Contemporary Christian music hot this summer (on MainStream Radio)

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

[hocndoc]

One of the best is (paraphrased) "What God has cleansed, don't call unclean."

[PlutoPlatter]

ok this one is bound to get it's detractors


The Eleventh Hour
Jars of Clay

[verse]
Trace the shape of my heart
Till it becomes more familiar
To your eyes
I've been lost without you
Cold without your love
It's taken days and nights
To make me realize

[chorus]
Rescue me from hanging on this line
I won't give up on giving you
The chance to blow my mind
Let the eleventh hour quickly
Pass me by
I'll find you when I think
I'm out of time

[verse]
Take the place of my heart
Till I become a stranger to my life
I've been down without you
Wrong without your love
In time will I be what
You're thinking of

[chorus]

Out of time

[bridge]
I've been down without you
Cold without your love
In time will I be what
You're thinking of

[chorus 2x]

Time...time...time

[JenB]

That album happens to be one of the best bits of music in the last few years. I think these people need to actually listen to what they're critisising.

Put it this way. Rich Mullins took the Apostle's Creed and set it to music, making it easy to memorize. Third Day added drums and massive amounts of electric guitars and made it "cool" for fifteen-year-olds to sing in the car.

My secular friends like the music I'm listening to. So do I! And I'll bet it's a "joyful noise unto the Lord", too.

[tortoise]

I don't care if music is Christian or not, only if it is good music. And with all due respect, most CCM is pretty lousy. So is a lot of of non-Christian music, but CCM seems to almost revel in it because of a sort of implicit belief that the message is more important.

IMO, CCM appeals mainly to the Koolaid drinkers who care more about the message than the music. None of my music is "Christian" that I'm aware of, but that is really the point -- that factor is not a selling point when I listen to music so I don't pay attention. Me wanting to listen to something Christian is pretty othorgonal to me wanting to listen to good music. CCM may be doing well these days, but I wouldn't read anything into it; it could merely be that the music doesn't suck as bad as it used to and the "Christian" part of it is getting a free ride on the coat tails of the music.

Of course, most of the music I listen to these days amounts to obscure foreign imports since the domestic scene is so naff these days.

[PlutoPlatter]

Thank you,
It's easier for some to criticize because they think God only operates in the little box they have created to put Him in....

The only difference between Bach and Michael W. Smith is a few hundred years and electricity.

[Binghamton_native]

We have sung this in our church. I have often wondered if the phrase "Here I am to worship" is an imperative or a declarative. Should there be a comma after "Here"?

[tortoise]

The only difference between Bach and Michael W. Smith is a few hundred years and electricity.

Well, that and Bach was actually a brilliant musician.

MWS? *shudder*

[PlutoPlatter]

What is very important is that there is a real movement in contemporary christian music (the top 40 - easy listening stuff you hear on the radio) toward a more worshipful and deep lyrical songs. Not to mention some very awesome licks.
It's not as trite as people think.

[daisymae]

Granted some Christian music is crap -- But some Christian music is very spiritual and uplifting -- if not life changing. I am glad some Christian artists are choosing the secular end of the business. I don't look at it as selling their soul to the devil. I look at it as reaching more people in the world -- Life House is one of them. Maybe Christian artists see $$$ signs but don't you think for one moment that God is powerful enough to use that?

People today are not satisfied with the traditional way of most churches -- hymns and boring services. People can't relating to words that were written in the 16th century. There is no challenge for today's world and the young people are leaving in droves. A church that doesn't have young people to carry it will die within 20 years.

I am so glad that I am apart of a different kind of church that is springing up all of the US these days. They are focused on meeting people where they are and using different types of media to bring the message -- video clips, secular music, and spirit filled contemporary Christian music -- to creatively communicate Bible truth.

[PlutoPlatter]

I agree Bach was brilliant...but obviously you don't know much about Michael W. Smith either.

[Theo]

We have sung this in our church. I have often wondered if the phrase "Here I am to worship" is an imperative or a declarative. Should there be a comma after "Here"?

We sing that song in my church as well. It's a great song.

I have problems with the way "worship" is used, however, in that song. "Worship" is a transitive verb, and as such, requires a direct object. "I worship God," for example. One cannot merely "worship"; one must worship "something."

So when we sing that song in church, I sing it, "Here I am to worship You" ....

[JenB]

Ever tried Caedmon's Call? Half their songs are meaty-theological with great tunes (and how can you resist a song that happily proclaims that "No one is good enough to save themself/Awake my soul tonight, to boast nothing else") and the other half are slightly goofy songs about life but from a Christian perspective.

They also did a really nice worship album, "Company of Angels" with two songs in particular that were awesome, "God of Wonders" and "We Delight".

[HiTech RedNeck]

In 50 years (should the Lord's return tarry, of course) worship songs in many of the styles which seem so shocking today will be viewed nostalgically as paragons of wholesomeness. Unlike the words of the autographs of scripture, the meaning of a musical style is totally relative to human experience. Were the first century Christians somehow able to come back today and hear a cathedral organ, they would regard it not as exalted and glorious, but as grotesque.

[tortoise]

...but obviously you don't know much about Michael W. Smith either.

Actually, I do. I hold him to the same standard as everyone else and he is no Bach, not by a longshot. As a musician he is strictly run-of-the-mill. There are no bonus points for being Christian when it comes to musical composition prowess.

However, I will grant that as someone who was in the business for years, I am very picky about my musicians.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Actually he can do more than only imagine. He can read about it.

[HiTech RedNeck]

C. S. Lewis pointed out that "fourth rate words set to fifth rate music" were sung to great benefit by the saints.

[Theo]

I am so glad that I am apart of a different kind of church that is springing up all of the US these days. They are focused on meeting people where they are and using different types of media to bring the message -- video clips, secular music, and spirit filled contemporary Christian music -- to creatively communicate Bible truth.

Not sure the sanctuary is an appropriate place to play "secular" music (not sure what "secular" means, by the way). By playing "secular" music, the church elders/pastors are condoning, and even approving of that music. That's no different from showing clips from, say, a "secular" movie that includes portrayals of adultery/fornication. By showing that movie clip (even the non-offensive parts), the elders/pastors are indicating that it's acceptable to view such a movie. We Christians really do need to use discernment in what we view and listen to.

Once again, a disclaimer. I'm not saying all music written/performed by non-Christians is wrong. I'm not saying all movies written/directed/acted in are wrong. But I am saying we should consider what we watch/listen to, and that those in spiritual authority (elders/pastors) should be especially cautious about what they present to those under their care.

As an aside.... The cross is offensive, a stumbling block, foolishness to those who are perishing. We should be cautious not to try to make it too appealing to the lost; doing so can distort the terrible and wonderful thing that the Creator accomplished through it....

[Revolting cat!]

There is no such thing as Christian music any more than there is such a thing as Christian drywall.

Exactly. Most of what I heard presented as "Christian music" I found lame and weak at best, and annoying, the way Muzak used to be annoying before it started playing instrumental versions of Beatles hits, at worst. This summer I met an up and rising country/folk musician of remarkable talent who writes worldlywise lyrics about the usual subjects, including in one case, about getting drunk. Having heard and read his lyrics I wasn't surprised to learn later that he had a solid Christian education. But does he play what is being categorized a "Christian music"? No way!

[HiTech RedNeck]

People can't relating to words that were written in the 16th century.

I can, when the message is true, because truth is timeless. But I can also relate to words that were written yesterday if they are true.

[tortoise]

C. S. Lewis pointed out that "fourth rate words set to fifth rate music" were sung to great benefit by the saints.

Interestingly, I actually find a number of hymns to be fairly well-written, particularly among the prolific output of the Scottish Protestants a few centuries ago. When I was in the music biz, I borrowed figures and pieces of these on more than one occasion.