Posted on 03/03/2007 9:56:29 AM PST by Alex Murphy
When church music directors lead congregations in singing contemporary Christian music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We'd been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called "Draw Me Close to You," which has zero theological content and could just as easily be sung in any nightclub. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed. "Let's sing that again, shall we?" he asked. "No!" I shouted, loudly enough to send heads all around me spinning while my wife, Patty, cringed.
I admit I prefer traditional hymns, but even so, I'm 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.
This trend is evident not just in theater-like churches where musicians—with their guitars and bongo drums—often perform at ear-splitting levels. It's also true of Christian radio, historically an important source of serious preaching and teaching. Several stations recently—many acting on the advice of a leading consulting firm—have dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats. For example, a major station in Baltimore has dropped four talk shows in order to add music. Family Life Radio, a first-class broadcaster, has adopted a new program split of 88 percent music "to appeal to the 35- to 50-year-old demographic." A respected broadcaster recently dropped Focus on the Family on the grounds that it had become too involved in "moral issues." Does anyone really believe the Bible is indifferent to moral questions—or that modern Christians should be?
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
Ah, but then they can't crossover into the mainstream to "reach more people for Christ".
/s
This is a beautiful poem (song?). Can you tell me what the name of it is? Thank you.
Nevermind, I did an online search and found it for myself.
What about songs like"Above All", "Lord Have Mercy", "How Beautiful". "Lamb of God"?I could go on but some contemporary songs are worshipfuland tell the story.
A very moving hymn.
Maybe its because that hymn was sung 41 yrs ago by a neighboring farmer at my 15 year old brother's funeral (farm accident; I was 11), that I sing that hymn with God on my mind....always.
There are times when I'm sitting in a service where the music, contemporary or not, is just noise because of the amplification; not stirring the soul to worship and praise but to deliverance from loud, vain repetition.
I think of the time the Lord overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and envision myself going to the soundroom and smashing the control panel with a ballbat.
The 'withit music' is not unlike the moneychangers in that leaders use it to get more in the offering plate.
hmmm...."for the time shall come that they shall not endure sound doctrine..."
I'll second. Bring on the guitars and a little noise. Horrors!
If you can't tell by the context (perhaps the throngs of people around you with raised hands and closed eyes) that people are singing the song not to their significant human other but to God, you might need some courses in simple comprehension.
Methinks some of the radio stations which went to all music might have cancelled Monsieur Colson's "Break Point."
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself
In battles won
For I've been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone, I overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes
Like diamonds in my hands
But these trophies could not equal
To the grace, by which I stand
In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory
In the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone
And if you just substitute "boyfriend" for Christ, then...um...well..hmmm, then you sound really weird. But I'm sure there's other good examples.
On another note, I am personally opposed to "Draw Me Close to You" on the grounds that it's overused and cliche.
Then we may as well be singing the Beatle's, "I love you, ya, ya ya", to Jesus in church. You first.
And with a love like that
You know you should be glad.
Some melodies of todays praise music are enjoyable, and certainly have a place....but the lyrics are atrocious and devoid any real formative impact for the young person who intentional or not is formulating a theology......that said - we have a mix of both, frequntly opening with the modern, closing with the traditional
I've come to the conclusion that this is one of the signs of the times...happening in virtually every denomination....
I LOVE Chuck Colson. He called out 'NO' in a loud voice? ahhhh, my hero. As a musician, I avoid that music at all costs.
I'm Catholic too, and those same ditties make me want to scream too. I try, if at all possible, to get to the earliest non-musical masses. As I did when I was a Protestant. I think Colson's article is a hoot and so correct.
I like Chuck Colson a lot and always read his little articles. I can just imagine his "No!" rising from the congregation.
I go to the early Mass to avoid the music, too. The early Mass here is usually celebrated by an ancient, semi-retired monsignor who comes out and growls a few words of a song, one of the old Catholic chestnuts (Holy God, or Immaculate Mary, for example). Once we can figure out what he's trying to sing, we do one verse of it and that's that. It may not be beautiful, but at least it's not offensive and New Age heresy-laden stuff that puts me in a complete state for the rest of the day!
What a ridiculous thing to say. I know you are attempting to be clever, but your point is not valid. A person could be singing any song, even the beloved "Amazing Grace" and be thinking about their taxes or the cute blonde 3 rows in front of them. Worship is about where your heart is and not the style. Personally, I love the old hymns as well as the new stuff. They are different, but neither is more Godly than the other. What matters is the heart of the worshipper, not the song.
Regarding Chuck Colson...I have respected him for many years, but I think his blurting out "No" in the middle of a worship service was rude. If he didn't like it, he could have gotten up and left. Instead he decided to disrupt the service and probably embarrass and humiliate the worship leader. Someone with his stature and prominence should choose to wield that authority in a way that doesn't belittle others.
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