Posted on 08/04/2014 8:38:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery. So let's admit it: if we swop the lyrics of a Taylor Swift ballad with some of today's contemporary Christian worship songs, no one would know the difference.
Others have noted the "Jesus-is-your-boyfriend" style worship songs clogging the airwaves of contemporary Christian radio and Sunday morning worship sets lack depth and reverence to the Almighty. They're right. But there's an even bigger problem when contemporary Christian songs downplay, even scold Christian's public witness for the sake of couch-potato Christianity.
Last week a fellow pro-life, pro-family activist turned on his local "family-friendly" contemporary Christian radio station while driving his kids to camp. As his kids were belting the words to a new hit, my friend was shocked by the lyrics.
The song was Family Force 5's "Let It Be Love," number #14 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs list. Of course this means it is one of 20 songs that local contemporary Christian radio programs play over and over ad nauseam. The song's lyrics go:
I've never seen a soul set free Through an argument I've never seen a hurt get healed In a protest… It's not about the stand we take But the grace we give
For my friend, the first line "I've never seen a soul set free through an argument" couldn't be further from reality with the conservative Christian movement. In addition remembering that the Apostle Peter urged Believers, "[A]lways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
My friend witnessed a life changed from a same-sex lifestyle to a redeemed follower of Christ thanks to a bold, counter-cultural argument presented at a Parents and Family of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) event. A young gay man made the decision to offer over his life to Christ after listening to Robert Knight, Senior Fellow for the American Civil Rights Union, described God's love for humanity and purpose for sexuality and marriage.
Most devastating is the lyric's second line, which reads, "I've never seen a hurt get healed in a protest." I'm not sure what kind of protests these band members have attended, but they must not have been pro-life oriented.
A beautiful example of lives transformed at a protest is told by Wendy Wright, former President of Concerned Women for America and Vice President for Government Relations and Communications. Wendy spent many days peacefully protesting outside of abortion clinics. She and her fellow protestors not only offered hurt women prayer and side-walk counseling, but worked to save the lives of their unborn babies.
Wendy was blessed to come face to face with a young woman whose mother protected her from abortion because of Wendy's abortion protest. "After speaking to Generation Joshua home school students, telling stories of rescuing babies from abortion," explained Wendy. "A young woman asked, "Have you ever met one of those babies that you rescued?"
Shaking her head no, Wendy explained that while she hadn't she would love the opportunity. "I was rescued from abortion and adopted because of you," the young woman told Wendy.
Lives are changed, in part, through vessels willing to "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people" (Jude 3) Sadly you wouldn't know that based on the premise of this "Christian worship" song.
To be fair, Family Force 5 is correct that grace is a necessary component to lead others to salvation in Christ. But it alone it is not enough. Grace without substance is pity and nothing more. Behind our compassion must be a willingness to share the totality of Christ's character and His command to turn from sin.
Contemporary Christian music has a tremendous ministry opportunity that expands beyond the borders of the local church. Christians cannot present half-truths for the sake easy listening and broader audiences. As followers of Christ, we can do better. Or at least turn off the radio.
-- Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University and frequently contributes to conservative outlets
…so I assume my little quip was over your head? I mean, if not, your response was astonishingly weak.
Phillips, Craig and Dean. Best in contemporary Christian worship music, imho.
later aread
Yeah, there was an article not long ago that said many members of prominent Christian music acts aren’t even practicing Christians anymore, they just stuck with it for the steady paycheck. Show business is show business, whether you slap the label “Christian” on it or not.
Amazing Grace is about God, seen through the eyes of a slave trader, and praises God for His saving power. I don’t have the problem with it that you and some Catholics do.
Actually, Psalm 23 reads in a similar fashion, and I don’t know if anyone has a problem with that.
Where I have issues are with songs like “Draw Me Close” or “In the Secret”. They aren’t reverent, I call them Prom Date” songs and they have no place in a host of worship.
Of course, if you read Revelation 5 literally, worship in Heaven is not sung but spoken, so this may all be a moot point anyway :)
Bless your day.
Oh, wait . . .
Then there's something wrong with Catholicism.
Just give me Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler, Elgar, and Stravinsky (all Catholics).
cop out response.
Wow, that Paul guy sure was self-centered, wasn’t he?
Lyrics written in the 1780s by John Newton, a priest in the Church of England. Current music adapted in an American hymnbook during the 1820s. Both pre-date the onset of gospel music in the U.S. during the late 19th century.
To each their own. It's what makes the world go round.
Hmmm. As a 30-year radio announcer, with the last 14 being in Contemporary Christian format, I find articles like this to be highly subjective. (By the way, as I type this my station is playing “Hosannah” by Selah.) Not only have I been on-air for all these years, but I’ve been programming for almost as long. Whenever a listener calls (anywhere) and says, “I don’t like this song!”, or “Why don’t you play more _____”, I always remind my staff that what they’re really saying is, “I want you to play what I like.” I learned a long time ago that just because I don’t like a particular style or sound of music doesn’t mean it’s not good.
Oh, and people get crankier about music as they get older. :)
I really, really wish our church would play some gospel music like the black churches do. That would be a nice change.
However, referencing Mary and her experience with Gabriel, the Holy Spirit and her child Jesus is a beautiful thing. One can only imagine what it was like for her. The wonder of these experiences is central to many Christmas carols, but there is a great difference between telling her story and worshiping her. (Psst - praying to Mary IS worship).
RE: Just give me Mozart,
Mozart? Really now.
I’m sure you will object to such music of his as :
Leck mich im Arsch (a canon in B-flat major). Just try translating that into English.
Or BONA NOX (four-voice canon in A Major )
Or the Latin, DIFFICILE LECTU (now this is a fun song with a lot of double entendres )...
Mozart is a genius, don’t get me wrong. But the man was quite crude.
I think you left out Tchaikovsky but I’m not sure he is Catholic.
The tune is from 1830--when Jackson sat in the White House, Texas and Utah were part of Mexico, and Arkansas and Michigan were not yet states.
You do know Salvation is thru grace, and not laws?
Then why do we have a new covenant (laws)....?
Romans 7:14-25(ESV)
” 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. “
That, by the way, is from Acts 7, written by the Apostle Paul, who endeavored to eliminate selfishness at his conversion.
“Amazing Grace” is the personal testimony of a believer sharing what is available to all of us, namely the Gospel, and the joy of his new found relationship with the Lord. Very effective witness to invite other sinners to the rail with Jesus.
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