Contemporary Christian Music's Sinking Witness: Lack of depth and reverence to the Almighty

Christian Post ^ | 08/04/2014 | BY CHELSEN VICARI

[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

[Organic Panic]

I can’t stand “contemporary” Christian music. It is tiresome, clichéd, and manufactured from the same pop mills that spit out most any new American Idol.

[LurkingSince'98]

oops

also forgot to mention there is nothing she can do to lift the excommunication other than publicly confess her sin and publicly beg for reinstatement.

ain’t gonna happen

Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam

[~Vor~]

"Matt Redman - “Your Grace Finds Me” Chokes me up every time I hear it."

"Mercy" does that to me too...all great songs by Matt!...I also like "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys...debating on whether to buy the movie DVD of the same name when it comes out tomorrow...

[texpat72]

I had never heard of Keith and Kristyn Getty, Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[C. Edmund Wright]

…but they keep passin her that offering plate, and keep proudly claiming her as one of their own…….

No hypocrisy here….move along, nothing to see…...

[Lakeshark]

I understand she still receives communion, so the excommunication you speak of must be an imaginary one. Ted Kennedy did as well, heck, he had his very own family priest the whole time he pimped and voted for abortion. I think he received a massive Catholic burial when he died.

[C. Edmund Wright]

“with thunder in His footsteps and lightning in His fists…Our God is an Awesome God” - Rich Mullins….

[Colonel_Flagg]

Because they don’t have good musical taste like I do? :P

In seriousness, blended worship doesn’t work well. It is either all one way or all the other. A lot of modern churches do embrace CCW but there are still plenty of Bible-believing churches who do not.

Pinging a friend who is a member of one.

[jonno]

I can’t stand “contemporary” Christian music.

All traditional music was the "pop" music of it's day. One could argue that good music might be those pieces which have endured through centuries of use.

However, would you wrinkle your nose at the homegrown songs of praise sung in the secret house churches in North Korea? Or would you sniff at the vibrant singing of the faithful in the grass-hut churches in Africa? Do you presume to know what "type" of music God finds pleasing to his ear?

In the end, I believe that God is worshiped and honored by humble hearts filled with a passion for Him - singing the truth of the Gospel.

[LurkingSince'98]

Hi

one of my favorite contemparary songs is

“In the Breaking of the Bread” by Michael Ward.

1. In the walking on the road, we saw him.
In the telling of our hopes, we saw him.
In the burning of our hearts, we saw the Lord.
At the meal he took the bread and then he blessed it, broke it, offered it.

In the breaking of the bread, we saw him!
Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive!

2. We set out to find his friends to tell them.
We went to Jerusalem to tell them;
and with joy we told them, “We have seen the Lord!”
And as we were speaking there, he stood among us, blessed us, said to us,

“Now my peace I leave with you.” We saw him!
Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive!

3. But then we became afraid without him.
In the darkened room we stayed without him,
waiting for the One he said that he would send.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came down upon us,
filling us, changing us, giving us the strength to say:

We saw him! Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive!

4. We ran out into the street to tell them,
everyone that we could meet, to tell them,
“God has raised him up and we have seen the Lord!”
We took bread as he had done and then we blessed it, broke it, offered it.

In the breaking of the bread, we saw him!
Suddenly our eyes were opened.

There within our midst was Jesus, and we knew he was alive.
In the breaking of the bread, he is here with us again,
and we know he is alive.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKiM4BshSds

For the Greater Glory of God

[metmom]

Aaron Shust is not as well known, but he writes his own lyrics for a lot of what he sings and I find most of them very God oriented.

Much if it is based on passages of Scripture.

[Lakeshark]

Nice dodge. The pee wee Herman defense is just so compelling. So, what’s the reason you think A full throated apostate such as Kennedy or Pelosi should receive communion again?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Nancy Pelosi is excommunicated ‘latae sentia’ from her very first vote approving abortion.

Is she allowed to take communion?

[knarf]

I dunno ... MY prayers are more like ..

Dad .. I did it again and I feel like such a jerk ... will you forgive me and help me to remember BEFORE I do it again next time?

And I'm really havin' a hard time understanding my wife these days ... it's like ... she wants me to be somethikng she knows I'm not, and we talk about it, but her attitude is like .. 'why aren't you .... '

And I really appreciate how you used pastor Sunday ... I needed that

It's hard for a guy to say I love you ... but I do.

If that's reverence ... I revere Him.

Mostly I'm in trouble only He can help me with ...

y'know ?

[LurkingSince'98]

there have been attempts where folks have got up and physically stopped them from communion which I am sure you’ve never heard about.

That is why they on ever go to their pet churches where the local pastor is a freaking liberal commie.

I’m sure if your were the church you would put a stop to it, the only question is how?

AMDG

[LurkingSince'98]

she is allowed whenever she can find a liberal, probably gay, commie priest who is in on it with her.

I am going to be very judgmental here but baby-killers like her should burn in hell for eternity, but I’m not the He who judges.

AMDG

[LurkingSince'98]

knarf,

I must say heartfelt - I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

For the Greater Glory of God

[Hebrews 11:6]

yes and it is called ‘vain repetition’, but protestants never do that.. Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam

If you have something to contribute, in the light of Ephesians 4:29, please just go ahead and make yourself plain.

[Lakeshark]

I understand there is a difficulty in dealing with full throated apostates from taking part in a church. I have seen other churches do it succesfully (and unsuccessfully) but I’ve never heard of a serious attempt by the Catholic church hierarchy to get these two dealt with as they should have been. Why is that?