does not mean reforming to a theological heritage, but "reforming" to a passionate love for the gospel of Christ, the unsearchable riches of God poured out in that message, and the inexcapable link from that to love for the men for whom Christ died. When one reads Calvin (instead of just having his books on our shelves), you see a man captivated by the glory of God and driven to prayer to see that glory extended (the longest chapter in the first edition of the Institutes was on prayer). If the defenders of our theological heritage emulated our heritage, rather than just citing our progenitors, we would not have to worry about mush in our music.

Just my opinion.

T.D. Jakes and many other fine preachers teaching.

Isn't Jakes considered a borderline modalist? Not much of a loss IMO.

However, most of these ministries have to pay for their airtime in local markets. If there's not enough revenue from a location then they will drop stations.

Music, on the other hand, generates sales from airtime. The more CCM played the greater the sales, and so the cycle continues.

As for pop songs with bad lyrics, would someone, please, take that Ray Boltz song "Thank You" and bury it once and for all? It's the most sappy, man-centered song I've heard in years. Pure sentimentality.

For my taste, I can't stand traditional hymns.

I understand, even if I don't share your perspective. My wife feels the same way. It is the 3/4 time and older melodies that are awful. You might try the "indelible grace" collection for some nice contemp renditions of a few of the older classics. I especially love "the sands of time are sinking"....., but I have always loved that song.

I think, with J. Edwards, that music is to "prime the pump" and raise our emotions toward God, but I also think that part of that process is being caught up in WHO God is, and not merely the state of my emotions toward Him.

Some traditionalists are the usual sour gripers who would fault anything that doesn't drop clouds of dust from the old wineskin just because they have learned to be content with the dust. I understand that. However, I do think they have a point. Ice cream has its place, but is no substitute for healthy substantial meals.

Again, just my opinion.

Psalm 136: lots of repetition, but huge content as well -

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who spread out the earth upon the waters,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who smote the first-born of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
to him who smote great kings,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and slew famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Here's a song I would like our chruch to play, it's only from 2003:

The Man Comes Around

Opening Introduction (Spoken part)

And I heard as it were the noise of thunder
One of the four beasts saying come and see and I saw
And behold a white horse

(Song)

There's a man going around taking names and he decides
Who to free and who to blame every body won't be treated
Quite the same there will be a golden ladder reaching down
When the man comes around

The hairs on your arm will stand up at the terror in each
Sip and each sup will you partake of that last offered cup
Or disappear into the potter's ground
When the man comes around

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers one hundred million angels singing
Multitudes are marching to a big kettledrum
Voices calling and voices crying
Some are born and some are dying
Its alpha and omegas kingdom come
And the whirlwind is in the thorn trees
The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn trees
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks
Till Armageddon no shalam no shalom

Then the father hen will call his chicken's home
The wise man will bow down before the thorne and at his feet
They will cast the golden crowns
When the man comes around

Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still
Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still
Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still
Listen to the words long written down
When the man comes around

Hear the trumpets hear the pipers one hundred million angels singing
Multitudes are marching to a big kettledrum
Voices calling and voices crying
Some are born and some are dying
Its alpha and omegas kingdom come
And the whirlwind is in the thorn trees
The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn trees
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks
In measured hundred weight and penny pound
When the man comes around

Close (Spoken part)
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
And I looked and behold, a pale horse
And it's name it said on him was Death
And Hell followed with him.

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