For the last few days I have been on a music tangent, providing some food-for-thought on issues pertaining to our musical choices in our daily listening and in our worship. Today I want to end the series by addressing trendy, contemporary Christian music (CCM) in Sunday worship.
First let me say that I think it is wonderful that a lot of rock and country musicians who were formerly using their talents for worldly purposes are now finding a wholesome use for their skills inside the church. For years I was right there beside them, using modern music for purposes of worship, and I still have a strong CCM lean. So I’m not against using CCM as a medium for worship so long as the elder members of our congregations are not alienated and left out by a church’s refusal to play hymns, which, unfortunately has happened more times than we know. CCM musicians, arrogantly insisting that their/our style of music represents the new direction that God is leading, are hurting the elder members of our church families by ramming our musical styles down their throats, ignoring the time-tested hymns, and running many of these precious older folks – many of whom founded the churches we enjoy – out of the church injured and disillusioned.
Regarding the hymns, by the way, they are typically much more lyrically meaningful and theologically sound compared to a lot CCM worship songs I’ve heard, many of which are very shallow. I believe the hymns should be preserved even in more contemporary churches because 1) they represent our heritage of faith, 2) they are the ‘language’ of our elder members, and 3) they are rich in theological meaning.
I have been among those who brushed the hymns to the side in the past because they were supposedly archaic. But I have since learned that there is no such thing as trends in God’s Kingdom. Once He establishes a thing, it is established. And the hymns have stood the test of time – a test that I don’t think most of our CCM songs will ultimately pass. I doubt if anyone will be singing some of the lyrically-challenged songs 100 years from now that we currently use for worship in our churches.
Furthermore, churches represent the FAMILY of God, and in a family there are many different age groups represented. To confine a church’s musical selections to CCM only so as to cater to one age segment is fragmenting and weakens the church, because the younger members desperately need the wisdom and experience of the older, just as the older need the energy and vision of the younger. Age segregation in churches is becoming all too common, and it’s destructive. Music has had a lot to do with that.
Another problem that many contemporary churches have not successfully dealt with is how to keep the focus on God instead of the band. How do you set up a concert-style stage using entertainment-oriented music with musicians who are accustomed to ‘performing’ and still keep the focus on God? If a worship band can resist the temptation to play a “gig” rather than to truly worship God, I think it CAN be done, but therein lies the rub. In my experience, most worship bands can’t distinguish the difference and end up basking in the spotlight rather than to tuck themselves off to one side in the dark and allowing God to be the center of people’s attention. Too many worship teams display their players front-and-center and practically force the congregation to watch, as if they were attending a concert. THAT’S one of the problems. Scripture says that God is not in the business of sharing His glory with feeble man. Churches MUST arrange their bands in such a way as to keep them away from the center of attention, whether that be using an orchestra pit, tucking them off to one side behind some plants, whatever. But it must be done if God is to be the focus.
Another problem plaguing contemporary worship is the choosing of songs based upon musical style rather than on lyrical content rich in theological meaning. I love good music, but if I had to choose between great music and lyrical content, I would choose to ditch the band altogether and sing words acappella that are truly inspired. I have heard many good CCM songs that do a good job of combining modern music with powerful lyrics, but that seems to be more the exception rather than the rule.
I want to emphasize that I enjoy a lot of CCM, so I’m not throwing out the baby with the bathwater, as they say. And I know that there are numerous humble CCM artists whom God is using for His glory. I simply want to point out that in all we do as Christians there are boundaries, but many CCM artists and devotees seem to be more influenced by the world than by those clearly defined Biblical standards.
So in bringing our three-part music series to a close, we should evaluate how to make wise musical choices. Personally, I won’t listen to just any music because it is “Christian”, and I also don’t listen to just any secular music. I do listen to a very small selection of country music, but I’m careful that the lyrical content is family-friendly, or I reject it. Where CCM is concerned, I likewise reject artists that appear to promote and exalt themselves more than they do Christ, which narrows the field quite a bit. I also reject the heavy metal versions of CCM, although that used to be my genre of choice. And if it is sensual in it’s feel, even if the artist is “Christian,” I don’t buy it, and I don’t let my kids listen to it.
Since there is no chapter or verse in the Bible about musical styles and specific groups, we have to consider the big picture – the over-arching Biblical principles. Some people might be tempted to justify their cigarette addiction, for example, because the Bible does not specifically address cigarettes. But what are the all-encompassing life principles that God would have us consider? As it pertains to CCM in our worship and in our private lives, the following principles apply:
· Avoid the very appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
· Do not embrace worldly philosophies and methodologies. (Psalm 1:1, James 4:4-5)
· Do not live just to please yourselves, but be sensitive to what may offend a weaker brother. (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)
· Don’t support those who claim to be Christians and ministers but who do not represent the gospel according to Biblical standards. (1 Corinthians 5, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Peter 2:1-3)
· Be willing to serve a role in God’s Kingdom that is not glamorous or important in the eyes of the world in order to shine the spotlight on Christ. (John 3:30, John 13:1-20)
· Live in such a way that the distinction between you and the world is obvious to everyone. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
It is time we as Christians in a post-modern world begin to strenuously pursue Christ-likeness by adhering to these standards of dissociation with worldliness. We must stop seeing how close we can get to the edge of the cliff of sin without falling off, and instead get as far away as possible in order to embrace the high road of spiritual maturity, and this will include our methods of worship and our entertainment choices. Those who press on toward the mark instead of stopping short will experience the glorious privilege of being used mightily for God's glory, as well as receive the benefits in scripture promised to those who cherish holiness.
First let me say that I think it is wonderful that a lot of rock and country musicians who were formerly using their talents for worldly purposes are now finding a wholesome use for their skills inside the church. For years I was right there beside them, using modern music for purposes of worship, and I still have a strong CCM lean. So I’m not against using CCM as a medium for worship so long as the elder members of our congregations are not alienated and left out by a church’s refusal to play hymns, which, unfortunately has happened more times than we know. CCM musicians, arrogantly insisting that their/our style of music represents the new direction that God is leading, are hurting the elder members of our church families by ramming our musical styles down their throats, ignoring the time-tested hymns, and running many of these precious older folks – many of whom founded the churches we enjoy – out of the church injured and disillusioned.
Regarding the hymns, by the way, they are typically much more lyrically meaningful and theologically sound compared to a lot CCM worship songs I’ve heard, many of which are very shallow. I believe the hymns should be preserved even in more contemporary churches because 1) they represent our heritage of faith, 2) they are the ‘language’ of our elder members, and 3) they are rich in theological meaning.
I have been among those who brushed the hymns to the side in the past because they were supposedly archaic. But I have since learned that there is no such thing as trends in God’s Kingdom. Once He establishes a thing, it is established. And the hymns have stood the test of time – a test that I don’t think most of our CCM songs will ultimately pass. I doubt if anyone will be singing some of the lyrically-challenged songs 100 years from now that we currently use for worship in our churches.
Furthermore, churches represent the FAMILY of God, and in a family there are many different age groups represented. To confine a church’s musical selections to CCM only so as to cater to one age segment is fragmenting and weakens the church, because the younger members desperately need the wisdom and experience of the older, just as the older need the energy and vision of the younger. Age segregation in churches is becoming all too common, and it’s destructive. Music has had a lot to do with that.
Another problem that many contemporary churches have not successfully dealt with is how to keep the focus on God instead of the band. How do you set up a concert-style stage using entertainment-oriented music with musicians who are accustomed to ‘performing’ and still keep the focus on God? If a worship band can resist the temptation to play a “gig” rather than to truly worship God, I think it CAN be done, but therein lies the rub. In my experience, most worship bands can’t distinguish the difference and end up basking in the spotlight rather than to tuck themselves off to one side in the dark and allowing God to be the center of people’s attention. Too many worship teams display their players front-and-center and practically force the congregation to watch, as if they were attending a concert. THAT’S one of the problems. Scripture says that God is not in the business of sharing His glory with feeble man. Churches MUST arrange their bands in such a way as to keep them away from the center of attention, whether that be using an orchestra pit, tucking them off to one side behind some plants, whatever. But it must be done if God is to be the focus.
Another problem plaguing contemporary worship is the choosing of songs based upon musical style rather than on lyrical content rich in theological meaning. I love good music, but if I had to choose between great music and lyrical content, I would choose to ditch the band altogether and sing words acappella that are truly inspired. I have heard many good CCM songs that do a good job of combining modern music with powerful lyrics, but that seems to be more the exception rather than the rule.
I want to emphasize that I enjoy a lot of CCM, so I’m not throwing out the baby with the bathwater, as they say. And I know that there are numerous humble CCM artists whom God is using for His glory. I simply want to point out that in all we do as Christians there are boundaries, but many CCM artists and devotees seem to be more influenced by the world than by those clearly defined Biblical standards.
So in bringing our three-part music series to a close, we should evaluate how to make wise musical choices. Personally, I won’t listen to just any music because it is “Christian”, and I also don’t listen to just any secular music. I do listen to a very small selection of country music, but I’m careful that the lyrical content is family-friendly, or I reject it. Where CCM is concerned, I likewise reject artists that appear to promote and exalt themselves more than they do Christ, which narrows the field quite a bit. I also reject the heavy metal versions of CCM, although that used to be my genre of choice. And if it is sensual in it’s feel, even if the artist is “Christian,” I don’t buy it, and I don’t let my kids listen to it.
Since there is no chapter or verse in the Bible about musical styles and specific groups, we have to consider the big picture – the over-arching Biblical principles. Some people might be tempted to justify their cigarette addiction, for example, because the Bible does not specifically address cigarettes. But what are the all-encompassing life principles that God would have us consider? As it pertains to CCM in our worship and in our private lives, the following principles apply:
· Avoid the very appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
· Do not embrace worldly philosophies and methodologies. (Psalm 1:1, James 4:4-5)
· Do not live just to please yourselves, but be sensitive to what may offend a weaker brother. (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)
· Don’t support those who claim to be Christians and ministers but who do not represent the gospel according to Biblical standards. (1 Corinthians 5, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Peter 2:1-3)
· Be willing to serve a role in God’s Kingdom that is not glamorous or important in the eyes of the world in order to shine the spotlight on Christ. (John 3:30, John 13:1-20)
· Live in such a way that the distinction between you and the world is obvious to everyone. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
It is time we as Christians in a post-modern world begin to strenuously pursue Christ-likeness by adhering to these standards of dissociation with worldliness. We must stop seeing how close we can get to the edge of the cliff of sin without falling off, and instead get as far away as possible in order to embrace the high road of spiritual maturity, and this will include our methods of worship and our entertainment choices. Those who press on toward the mark instead of stopping short will experience the glorious privilege of being used mightily for God's glory, as well as receive the benefits in scripture promised to those who cherish holiness.
3 comments:
This is so true...we will have to study this as a family.
It is so hard to sit in a worship service where you feel like the song leader wants you to worship him..and then when the songs are missing the names of God and Christ, it's even worse..."who are we singing to anyway??"
Amen!
This is so true, and one of the reason I find it difficult to get into worship at church. I heard someone say that they believe the choir/band should be at the back of the church, not at the front. So true.
Hi Andy. It's also interesting to note that most of the "old" hymns were written during times of intense persecution or hardship. When we sing songs written only during the past few decades, a period of great wealth and ease for most of our country, we are losing the benefit of the wisdom that comes from a faith tested by real hardship. We are seeing the reflection of a me-focused culture instead of falling upon our knees in reverence and respect to the almighty God.
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