Posted on 09/14/2011 9:19:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
While some have sought to make Christian music more relevant by adding an electric guitar or a hip-hop beat to it, others prefer to listen and worship through more traditional forms of music, such as hymns. But should Christian music be limited to a designated genre, or can faith-based themes be effectively portrayed through any number of styles?
Though people may disagree on which style they like best, there's no denying that Christian or Gospel music is widely sought after.
A 2009 report from the Gospel Music Association indicates that Christian music sales total about half a billion dollars per year. In 2008, the Christian music industry sold over 56 million units in the form of CDs, cassettes, digital tracks and digital albums.
But a recent article by Will Edwards, which appeared in University of Alabama's student newspaper, The Crimson White, describes Christian music as being “unoriginal” and “genreless.”
Edwards' article, titled “Guitars killed Christian music, no resurrection in sight,” argues that Christian music, in the form of hymns and classical music composed by the likes of Mozart and Bach, made an impact because it once led the musical culture. With the rise of rock-and-roll and the increased use of broadcasting technology, however, Christian music was left behind and has been playing catch-up to secular culture ever since.
He accuses Christian music of lacking in originality, saying, “Many Christian songs have a near-identical equal in the secular music industry. It’s a knock-off of the original ... For the past 50 years, Christian music has been playing copycat to whatever is popular on secular radio. They haven’t changed the message, but the music that delivers it has become stale and unoriginal.”
Musician and minister Jimi Calhoun agrees with Edwards in many ways.
"There's a considerable amount of people who think that music hasn't been original since the '70s,” Calhoun told The Christian Post in an interview.
A resident of Austin, Texas, Calhoun previously worked as a professional bass guitar player, playing with a number of famous musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Etta James, Lou Rawls and more.
He said that, from his experience, Christian music is not well-respected in the broader music industry.
"It sells a lot of records ... if I were an executive I would want to try to get market share in this,” he said, but “from the player's standpoint ... it's not looked up to."
Calhoun's journey to Christ began on a trip to England, where he started his search for God and for inner peace. He studied both Buddhism and Metaphysics, but eventually ended up at Christianity and later became an ordained minister.
Though he has worked in several other ministries before, he is currently planning on starting his own church with the goal of bridging the gap between art and spirituality.
Calhoun pointed out that Christian music as an evangelism tool is “noneffective” and that “it's never utilized in an arena where people are going to hear it and make a decision for Christ.”
"It's an art form that goes directly to the choir. It's an edification thing, even though we tell ourselves that we're witnessing,” he explained.
Edwards doesn't just criticize Christian music for its lack of creativity, however. He also suggests that Christian music should be confined to a specific style of music.
“Christian music is genreless,” he writes. “Turn on the Christian radio station and listen for 30 minutes. You will hear two piano ballads, three pop/rock songs and one pseudo heavy metal thrasher. It doesn’t sound like anything specific. When I put on the pop station, I know what I’m getting. There’s a genre there, but Christian music lacks that.”
But Patrick McGuire, associate of Music and Worship at the Florida-based First Baptist Church Merritt Island, argued that Christian music doesn't have to fit into a particular style. To create a Christian-specific genre would be to limit the impact that Christian music has on the world.
"We're really called to be in the world and to serve the way that Christ did, and for us to have music that is explicitly religious and therefore not accessible to outsiders ... I don't really think that's the call of Christ," he stated.
McGuire has been working at the church for about a year and serves as its leader of the rhythm section. The church has a choir and orchestra, but they also play more contemporary music as well. First Baptist's worship team spent last summer writing and recording original music, which he says lends authenticity to corporate worship experiences.
"The most important thing that I relate to ... is just how powerful it is to see a twenty-something standing next to a 70-year-old in the choir and to hear them in one voice proclaim the Gospel,” he said.
People respond to music in different ways and many do respond to Current Christian Music.
Having sung every thing from Shape note music (1650s) to classical, opera, contemporary to traditional hymns, I think every style works to a degree. It’s all good.
“I welcome any suggestions on good Christian music that you find good and interesting and will take the time to listen. Thanks!”
^^^^^^
Do I have a treat for you! Here are my three favorite singers, all very much different from the lightweight stuff you hear on Christian radio. These three will take you into His Presence.
Jason Upton
http://www.jasonupton.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Upton
Jason Upton has some intensely deep music. There are three sample songs on his website... click the little audio player on the front page.
Michael Card
http://www.michaelcard.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Card
Michael Card is an Old Testament teacher turned singer. His music is very thoughtful. He has an album “The Beginning,” which is based on the Old Testament, that is unbelievable.
John Michael Talbot
http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michael_Talbot
The Lord taught me a lesson when I heard about John Michael Talbot. I was a Baptist studying Bible at a Baptist university. My roommate said, “You have to listen to this!” and he put on a tape. I listened and was completely blown away. The songs on that tape just ushered me right into the Presence. I was speechless, tears coming to my eyes, and I said “WHO WAS THAT???” My roommate said, “A Catholic monk!”
John Michael Talbot is an honest-to-goodness Catholic monk, who actually looks a lot like Moses. The Lord has given this man an incredible gifting to write Heaven-sent music. If you haven’t heard Talbot’s music before, you will be utterly blown away.
These three men are spiritual heavy-weights. Their music will bless you.
I agree to a point in that talent is often subverted in favor of some rather basic progressions or arrangements in order to make the music ‘accessible.’
I definitely agree that music performed on behalf of The Man Upstairs usually enjoys a relatively unfettered critical pathway.
I once had Bill Gaither Ministries as a client and they were quite a cynical lot. Episodes were churned out like soap operas with cheesy sets and lighting to match. Divine inspiration was a bit thin on the ground compared to the sell-sell-sell ethos.
The best rendition of Amazing Grace(and yes, I know Judy Collins is an 0bamazombie):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss5I8b4zIKY&feature=related
Try this on for size. I like it.
Flyleaf - All Around Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0FFK8JSYE&ob=av2e
Home listening bookmark.
At least Jesus isn't going get a girl pregnant and abandon her, give her an incurable STD, or beat her up, like other potential love interests.
But seriously, people make the exact comment you have made all the time, but nuptial/romantic imagery for the soul's relationship to God is one of the many poetic expressions found in Scripture and in the writings of the saints from the earliest days of Christianity. It may not be to everyone's taste, but Christian worship isn't about everyone's sharing the same tastes.
I second the plug for the performances of “stansblugrassgrl.” I’ve listened to some of the music, and it’s well done. Not everyone is going to like every song or find it inspirational - just as not every Psalm in the Bible speaks to everyone at every time - and it’s not reasonable to expect that.
My band is Contemporary Latin-American Acoustic. We do some modern Latino Christian pieces, but our best songs, and the ones our congregation likes best, are in traditional Ranchero and Mariachi styles ... sort of the Mexican equivalent of Baptist Hymnal standards.
Michael Gungor
Roland Steven Taylor
Thad Cockrell
Jars of Clay
Israel Houghton
Bill Mallonee
Danny Flowers
Mark Heard (RIP)
Phil Keaggy
Buddy and Julie Miller
A few of the above are crossover artists, but all sing of matters of God.
There is a lot of great Christian music around. There are many more artists I like that I could add to the list.
I agree. Stuff such as Marty Haugen’s songs are pretty thin gruel compared with the music of Handel or even Charles Wesley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfrDwCxAHck
There’s A Higher Power - Buddy Miller
Hope he brings along his Majestic Silver Strings band.
Bingo! Feeling rather than thinking. When the feeling stops so does the spiritual influence. If there are lyrics that make you think eternally rather than temporally then you bring something with you that has staying power.
And just because it's modern doesn't mean it's fluff.
Payback Time by Charlie Daniels
The hero in the big white house
Shakes his head and moans about
The misery of his fellow man
Just as though he really cared
While the hand he holds behind his back
Conceals the truth from those he is deceivin'
The camera rolls another reel
While the robots on the hill
Are dashing madly to and fro
Smiling at the status quo
While in the secret, smoke-filled rooms
They sell the very air that you are breathing
When it's payback time
And you take that final ride
When there is no place to run to
And there ain't no place to hide
The supreme court of the universe
Where justice is not blind
And no prisoners will be taken
When it's payback time
Another day, another knife
Another precious unborn life
Will never see the light of day
Will never run or jump or play
It's just another sacrifice
To that greenback god of choice you are serving
Their blood cries out to be avenged
And someday you will cower and cringe
Where the books don't lie and the judge don't deal
No high-priced lawyers to appeal
Where the verdict is eternal
And you can't escape the verdict you're deserving
When it's payback time and heaven rules supreme
When your gold and silver's worthless
And you stand before the King
When your nightmares are reality
And there is no exit sign
And it's too late for repentance
When it's payback time
The sun comes up the pendulum swings
And each new frightening morning brings
The children's cries, the cannon roar
More loudly than the day before
The wax of time is drippin' down
From both ends of that candle burning brightly
A mighty shout, a trumpet blast
When the last is first and the first is last
The world is hushed and time stands still
And the final chapter is fulfilled
The sky will part each knee will bow
To greet the awesome hour of His returning
When it's payback time
And the sheep are gathered in
When the roll is called up yonder
And eternity begins
When the wedding supper's ready
And the faithful called to dine
Who'll be sitting at the table
When it's payback time
Payback time
Not what I would suggest for a worship service but it would be nice to hear on the radio once in a while.
Link to a video? I haven’t kept up with what Charlie Daniels has recorded lately. Johnny Cash also did some fine, original Christian recordings in his last years: “When the Man Comes Around,” “Spiritual,” “Unchained.”
They’re not what we’d play in church, but that’s not the only point of religious music.
I prefer listening to “Jesus Loves Me” played with beer bottles filled with different amounts of beer. It has a soothing effect for some reason.
Oh my. What a line-up! I’ve always wanted to go to Hardly Strictly ... maybe someday. ;o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZVaMsGB_M
Buddy Miller - Water when the well is dry
I'll confess that there are some times when I just lip sync since I am overwhelmed just by listening. "Oh Lord, Our Lord" is one such hymn.
Amen! Preach on!
I find it sad that the electric guitar has chased the organ and the choir out of so many churches.
Good original stuff will never find its way to your radio. My current favorite (thankfully a friend recommended his music)... www.joshgarrels.com
Current album is also a FREE download. A real word-and-rhythm-smith.
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