![]() ![]() For almost half a millennium, church music has included settings of the service cantatas anthems choruses and hymns. In Luther’s time the congregation was encouraged to sing, in ever-expanding portions of the service beyond chanting and the liturgy, to hymns. Sometimes somber, sometimes joyously, eventually in certain liturgical orders. Saint Cecilia reversed that attitude (and is honored as the Patron Saint of Music) and for a thousand years or so, music accompanied worship. In the Apostolic days of the young church, music was not particularly encouraged. But the up-ending of church music does not end there. The emphasis is on the singer (more than God?), on how we feel (instead of worshiping or understanding Him), or what we receive from the musical experience. Examine lyrics and see how often the first-person pronoun “I” is used. ![]() Some of it purports to praise God, but its praise is diluted by the lack of focus or substance, characterized by those endlessly repeated lines. The “contemporary” “worship” music we refer to here is similar to the earlier forms… but far different. Gospel songs that live today in white Southern Gospel and Black Spirituals feature choruses to which singers return between verses. The difference with songs – gospel songs, revival tunes, camp-meeting music – is more than the simpler harmonies and popular melodies. Look at the words of traditional hymns: they describe the situation of the world and the position of Christians in it challenged, threatened, but hopeful. In formal terms, hymns are sermons in song, stating biblical themes or exhortations. But he said he meant church music that repeated the same seven words 11 times. Agreeing with my critique, he referred to “7-11 music,” which I assumed meant the ubiquitous Muzak we hear in stores and elevators. Well before I encountered that “orphaned” elderly lady a decade ago, I was talking about this general topic to Dr Bill Bright, founder of the mighty organization Campus Crusade for Christ. It is a manifestation of the nature of our faith, the validity of faithfulness, the object of our faith. It is essential to our identification as believers in God and followers of Christ. It goes to the notion of corporate worship. The transformation of church music across the American landscape (not in every church but every Christian will know what I mean) has been rapid and fundamental. It reveals something that should have us troubled. Rather, the transformation of church music says something about the culture in general – not just our expressions of spirituality. It is not even a matter of wanting arbitrarily to preserve ancient music and traditional hymns – my readers know that I enthusiastically offer up Christian music from chants of the Middle Ages to Southern and Black gospel. These are not the words of a cranky music critic, but from someone who is concerned that church music in America has morphed from Worship to Watching from Praise to Performance turning the congregational worshippers into concert audiences. I have listened to laymen and argued with pastors and worship leaders. I have groused before friends and in speeches. That poor lady’s reply encapsulated something I had felt, myself, for a long time and even more so in subsequent years. It’s always so loud, and I still can’t hear the words or sing along.” “No,” she explained, “I always wait out here until that awful rock and roll stops. ![]() We paused to ask if she needed assistance. In the lobby we saw an elderly lady, frail and looking lonely, sitting against the wall. Amazing.My wife and I were a little late for church one Sunday in San Diego about 10 years ago. Don't let people convince you that you're on a path to hell because you're listening to Hillsong. So I think that it's a matter of personal conscience what music you want to listen to. God created this world for us to enjoy and He created us to love one another and live in peace. I think we are in the world and though we are not conforming this world, the implication isn't that we bury our heads in the sand and try to ignore everything. Nearly everything else in the entire world doesn't quote the Bible including books, movies, tv shows, school, sports, the government, clothing brands, advertisements, even the church itself many times and the list never ends. That being said, if you're going to judge which music qualifies as anointed soley off of the premise of how closely it parrots Bible verses, then all lyrics that don't quote the Bible verbatim are literally inaccurate. ![]() The only thing that represents literal and accurate Christian theology is singularly the Bible. ![]()
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