I have a love-hate relationship with Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). I love it because it desires to make music for Jesus. I hate it because it is often shallower than the kiddie pool. Unfortunately, its shallowness often overwhelms and leaves me longing for more.
I always hesitate to write about something I know little about. I am not a music expert or critic, and I cannot play guitar like every other American male age 18-29. I theologize and preach and shepherd, so I am treading deep water. Nevertheless, I generally like music, and it does not take a music professor to realize that Christian music needs nothing less than a modern reformation. Read a sample of the lyrics to the currently popular song “Hold Me” by Jamie Grace:
I’ve had a long day, I just wanna relax
Don’t have time for my friends, no time to chit chat
Problems at my job, wonderin’ what to do
I know I should be working but I’m thinking of you and
Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down
That’s when your smile comes around
Oh, I love the way you hold me, by my side you’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love the way you hold me, in your arms I’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
If you didn’t hear these lyrics on a Christian station, you’d probably guess the song is about the singer’s boyfriend. Never mind the teeny-bop melody. There’s not mention of human brokenness and the desperate need for a Redeemer. There’s not a hint of gospel. Instead, Jesus is a boyfriend who shows up smiling during a bad day at work.
The intention of the writer is good. The point is that Jesus is there for us. He takes care of us. If we have Jesus, we have enough. The problem is not the intention. But music (and all art, including writing) goes beyond intention, doesn’t it? Intention matters, but quality matters as well, and Christians should strive for the best quality because God did not spare quality when he created. This song is a microcosm of Christian music today. Don’t get me wrong: there are many good Christian songs, but far too often the songs I hear settle for corny Bieber-inspired lines that communicate nothing of the vast depth of God’s grace in the gospel.
Scores of words have been written about whether “Christian” music is good or bad or why there is even a separate sub-culture of “Christian” things at-large. That’s not why I’m writing. I simply want Christians–musicians in particular–to embrace the long and splendid history of authentically transparent and objectively beautiful music in the church.
Written in 1759, the famous hymn “Come Ye Sinners” by Joseph Hart reminds us that Jesus is there for us; he takes care of us; and if we have Jesus, we have enough. Hart even uses the analogy of being held by Jesus, but he does it without making it seem like he is our cosmic, feathered-hair boyfriend. Hart writes:
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms.
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.
Here we find gospel. Here we find a strong, yet compassionate Redeemer who beckons: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Will Christian artists go back to songs like these before they attempt to go forward? Will they tap into the richness of music that belongs to our 2,000-year-old community of saints? Will they grasp for and wrestle with language in order to winsomely and articulately communicate the gospel of grace?
I hope they do. The gospel is at stake–even on Christian airwaves.
JAMES PRUCH 
109 responses to “Jesus is Not Our Boyfriend”
Great title and points. I can’t stand that song.
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Good entry, James. I’ve had many of the same thoughts about Christian music since I became a believer ~ 15 years ago. I too have a tough time with pop music, although there are probably a few exceptions. I typically favor music that is a bit off of Mainstream Ave. Check out Josh Garrels when you have 15 or 20 minutes to spare. He’s my absolute favorite, and he’s anything BUT what you hear when you turn on Christian radio. I first heard him about 2 years ago and I love nearly every song he’s ever made. He has a lot of songs on YouTube from live performances. A few of my favorites (although it’s hard for me to pick just a few): ‘Zion and Babylon’, ‘Rejoice and Lament’, ‘The Children’s Song’, and ‘Farther Along’. And, if you like what you hear, you can download his last album “Love & War & the Sea in Between” for FREE on Noisetrade.
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Travis, those bands make me want to listen because they don’t have cheesy names! Thanks. I’ll check them out.
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Hi James.I love everything you said.however.the tittle needs further information.we all have dated and left him. At some point and came back.but for the baby’s in Christ may seem puzzled.I was sent to mention also in your closing to add.we are imortally intended for women to be his brides and men to be his bride grooms.and to go with the flow of the charge you teach.and to also mention to not take your word but his and quite the passage for he is your back up on what you speak.
Iron sharpens iron.I say this in love salt and light.God bless
Please excuse my spelling have no time to spell check.lol.
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Thanks James.
I’m a musician, worship leader, song and poetry writer, and a hack composer. So from that perspective; I enjoyed hearing your take on it. I take no offense as a song writer, and in fact – applaud the thoughts. In all things of this life – God alone knows the heart and the intentions of it.
Having been in the middle of ‘worship arguments’ aplenty at various churches – there’s no time to waste landing there. And I’m glad you didn’t.
Well done, carefully crafted words, music, and art matter. Case in point; God raised up in Israel craftsman to create beautiful and creative works for the tabernacle and eventually the temple. God filled them and enabled them, beyond the “talents and abilities” that were resident. because He cares what He’s enthroned in. Our worship and praises should be beautiful as well since he say’s He’s enthroned on them.
Psalm 22:3 – Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
blessings,
~dan
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Hey James!
Great post! We really dislike CCM because of the very things you said!
Our church actually has really great music and several albums out. You should check them out!
http://www.sojournmusic.com/category/digital-hymnal/
The last cd (or 2?) were Issac Watts texts!
Hope y’all are doing well!!!
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Sam, I always hear about Sojourn’s projects on TGC. Unfortunately, buying albums rarely happens since money is tight. :) But one or two songs, I can do.
Carly and I have long been Indelible Grace fans.
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James—thank you, thank you, thank you for saying what needs to be said. If you’re looking for depth of knowledge on the subject, there’s a great sermon by John MacArthur you can watch (http://www.gty.org/resources/Sermons/90-377) and an interview you can listen to (http://www.gty.org/resources/Sermons/GTY110). He’s been a great resource for me. My husband and I are church musicians, members of a church orchestra, and it’s been hard for many years to keep an orchestra together because of CCM. Thankfully, we are now part of a group that is not going anywhere any time soon, and it has been the biggest blessing in our spiritual lives!
I’ve written two blogs on the same subject, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on them. Please let me know if you’re interested. This is a topic we should be discussing before the church looks and sounds so much like the world that those seeking Christ can’t hear Him!!!
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Jamie, I would love to read your blogs. Send the link my way on the contact page! Thanks.
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http://tousledapostle.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/give-me-something-to-sing-about/
This was the one that caused a little dust-up. :)
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This is so interesting to me because the exact hymn that you mentioned was actually redone by a ‘CCM’ artist, Todd Agnew, a few years ago. I completely agree with you about the Hold Me song that you mentioned as having lyrics that could be confused with a pop song about a boyfriend, but as an avid listener to CCM, I believe that is the exception rather than the rule. There are so many great songs on Christian radio that call me closer to Christ and contain phrases of Scripture and phrases that cause me to come to a new realization of my faith – for instance, in a recently popular song, “Fall Apart” by Josh Wilson, one phrase says, “How can I come to the end of me, and somehow still have all I need?” This song and this phrase in particular carried me through a difficult time after my third child was born last summer, and reminded me to depend on God’s strength when mine was completely gone. Casting Crowns is an amazing example of a group that honors God with music that is worshipful and yet culturally relevant. Jamie Grace herself has at least two other songs out that have lyrics that speak more clearly of her love for Christ and desire to follow Him – they are called You Lead and Show Jesus, if you’d like to check those out. I am passionate about music because I believe that is one way God uses to speak to many of His people, and I hate to see an entire genre of Christian music be talked negatively of based on the lyrics of one song.
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Carrie, you are right that Agnew covered that song. And as I said in the blog, there are many good CCM songs–some great ones! But Agnew’s version–and other covered songs from the rich history of church music–won’t be played on CCM radio (with few exceptions; e.g. “Amazing Grace”).
To say that “Hold Me” is the “one song” wrong with CCM is simply ignoring the trends of Christian music. I remember a popular song from the late 90s that went something like this: “I want to touch you, I want to see your face, I want to know you more.” If I can sing it something Jesus and turn around and sing it to my wife, that’s a bad sign.
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Not sure that is the best example in the song “I want to Know you More” (or whatever it is titled.) While I agree with the basis of the article, wasn’t it Moses himself who continually asked God to show himself? (“I want to see your face”) In fact, God finally hid Moses in the cleft and let him see His afterglow. Also, didn’t Thomas desire to touch Jesus; to feel the scars in his hands and side? (“I want to touch you”) When it comes down to it, these and other situations throughout the Word were an attempt at “knowing Jesus/God more.” There are many verses, even full texts in the Word that could be taken out of the desired context and meaning and used in a different way, yet that doesn’t negate the heart, meaning, and truth of it. I am not however comparing the song “Hold Me” to the Living Word, simply trying to say that we spend so much time trying to analyze this and that, that we become uninterested in the heart and the truth behind the song.
That being said, while I’m not a fan of the lyrics to the song, “Hold Me”, had the writer simply mentioned that it was Jesus she was referring to, I’d have no problem with it, though it might not be in my cd player right now!
Again, all in all, I agree that we have dumbed down Jesus so that we can make Him our “boyfriend” as you put it (and I think that’s an accurate assessment), but I caution you not to label an entire organization or contemporary Christian music based upon the lyrics of a song here or there.
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I was talking with a friend this past weekend about Christian music. It’s hard for me to listen to Air 1 or KLove because it all sounds the same. The same music. The same melody. The same voices. I know they’re different but overall it sounds the same. Very pop-like but not something I’m going to put on my iPod to workout to (all the music is slow…even when it’s supposed to be fast the tracks are slow). I need songs that remind me of how much I do need our Savior but can’t they do that in a fast song? That maybe would be played on a popular music station so that others who otherwise wouldn’t listen to Christian music can come close to the gospel? That’s what I’d like.
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Amen… as a preacher who happens to also write music, I couldn’t agree more. Christian musicians should produce stuff with richer and deeper content… Incidentally, if Christians desire that kind of music, they should stop buying the other stuff. Like it or not, a good portion of the Cristian music world is market driven (with some very happy exceptions, btw).
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@Adam, I am not labeling CCM as a whole. I am simply calling for a reformation toward gospel-centered, Bible-saturated music that connects with history and the modern scene. There are MANY Christian artists who do this. There just aren’t that many that get played on the radio.
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For those who might be “favoring” CCM, I would suggest that you read the lyrics to 10 or 20 songs in the Christian “top 40” and then read 10-20 songs in the Trinity Hymnal: http://www.opc.org/hymn.html. I expect that you will notice the depth and richness of the Hymnal over against the “average” CCM song.
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The problem with this proposition, and with much of the CCM vs. hymnal discussion in general, is that the hymnal is a collection of the best of a few hundred years of hymnody, while the top 40 is what is popular at the moment. Give CCM a few generations, like we’ve given hymns, and compare what holds up over time to the hymns that have held up over time. By the way, even though the hymnal has the luxury of choosing from a vastly larger pool of traditions and resources, some stinkers still manage to make the cut.
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As a Christian, I agree with the concerns you express here. As a musician, I agree with the concerns others have expressed here. I know that while my daughter and autistic son really like K-Love, and I’d rather they listen there than much of the other junk out there with little to redeem it lyrically or musically, we try to seed them with a range of musical styles and backgrounds.
So we listen to classical music as well as older CCM musicians. It never ceases to amaze me what they will latch onto… some Margaret Becker albums, some older Steve Camp albums, and their interest in understanding liturgical church works written by everyone from Handel to Stravinsky… with many thought provoking conversations about them.
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Classical music, much of it anyway, was church music when it was written. The church used to be a bastion and financier of fine art. What happened!? I see a couple of reasons: a need to be “relevant” and the rise of top 40 CCM radio.
They kind of go hand in hand. Years ago now, Christians had the idea to make church more comfortable for non church-goers. Great idea, but it led to the need to somehow make Christ relevant to the culture (thereby saying Christ isn’t relevant to the human condition?) and we had to have the Christian version of everything. In my opinion, CCM songwriters were strongly tempted to dumb down lyrics to appeal to a wider audience. Then, it became even cooler to be a Christian band who wasn’t a Christian band (i.e. signed to a secular label). This just turned up the pressure on CCM bands and radio stations to really water down a Christ-centered message to make it easier for bands to get into a secular label.
The cycle continues today. The result is music that is neither interesting nor earth-moving. Jesus becomes analogous to our boyfriend and the concept of the true, broken human condition is moved into the shadows.
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I’m glad someone else is noticing and bothered by this!
Just some thoughts: I think “Praise and Worship” music is also taking a big simplistic hit. I have nothing against it, and I like a lot of what’s out there, but the newer music is too simple/trite. I have to say, though, I wonder how much is unfortunately the influence of the industry: time demands, deadlines in writing/producing the music, the thought that it all must be immediately “sing-able” by everybody, etc.
As I said, just to embellish upon what you said with what I’ve been noticing, too. I’m glad I’m not the only one! :D
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I like what you have said, and I think it is true, but I offer an additional perspective. The writer of the song is only 21. Who knows when she wrote it, or what she was going through. Thousands of middle and high school kids listen this music and take hope from its words. I think this message is perfect for them, especially for girls who look for boyfriends incessantly. I know when I was 14-20, I went through a lot of really emotional times and simple music like this kept me going. I still only 22 now, so I can hardly say I have found the right way, but God has brought me out of truly dark places. I remember so so clearly how much pain there can be, and still feel it sometimes. There were many many girls in my youth group on the edge of hurting themselves or already were, many thinking of ending their lives, and ALL they needed is one simple worship song, assuring them that GOD is there.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6) Spiritual maturity is a slow process, I read a book about it recently by a pastor of 30+ years who is still learning about how to truly approach God. While I didn’t take my belief in God’s character or the gospel from this kind of music, just the mention of the Lord in a song about love reminded me to be strong, that God would always, always LOVE me. Maybe for some this won’t truly express the relationship with Christ, but maturity comes with experience. God reveals himself to us over time, over years, and works through the lives of the writers just as much as listeners.
Songs are not always meant to teach, but sometimes to give hope or comfort. Even looking at the format of a typical service, the worship always leads to times of prayer, offering, and the message, and then leads the congregation back out, right? This is a simplified version of a worship set I know. While it is true that CCM doesn’t always get to the richness of gospel truth, I don’t think it has to. There will always be a shallow end to the pool, but think of how necessary that is for those who can’t swim. Sometimes life will just throw us in the deepest parts of the water, but sometimes we need to be led. TobyMac’s (he is featured in this song, and she is from his record label) music fights for the broken, his themes constantly inspire lost and searching people to hope for a better day and run to Christ. It points to the gospel, even if not spelling it out, and listeners go there to be filled. He finds artists like this girl and gives them the chance to share their heart with the world. This is a young woman’s poetry for a generation of broken girls who, otherwise, would have only secular female artists to look to. Women who sing about sex and clubs and dance parties, about disrespect to leaders and about needing only yourself to get by. Women who advocate anything but the Lord to ease pain.
God is not our boyfriend, but he is LOVE, right? It is a relationship.
As you mentioned, there are many artists who put a lot of Gospel in their music and a few do make it to the radio. My own church on the University of Florida campus struggles with choosing between scripture songs and more thematic ones, and often it is hard to use scripture songs because many people don’t know them for lack of use or radio play. Suffice it to say it can be frustrating, as everyone here has experienced, but overall we are witnesses and servants and God will use our willing hearts. If he has blessed this girl’s career and her music with exposure, isn’t that enough for us to support it?
This is one song, and there are many many like it. But say someone hears it and then goes to find it on YouTube and then listens to another song by the same girl, one that has a more direct message. Maybe her entire album. One song is like the chapter of a novel, it doesn’t represent the whole story. I think that is a difference between much CCM and hymns. Many albums are meant to be heard as a whole, teach a message from the first track to the last. The radio samples artists work, it is supposed to be catchy.
I absolutely love hymns. I grew up in a very traditional church and we spent every Sunday singing hymns accompanied by an organ, and that church still does it in one of the services. His eye is on the Sparrow, It is well with my Soul, Great is they Faithfullness, Be Thou my Vision, Before the Throne…these songs will forever be in my heart, and many churches, at least those that I have attended since starting college, incorporate hymns with other types of songs. But for every peson I meet who loves that kind of music, there is a handful of those who don’t.
As I have mentioned I attend a very very large public university (50,000+), and am only 22, so admittedly I see only a portion of the world. I haven’t studied theology, I am actually studying photojournalism, but I have served on a worship team for almost 6 years now and coordinated services at my current church for two years. I write poems and songs about my experiences with God, and people get something from them. That is how He uses me to reach other women, and sometimes men, my age. Even more, I have seem simpler CCM music messages used in my own family, seen songs remind my mother that in times of deep trial God is there, waiting and approachable.
This post grew more than I meant it to, and it is only the experience of one girl in one part of a big world. But in my sphere are there dwell thousands of lost people who don’t want to hear another hymn, who want nothing to do with God. It is heartbreaking, and though I don’t mean to imply that “Hold Me” will save them, it is hard to reach them. Some have said it is maybe harder than ever before.
I don’t think you’re wrong, not by any stretch, and may I never stand in the way of any message asking for more of Christ, because our world needs it. And I certainly believe we tend to miss the mark on his HOLINESS and the reverence due it. “He is not a tame lion” (speaking of Aslan…) But I just wanted to say that this music probably left you wanting more because there IS something more. Consider that this song probably isn’t meant to help just you. “When I was a child….” right?
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excuse me, 20* years old!
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I love this.Lord I love the way you hold me she says.I believe.anyway.wisdom has no age and if I wasn’t chicken I would be making all sorts of the meanings.you said it all perfect.we are his immortal brides men are his bride grooms and some how the key to bringing him down is with every act of love we bring the kingdom come.we are the hold up. Maybe there is more to it.but if we have a choice to worship a creature or creator maybe we have the choice to act in love and the more and constant we do he will come sooner.anyway we must figure out how to pull it all together.I’ve noticed as the word states his chosen few that were once scatered will come together be for he is to come.has that happened to you or anyone you know?what signs have you seen?I stumbled on this page by design and now I get to be apart of this world.anyway mother duty calls get back when you can.
Respectfully
Sending love and light.
Shawnakea smith
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Jenny, thanks for stopping by. I don’t want to comment on everything you wrote (you have a lot!), but I simply want to point out that I don’t think that music/teaching/etc. for young (immature) believers has to be shallow (which is what I am arguing a lot of Christian music (not all!) is). There is a difference between simple and shallow. Paul wrote a lot of hard, deep, theological things to his churches, some of whom were very immature (e.g. the Corinthians).
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This is perhaps the most profound thing I have read here. It puts me in mind of the famous Paul Barth interview with Time (I think I have my facts straight — correct me if I am wrong). The interviewer asked him to sum up his faith in one sentence. His answer? “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” Hard to get more simple than that — or more accessible to young people (as in VERY young people) — and not remotely simplistic or shallow. I am not saying that all Christian music need be that simple, but you can be simple without being simplistic or shallow or saccharine or silly. I work in a church setting where I do not do CCM at all — not even close — though we have a contemporary service, led by another person who works very hard at doing good stuff, so I am not directly exposed to this, good or bad. However, it seems to me that so much is either the “Jesus is my boyfriend” type, or a bunch of good sounding words repeated randomly ad nauseum without a thought to what they actually mean (the word “worthy” is one that particularly grates on me in this sort of usage — how many people out there singing it actually have any concept of what it means?) We need not settle for the EASIEST — how about the BEST? Part of our role as church musicians is to be educators — that implies leaving people with more than they started with, not just giving them more of the same that they already have.
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I know that this is 2 years later (I went searching for reviews of Jamie Grace now that her “Beautiful Day” has been playing incessantly on Christian radio), but oh well.
Thank you so much for articulating the difference between simple and shallow. Stories are simple but rarely shallow, and this is why Jesus told them. I find it almost offensive that “immature” believers are believed to be so simple-minded as to need easy-to-stomach music and art. Has it crossed anyone’s mind that perhaps some people are drawn to the Gospel because there is something that seems intrinsically true about it? I know that I would never have become a believer were it not for people willing to be honest and vulnerable in the music they made or conversations we had (and music is something of a conversation, no?). People don’t need the cute version of the Gospel. Many of them have gone through hideous pain, abuse, depression… you name it. We need to support music and art that acknowledges that. It is only when we see darkness that we can also see hope.
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Thanks for commenting, Rachel! This is one of my most popular posts (for some reason, music is a very personal topic, even for those who did not write, record, or produce the song!). Thanks for your thoughts–I wholeheartedly agree!
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Challenge taken, here are the current top 10 with a sample of lyrics from all but one. I would say 2 out of the 10 are on the weak side, some are very powerful. But draw your own conclusions;
1. Where I Belong – Building 429
“All I know is I’m not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong”
2. Overcome – Jeremy Camp
Seated above, enthroned in the Father’s love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God’s only Son, perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did
3. Learning to be the Light – newworldson
– certainly on the weakish side
4. My Hope is In You – Aaron Shust
I wait for You and my soul finds rest
In my selfishness, You show me grace
I worship You and my heart cries Glory, Hallelujah, Father You’re here!
5. When the Stars Burn Down – Phillips, Craig, & Dean
Star of the morning, Light of salvation, Majesty
God of all mysteries, Lord of the universe
Righteous King
6. What a Savior – Laura Story
Jesus You are stronger
More than any other
Hallelujah what a Savior
Jesus You are higher
My soul’s deepest desire
Hallelujah You are Savior
7. God’s Not Dead – Newsboys
Let heaven roar, and fire fall
Come shake the ground
with the sound of revival
My God’s not dead
He’s surely alive
He’s livin on the inside
Roaring like a lion
8. The Hurt & The Healer – MercyMe
Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide
9. All This Time – Brit Nichole
Every heartache and failure
Every broken dream
You’re the God who sees
The God who rescued me
This is my story
10. Strong Enough To Save – Tenth Avenue North
And he’ll break
open the skies to save
those who cry out his name
the One the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you
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Great songs! Thanks for listing them and the lyrics. Yes, I am a fan of CCM. I think it is more of just what type of music people prefer. I know that God is in the CCM songs because some of the ones that you just listed, I can’t even sing without tears streaming down my face. The words go straight to my soul. One of my favorites that is not mentioned is “I want to live like that” by Sidewalk Prophets. Cry every time I hear it. I have to lift my hands in praise!
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Joe, I’m so glad you had the time to take the challenge! And I’m very encouraged by what you found!
I want to clarify that I am in no way ‘anti-hymns’! I think they are a rich part of our church history, and they can be very beneficial to our spiritual lives – just this morning I sat at the piano with my 2 oldest children, singing and playing hymns – I think they are very important to be taught to our children. That being said, I have had personal experience in the local churches I have attended with hymns being toted as the ‘only’ way to worship. Although they are beautiful and theologically deep, because of the old-fashioned words that are sometimes used, new Christians or un-churched visitors may not be able to appreciate or enjoy them at first. I don’t believe this means we throw them out entirely, but the church we attend does a wonderful job of balancing the cherished hymns with some more contemporary worship songs each week.
I think the reason I felt compelled to comment on this post is that I (and many people I am close to) have been encouraged and helped to grow in our spiritual walks through contemporary Christian music. After reading your post and especially the first few comments above, I felt the need to defend the genre of music that daily encourages me to draw closer to Christ through songs like the ones Joe posted lyrics to. I understand the point of your post was not to debate whether CCM is right or wrong, but especially after reading several of the comments, it felt like you and your readers were unfairly dismissing an entire genre of music that I believe glorifies God, as our beloved hymns also do.
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The Gospel is at stake. Very well said.
This is my first time reading this particular blog; one of my Facebook friends posted a link, so I was not sent here by anything related to WordPress. Small world.
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[…] Jesus is Not Our Boyfriend – This muse focusses on some contemporary lyrics that don’t quite measure up to the ethos of the gospel. I want to be careful with comparisons like this. Broad-brushing either contemporary music as shallow or older hymnody as eloquent is terrible argumentation. Some old stuff is bad; some new stuff is good. The author’s point is valid to the extent that he compares the two texts. The lesson for me is that discernment takes work. […]
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You cannot / should not judge Christian Contemporary Music on how you feel about one song. Many, many older hymns of the church are still precious, and speak to us today. But thank the Lord we have come a long way from the “dirge” and depressing songs of the past! What a wonderful thing that we’ve been able to often blend the old with the new, creating new sounds, yet still very clearly spreading the Gospel! I believe the writer of this article is closed-minded, and should leave music critiques to musicians.
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I agree I’m devastated.everyone expresses in the best way they can and some one some were loves these songs love is love God IS LOVE.there are levels of love and levels to the songs we hear.we are just simply board and want more a diffrence.we are never satisfied.the big picture is to sing out a way to contact him or make a love that shines threw to bring him to his new kingdom come.earth if he is love and he is,consistency 247 would mAybe in my theory make it worth his while.what if it’s all been up to us when he comes?anyway I that was brave and true.
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I agree with you (author) wholeheartedly. Lately, I find it interesting that I am embracing an entirely new genre (to my ears at least) for the depth of the lyrics. It’s like a three minute sermon from some of these guys. (Trip Lee, Lecrae, 116, etc…) Also, the music from DC*B and the artists at Passion 2012 (and I assume former gatherings) is highly convicting/ gospel-filled.
I just wish my car had a cd player. :)
Thanks for the words.
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You are all to correct about the in-your-face preaching that saturates much of the Christian Urban music scene. A three minute sermon is a great way to describe it, but there again, I haven’t heard any of these guys on my local Christian music stations except for the weekend speciality shows late at night.
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This article represents a popular sentiment held by traditional musicians. Unfortunately, the author fails to recognize the fact that we live in a postmodern world where much of the arts and aspects of our own culture are intentionally ambiguous so as to allow the individual to create a meaningful experience from it. Such postmodern approaches are typically more successful in engaging others’ hearts and minds as “traditional” approaches hand the experience to the listener and expects them to consume it in the same fashion that the composer/performer experienced it. A “traditional” approach presumes the listener has had the same life events, education and understanding, and emotional/spiritual journey. Here’s the irony though: I suspect that the experiences etc. of the composers and artists of contemporary music are shared by those that enjoy it; in a sense, contemporary music employs the same presumptions that traditional music holds. Contemporary music just happens to be more popular and effective simply because it has a wider mass appeal.
I love traditional music; I prefer it 10X to contemporary music. But I’m afraid many of my associates in academia have failed to understand what the role of traditional music is in a postmodern society.
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Chris, thanks for stopping by. I never said that Christian music should only be “traditional.” I’m merely (yes, merely) making the case that CCM must tap into the roots of gospel-centered lyrics that so much Christian music has possessed for 2,000 years.
It doesn’t matter if it’s to the tune of pop, jazz, grunge, classical, swing, or blue-grass. The point is that if the *lyrics* do not point people to the riches of Christ in gospel, then a song fails no matter the intention of the writer.
This can be done in a simple way (i.e. without being too formal, pious, or “academic”). But simple does not mean “shallow.”
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Oh shut up. This article is ridiculous! The truth is if half the girls in this country Love GOD first with ALL their hearts, there would be a whole lot less heartbreaks, teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease, and not to talk of ungodly soul tying. If u put God first HE will lead you to the one you’re meant to be with for life, if that is His will for your life, and that starts with making Jesus number 1, yes taking Him as LOVER of your mind, body and soul and allowing His spirit to live in you because His plans are of GOOD and not of EVIL. This is exactly what Jamie Grace expresses in her song and I praise the Lord for her gifting. Yeah I’d rather have my daughter infatuated and Head over heels in love with JESUS than some boy any day!
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Full disclosure, I am an old fogey! (Nearing 50 y/o.) Most of you who have commented seem to be rather young. (The older you get the younger young people seem!) Anyway, I have a perspective to share with a little wisdom learned along the way. There are some hard things that can come into your life. You cannot hang onto an emotion – “feeling” that Jesus is holding onto you, “feeling” happy or peaceful, “feeling” loved – when a tragedy hits. Now, I am not saying that there are not truths in those feelings I just mentioned. God commands us to be joyful. That doesn’t mean be giddy for no reason. He commands us to rejoice because of what we know about Him and what He has done for us. When your son just died and you are struggling to figure out what is going on and does God really love me and want good for me – you CANNOT rely on feelings. (Unfortunately, I know this from personal experience.) You aren’t going to be feeling those things at all. In fact, you feel abandoned by God. Which is not true, by the way. Which just goes to show you can’t trust your feelings.
I think that is why our theology (knowing and understanding God) – and we learn theology from music too – needs to be based on truth, not on emotion. Emotions can’t get us through the tough times, and everyone will have those tough times. So, listen to your music and enjoy whatever you like. But, remember that you need to build your faith on the truth of God’s word and not on a warm fuzzy feeling you get from a song.
Please don’t read that I am chastising anyone here for what they have said. I did not read every comment and I am not being critical. I just felt burdened to give this perspective. Everything we put in our hearts and minds affects the way we think and act. Be mindful of that.
Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Read Psalm 119 which talks about why God’s word is so important to our lives.
That is why I love songs that use God’s words. Songs that are based on scripture are such a blessing to help us remember the truths that we know. We must constantly preach to ourselves what we know to be true about God from his holy Word.
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I completely agree that to dumb down the Gospel is to miss the entire point of what Jesus has done. We need to be constantly mindful of the sacrifice he made and the incredible gift we have received.
At the same time, Jesus is looking for a personal relationship with us. He doesn’t just want to be around us while we’re praising and worshipping him. He wants to be with and in us ALL the time. He wants to be part of our lives every moment of every day. I don’t know about you, but I often indulge in the guilty pleasure of a “teeny bopper” song. Sure, “Hold Me” doesn’t capture the depth of God’s grace and mercy, but at the same time I’d like to think that Jesus would enjoy singing along with me all the same. There are moments when we need to comprehend the majesty of Christ with a truly majestic song. And then there are times, just like in any other relationship, when things can be light, fun, and simple. Jesus is there in those times too. Praising Him doesn’t have to be a contemplative or serious task. It can be fun and joyful and silly!
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Jamie-Grace originally wrote that song about her Snuggie. I’m not kidding. She admitted on WayFM.
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Excellent article. We are to approach Almighty God with respect and reverence. To reduce God’s love for us to something that could double as a song on any top-40 radio show is insulting and wrong.
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For the record I have, throughout my life, reacted negatively toward the kind of prose being slain in this post. Coming from a fairly stodgy brand of evangelicalism I always turned up my nose at the more charismatic brands of Christianity that seemed to lend themselves to these types of feelings. In my adulthood however I’ve undertaken my own study of comparative religion and come to find a tolerance and understanding of some sentiments I formerly decried as vapid.
Read the memoirs of Christianity’s great saints, sages or scores of modern catholic nuns and you’ll find the reoccurring theme of outward celibacy coupled with inward eroticism. To thousands of Christian mystics thought history erotic IS the nature of the Christ relationship. In that context, I find lyrics like those quoted to be far less problematic than I once knew them to be. In fact, it was humbling in a way to discover that so many I had judged to be of lesser intellect appeared to have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Christ that I did.
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There’s crap in every generation of “Christian music”, most of it shallow. A lot of the old hymns were also very “feel good” as well. Whether its David’s Psalms or Rich Mullins “Hold Me, Jesus”, we should always listen with a discerning ear. Good word!
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Just a thought. True, Jesus is not our boyfriend, but is not the church referred to as the BRIDE of Christ? Wasn’t Hosea all about God wanting His people back, using a very vivid illustration of the relationship between a godly man and a prostitute? Isn’t the relationship between Ruth and Boaz significant as a picture of Christ as our redeemer? Just want to point out that more than once in scripture we see the (physical) relationship between a man and woman as a significant picture of the (spiritual) relationship between God and humanity.
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Marriage is a live-action drama (i.e. a picture) of the gospel of Jesus Christ, yes.
But there is a great difference in the biblical analogy of covenant-love and the fluffy, lovey-dovey tone that some (not all, as I have been saying from the beginning!) Christian music has.
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This is exactly the thought that came to my mind. The church is the bride of Christ and he is our beloved. Although the song is more of a testimony about her relationship with God than a worship song (praising God for who he is), it isn’t inappropriate, or even shallow. She is sharing about knowing God in an intimate way.
As far as the song “Come ye sinners”, personally, I actually don’t like the song. If I was a non-believer, it wouldn’t sound inviting to me to be called weak, needy, pitiful, ect… We are those things without God, but unless you are in the right place to receive that word, it is off putting. The song switches from “you” to “I”, creating a “us” verses “them” thinking. We are all sinners, we can all come to the arms of Jesus.
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Exactly men are bride grooms and women are his brides forever if we make it known and marry.I did marry God last year it was the best thing I ever felt or done and it’s a lot of work his music may sound the same yet the truth dosent change.everyone is doing there best to love how they know.there are different levels of love.God is love so keep up the good work.God bless
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I agree with the author on this. Although the topic is touchy to Christians of all ages/walk of life we should remember that our actions and faith is not something the world will agree with. If music is written with the intent of being played on the Christian station and the secular station, then there is a problem. A song so Christian would not be wanted by secular stations because Christianity offends those living in sin. We need to remember that we are to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but not at the cost of being accepted (friends) with the world. We are crucified in Christ, nevertheless we live, yet not us, but Christ in us (Galations 2). The world does not want Jesus because of it’s sin nature. Any secular music station that accepts a “Christian” song is not accepting the song because of it’s theology, but rather because of how it sounds and how it can “make people feel good”. If these cross-genre songs are then accepted by secular stations – is it really a Christian song?
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Joseph – when you read Hosea, or the story of Ruth & Boaz, or how we are the Bride of Christ – does that make you want to kiss Jesus? To make out with him? Does it stir up sexual feelings? I bet the answer is “no”. So is it really a wise idea to use these stories as justification for putting cross-genre “Christian” music on secular radio stations?
I know this is bold writing – but we cannot use pieces of scripture to justify our actions – rather we must use the whole scripture.
in Christ’s Love
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CJ, thanks for your honesty, but I believe you went a little too far. I don’t recall anything from the song mentioned, that talks about “making out” with Jesus. I guess the point that I’m trying to make would be that if the scripture uses analogies like that, why is it not ok for CCM artists to do the same?
I guess using “pieces of scripture to justify our actions” wouldn’t be anything like pulling one song off the radio and hanging an entire category of music on it. Maybe the earlier poster who listed the current top 10 songs and a portion of their lyrics was trying to get a more accurate picture. I guess my beef with this whole conversation is this; would I rather my 14 year old daughter listen to “Hold Me” by Jamie Grace, or “Last Friday Night” by Katie Perry. I think the answer is obvious (if not, take a look at the lyrics). This one song is meant to be a “hook”. A good, clean, song that can draw an analogy to a relationship with Jesus and the fact that HE actually DOES care that we had a bad day at work (how much more important are we than sparrows? Matt 10:31). There are some great DEEP theological songs in CCM and there are some shallow “hooky” ones that get stuck in a middle-schooler’s head. I don’t know of any worship leaders singing “Hold Me” on Sunday morning (if there are, I have some questions for them).
I wonder if those who are cheering “Yo Ho!” to this post would be able to say that everything they listen to on the radio, watch on TV, read on Facebook, is nothing but deep theological content. Let us not confuse Preference with Conviction.
This could spin off another conversation of the role of Entertainment in the believer’s life. Is it ok for a Christian to be Entertained? If so, can Entertainment be God glorifying without being deep, or direct quotes from scripture?
My view would be that music should sit where it belongs. If it is entertainment, then listen to it in your car or while you walk the dog. If it is worship/liturgical, use it in your services or personal time with God to express your worship to Him.
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Right this is a pure song people keep tying to make it seem sexually or dirty she doesn’t mention making out with God or any of that. It’s so sad how grown ups loose their innocent and can’t see the Loving nature of this song!
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Yes.be bold.I am currently going on circles with my husband he does this to justify his own understanding and a robot going threw the motions stage has begun he has forgotten.but since you states bold I have a lot of questions to ask on your relationship and boldness you have made with our creator because I to am bold.I’m glad I was led to this sight.take care
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Even if she did why is that rong????he said come as you are I will supply all your needs.if we are his brides and bride grooms.and when we marry on earth and what God joins together and if he is to be in the marriage for it to work or it won’t.a three some.why couldn’t you see him that way?or pray him in your bed?or ask God to give you what you need when the intamacy of bed room affairs happen?or to think of him like that or be in love?I do this and much more.I have never been so satified.God will even tangibly use your spouse to let you no he’s doing all the work.you can just feel it and see it.it’s hard to explain.all I can say is be bold I had many addictions and told him if I’m to beat them.be them.he did just that.do t take my word see for yourself and please tell me if you have results.God bless.
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Hey Tim,
I want to play Devil’s Advocate for just a moment here. I want to expose some more angles on the issue of shallow, God-is-my-best-boyfriend-ever lyrics.
For girls who have bad relationships with their dads and think of God as someone who doesn’t love them or judges them or mistreats them, seeing Jesus as a Lover is the safest idea they can have of God. A boyfriend relationship may be the closest thing to knowing what a safe relationship looks like.
I think that since you are a guy (not to sound sexist here), that you can’t fully relate to this romantic metaphor. For girls who are choosing to be committed to God instead of settling on dating and/or marrying non-christian guys, sometimes thinking of Jesus as their first Lover is the one thing that keeps them going.
Now granted, these type of lyrics are not going to be a classic and will almost go away as soon as they come up, but even if they are temporary the reason there is so many of them is because they are touching on something deeper than their shallow lyrics–there must be some emotional need or vacuum for such lyrics or else there would not be so many of them.
I think there is an important place for tradition in the church (after all, there are numerous saints who have gone before us and have known God in ways perhaps deeper than we presently know Him). However, I also think there is a place for working with the current norms of our CCM worship in order to better advance the kingdom of God.
I think the main question is why are these lyrics so shallow? Is our faith shallow or our ideas of God limited to who we want him to be? We have to ask ourselves at the end of the day, not whether we are following the traditions of the church but whether we really are communicating Christ to those around us in love as well as in truth.
Thank you for your time.
P.S. I am high-order PCA and do agree with what you wrote for the most part, I just wanted to add a little understanding to an issue that is often misunderstood.
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YEEEESSSSS! TELL ‘EM CORAZON! I agree with you wholeheartedly! You hit the nail on the head with this post!
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Calling God ones husband is utter bunk and very disrespectful !!!!!! God never said a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto me. / thee . It’s folly and disrespectful , stupid and very much a lie
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I have read most of the comments here, and I have to say that I agree with a lot of what you all are saying. I just wanted to add this. Praise is giving thanks to God for what He has done for you, it is telling Him exactly what He means to you. Worship is supposed to be simpler than praise. Worship is simply telling God who He is. How much you love Him, how great He is! I don’t know if ya’ll will agree with this, but God doesn’t need big words and long sentences to understand our heart. If we simply speak what is on our heart we can be worshiping when all you might be saying is “Jesus” Or “Glorious one” or anything of that sort. He isn’t asking us to be wordy, just to be ourselves for Him, to offer up who we are and everything that we are for Him. All He is asking for is Surrender. Surrender of who we are, so that we can have a new identity in Him. I am also a worship leader, and songwriter, He has been showing me so much more about praise and worship. Thanks for reading this! :)
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hey James, so sorry, I addressed the last message as hey Tim because when I clicked the sections on your blog it mentioned something about Tim designing graphics, and somehow thought you were the same person. my apologies James, but my post is addressed to you.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for expressing what I could not in a polite, godly way. Your article was vastly appreciated!!!
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I am 67 years old. I write love songs to Jesus because “my maker is my husband”. He is the healer of my broken heart, and the lover of my soul…just like the old song says, “Jesus Lover of My Soul”. Most of my love songs probably wouldn’t be for use in corporate worship and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, but they could be helpful to any woman who has been battered and rejected. I don’t see Jesus as my “boyfriend’, but I do see him as a lover/husband, because that is what he is to one who is “as a widow” and needs the comfort and love of God that has been deprived her by her spouse.
I believe the hymns are very important and should not be so easily left behind because they teach theology and scripture, and yes, much of the contemporary music is kiddie pool stuff. How will the kiddos get out of the shallow end if they are never encouraged toward the deeper water? When my little sons learned they could swim, they tired very quickly of the kiddie pool. When I knew they could handle the deeper water, I took them to the next step. It wasn’t long until they left the majority and were diving off the diving board into the deep.
I was thinking how American students have been dumbed down educationally, so am not surprised that the music of the church follows suit for the younger set. A good Spirit filled worship leader could instruct in the meaning of the songs with deeper message, and use them as a teaching tool in the church. Of course, the worship leader needs to have the experience to understand the old hymns, too. I grew up singing those wonderful hymns, but never really did understand their words until I was born again at age 40. They were stored in the depths of my soul to rise up like an artesian well, brought to my remembrance by the Holy Spirit, and now I have experienced them and KNOW what they mean! How sad that most young people in the church today will probably never them. They are landmarks. Don’t move the landmarks!
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YEEEESSSSS SHIRLEY TELL ‘EM GIRL! Exactly! I agree with you Jesus has got to be ur 1st husband. Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. I see u have truly made Him your PERSONAL Lord and Savior like I have. Tell ur testimony girl! !
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Jesus is no ones first husband. ! Biggest polygamist then and is he is a husbsnd to single men now it’s gay marriage smh
Love between God and man is not romantic ! Anyone who makes it romanticic is an utter fool and full of bunk let alone bearing false witness against jesus . I will not tolerate any Christian who Voluntarily makes up stuff on purpose !!
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You and Shirley have apparently confused agape with eros…reconsider the meaning of these two terms that describe two different types of love. The church being the bride of Christ is an analogy, not a literal relationship.
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Hymns to God should be about God not how you feel as it’s about him not us . They should never be romantic and heck yes those foolish songs exist ! It’s very disrepectful ! Jesus came to save Mankind not be a fill in husband . Yes I will call you out on this as it’s very much a lie and if you take it out of context aren’t you intentionally doing so
God your husband isn’t literal as many claim it is. So many foolish christians it’s embarrasing ! But if you have an earthly husband are you Cheating on jesus ? Cut the nonsense
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We must talk or text.we have the same view.I’m 28 yet wisdom gmhas no age.and I am married yet I am also married with God since last year it was the best experience and feeling I ever had then.of course it only gets better.and lonly over my earth husband motions of jealousy of some sort but I want to add you in my life because you feel the same way I do about the relationship and endless love and levels God brings.take care hope to hear from you soon.love and light.
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should say…..will probably never hear them.
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[…] Is Not Our Boyfriend, an observation made by James Pruch while listening to Contemporary Christian […]
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Thanks James for your thoughts! As a new assistant pastor I am starting to see the broader picture of real-life ministry up closer and more personal. My main issue with CCM is their philosophy of welcoming in the world to a “worship” service and then surprising them later on with the fact that they are indeed a Christian band. I agree that our music and hymns must be “reformed” and rethought as to their overall content, message, and quality. I need God’s grace to be both graciously teachable as well as resolutely transparent in the arena of music and doctrinal worship.
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James / Joseph – my comment was not intended to attack (and i apologize if it cane across as such) but rather reinforce the fact that cross-genre music with lyrics mentioned originally and called “Christian” is simply not Christian. And even though God does mention the love relationship with his children – it is not in the sense of “hold me close, let me hear your heartbeat, and the warmth of your touch”. It is rest in the shadows of His wings, strength when you are weak, and hope when you are down. The word of God is not a mystery and can be understood when a child of God seeks the truth. God doesn’t need help reaching the lost – He wants sold out believers living a consecrated life in service to Him alone. I guess I’ve reached a point where I am tired of “beating around the bush”. A dog is a dog. A duck is a duck. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, looks like a duck – well then rest assured – its not a goose. It’s time Christians started calling things like it is – not what they hope or wish it to be.
Thanks for a stirring conversation!
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Maybe we’re in need of more things like this?
http://www.livingwatercollege.com/summer-programs#polyphony
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I believe one reason that contemporary Christian music sticks to such shallow lyrics is because ALL of us — Christian or not — have been overwhelmed with the philosophy that sin doesn’t really exist. Of course we SAY it does, but there is a prevailing idea that acts formerly termed ‘sin’ are now seen as ‘learning experiences’. Instead of ‘right and wrong’, current worldview might call things ‘best or worst’. If songwriters and musicians themselves don’t even grasp the depths from which we/they need to be rescued, they probably won’t include such ideas in their music. I believe there is a need for scrutiny, rather than blind and eager acceptance, when it comes to art and music in the church.
Thank you for your honest, articulate post!
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When I was in high school and college, I was very much interested in the Christian music scene, to the point of interviewing the editor-in-chief of CCM Magazine and spending some time at that office, dreaming of someday becoming the editor-in-chief there. Back then, I had the time and resources to keep up with the non-mainstream Christian music. There was some quality music/lyrics that would make it into mainstream CCM, but most of the good stuff did not. I’ve never liked at least half of what plays on typical Christian radio stations. Back then, I just didn’t bother with them because I kept up with the other scene. At this point, I’m not able to keep up with the “underground” scene, but I also can’t stand most of what’s on Christian radio, so I’ve pretty much just dropped out of the music scene. I did happen to be flipping through radio stations the other day, and heard the exact song you quoted. My husband and I were stunned at how empty and shallow it was.
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Sometimes it takes simple music that sounds like mainstream secular music to draw in someone who may be searching for the truth. Or maybe not searching at all then they’re drawn in and find God there. Some music is meant to be happy and simple. Seems God told us to have a childlike faith, not an over-intellectualized one. There’s a time for deep music, and room for simplicity. Deep spiritual lyrics will scare off a unbeliever or new believer, but more vague reference will draw them in. and why can’t christian music be love songs? Don’t christian couples need love songs too? I can’t believe how shallow and closed minded these comments are to these artists filling the needs of unbelievers, believers, and doing what God has given them the ability to do! How vain to assume that any of you should judge that they are wrong in their ability to serve their God in the way they felt He led them! Shame on you all!!
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I have to agree to some extent with your reasoning. It does seem as our system of education tanks and that even churched people know less and less doctrine that it makes sense that we are essentially consuming “christian lite” in music. Music, after all, isn’t a gift by the Holy Spirit. It’s not. Look it up. Yes, in the Bible. The gift emanating from music is the teaching aspect.
But to get back to my agreement with your post, we are babes consuming skim milk and are spiritually lean. We are used to the skim milk and we LIKE it. We do not feed on meat as the NT says. The texture is strange, it is foreign and tough to us. That is what most doctrinal music sounds like to our ears: strange and tough.
I agree to the extent that this music is listened to and liked by many. Beyond that, we part ways.
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I have to disagree. I would never have become a believer were it not for people who were willing to be honest with me. Honesty and love draws people in. Not simplicity and cheeriness. Simplicity and happiness, ironically, can actually drive away the more troubled types. Try skipping through low-income housing filled with narcotics addicts and singing about how bad your workday was yet how much you love feeling like God is holding you. They’ll assume you’re tripping just as bad as they are.
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She DOES say”Lord, i love the way you hold me” by the way! Listen to a song before you tear down what a young girl has sung to her Father!
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I appreciate your thoughts here, but I do not completely agree with you. You are correct in saying that some people need simple lyrics. Which btw is exactly what I said. :) But, I have heard many songs on Christian radio stations that are very shallow… they don’t have simple words, they are simply shallow. They don’t say anything of real importance. :)
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Just because we are christians doesn’t mean EVERY song we listen to has to be all deep and meaningful. A song like this is meant to make you feel happy and bouncy, just what young people are looking for in a song. Christian music needs to cover many bases and one of those is “safe” alternatives to secular pop music that our children can listen to without being exposed to innappropriate lyrics. Christian radio is not meant to be church. It is a way to enjoy music on every level without the junk of the secular world. Saying EVERY song has to be deep and meaningful is like saying there should be no christian fiction novels written. People need entertinment that is wholesome and that includes music that is just enjoyable without being innappropriate. Why does EVERYTHING said have to hold such magnitude? And just because something may not be of any importance to you does not mean it did not make someone else’s day a whole lot brighter. Maybe it just made them smile, maybe it made them dance for the first time in a long while, maybe they stopped scanning the dial and listened to christian music for the first time, maybe a teenager decided to listen to that simple song instead of listening to Britney Spears or the like. Again, I reiterate..christian radio is not church. It’s radio entertainment , meant to be an alternative to secular music, along with witnessing, uplifting, and helping people get through their day. Saying a song is shallow to you does not mean everyone sees it as shallow. Maybe it was not meant to say anything of real importance to you, but maybe it does to someone else, or maybe it just made them happy. Who are you to judge what is shallow anyway? Seems to me your opinion of christian music is what is shallow…
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bb,
Thanks for stopping by and your comment. People have been “judging” art for thousands of years. My opinions of a work of art (in this case “Hold Me”) or the trends of a certain stream of art (in this case CCM) are not shallow. Art is to be critically analyzed on an objective basis. So much of Western Christianity has been relegated to subjective experience. Therefore, Christian art is “hands off.” If there is any kind of critical analysis of Christian art, it is assumed to be “shallow judging.” That is simply not what is happening here. Christianity and art (and therefore Christian art) is not merely subjective.
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The entire reason bands create songs like this is because that style and type of music is what is popular. Popular sells. And just like every other aspect of contemporary church…it’s all about two things: getting attention and $$$.
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Here I think art imitates life. Music in the church is being culturally (and economically) driven rather than spiritually. There are exceptions. You do have to look long and hard, but they can’t be discounted. Overall though, I am beginning to hate the prepackaged, fast-food digitalization of music and teaching that has enveloped the church with DVD seminars, pop-culture worship music, et cetera. Doesn’t an individual congregation have in its “body” the tools required to teach and preach and present both spoken and sung word sufficient without the purchase of digital teaching and worship music? Don’t even get me started with anyone with a guitar being qualified or sanctified to sing on stage. Should anyone who has the gift of gab preach? Music in the church has become music first. Worship sometimes seems as random as a blind squirrel finding a nut.
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Sorry that this reply is 2 years later… haha. But I find that very compelling. Art is definitely a good indicator of a culture or subculture’s sympathies, I think. As in, when songs like “Hold Me” turn our guts into mush rather than “Be Thou my Vision” (or even “Fix You” by Coldplay for a secular example), that is indicative of us wanting a boyfriend rather than a guiding light. You ought to read Quiet by Susan Cain; her book is about introverts in a culture that is unbalanced in leaning towards extraversion, gab, and loudness, and gets a bit into how this cultural rejection of “antisocial” (thoughtful?) types permeates churches.
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Ok I’m not a fan of jamie grace never had never will but I do like her music, when I first heard “hold me” I honestly thought the song was about a guy and I don’t anything blibical about that song and we should becareful how we write songs to God that it doesn’t sound inappropiate, but then God knows Jamie’s heart and her intentions its not our place to judge her and her music:)
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Audrey, when someone makes “art” they are implicitly inviting critique by others. It is one thing to judge someone’s intentions (I even give the singer the benefit of the doubt in my post!). It is altogether another thing to offer an informed and biblical critique. Especially of musical lyrics (or poetry), since the Bible is full of both.
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Excellent conversation and post to generate it. I wrote about this issue in my book, “It’s All About HYMN” (Winner of the 2011 Global eBook Award for Christian Non-Fiction), and I think what’s happening with CCM lyrically has a connection with what Jeanne Twenge and Keith Campbell wrote in their great book, “The Narcissim Epidemic” and how such a cultural shift is reflected in the culture’s music–including CCM in a large number of selections. Just compare the number of “I/me/my/mine” songs or those with zero Christian worldviews in their lyrics (“Draw Close to Me” by Kutless) in the current CCM Top 20. It’s difficult for Christian pop music favorites to linger more than a few years let alone a generation because the nature of pop music is to reflect “the now” and The Now is always changing…
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I have read some of the many comments posted and I really think you guys are taking this the wrong way. Christian music reaches people in different ways. The song Hold me by Jamie Grace is a cute CHRISTIAN song! It may not reach you but you never know who and how many lives the song is touching! Everybody does not like the same preacher or practice the same religion but it does not make a person a lesser Christian. Some people cry when they hear the word of God some just sit there mute but you never know what is going on in a person’s heart. I love the song and I am a Christian! We need to focus on the bigger picture here and that we are trying to win souls for the Lord!
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M.Lloyd:
How do you know the Jamie Grace song is a Christian song? Certainly not from the lyrics, that much is clear. There is simply no theological content in the lyrics so I don’t know how you can call it a “Christian” song. I don’t think we should confuse the work of the Holy Spirit with sappy-sounding love songs as many fans do of Christian pop music used in worship. Reread your post…how does someone not “practice the same religion” and yet “not make a person a lesser Christian”? Does that apply to Mormons? Jehovah’s Witnesses? Muslims? I don’t understand what you are saying here.
See my Contumacious Church Musician blog (donnleviejr.wordpress.com) and see my posts on the doctrine of Scripture as it applies to the arts.
God bless,
Donn LeVie Jr.
http://www.donnleviejr.com
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Again I stand by my comment stayed earlier! The bible clearly states if we judge others we stand to be judged! Like I said before we ate different religions but we believe in Jesus Christ. God bless you i resoect the fact that you don’t like the song! But as I said before you don’t know how’ many souls she may be winning for Chrisr! God bless!
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When I were the one having to write this article, all
these readers would be unhappy. It’s an excellent thing you’re the writer and you provide fresh creative ideas to us all. This is interesting.
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Hi! Jamie Grace here :) Wanted to let ya know, I’ve been single since I was born, I’ve never had a boyfriend and wouldn’t count Jesus as one. That’s kind of creepy lol. He’s my Savior and in the book of Isaiah I am told how He upholds me. It was just hard to right “I love the way you uphold me” lol! As I went through my life living quite of it in the hospital do to illnesses I found comfort in the arms my Savior. I was a 14 year old girl who was physically incapable of holding her own head up because her neck muscles would give out but my goodness being HELD by my Jesus meant more than anything so please, understand that isn’t about going on a date with the maker of the World but realizing His strength is deeper than any other. I pray everyone can experience what it feels like to be held in the arms on the greatest Father of all! :)
Lastly, I know you may dislike CCM but we’re not apart of an exclusive club writing eachother’s songs and having sleepovers every night lol! I don’t even know everyone in the “industry” so if you don’t like my songs don’t take it out on everyone else, vice verse. It would be equivalent to saying I despise the blogging industry for it’s vulgarity which would be to despise and over look your WordPress which seems to provide wholesome posts. :)
-Jamie Grace
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I am so shocked to see you on hear.this means the web sight is doing more then I thought.back to the reason I write you.I know exactly what you ment.yet to me I feel a deeper meaning them you wrote it.don’t get the ring idea it means you write songs that touch all the different levels of love we all share in our personal relationship we share.God is love and there really are diffrent levels.you are amazing and I am honored I get the honor to write you.I love your work and thank you for reading.I encourage you to take the wall of love you may feel you can’t break or cross.one day you will know it’s ok to love him like you say is creepy.it’s actually the best experience of your life.I know you will break that perception down because you made this song.you said it yourself.you have been single from birth.we are immortal. this flesh is ehats required for what ever reason only he knows but we are his brides and men are bride grooms.so if on earth we get to procreate and feel about a man this way.we are able and allowed to feel the same with God.he’s suppose to be the center and only with him in a marriage will it work.which means of he can put his DNA and supernaturally make a women who was pure pregnant with his baby he can do things as you say the words in your brain can’t express.love is the hardest thing to figure out and consistently do because pain is love in some ways too.there are so many levels to love but it seems you are having a lot of fun so far.I’m closing I told God today I know you want me to sing for you but I’m scared.of you want me too bring them in my life.that was yesterday.I typed a song and this link came up.and then I saw yours.I have no idea what this means.of I never speak to you again I’ll be ok just getting a reply that you read this.I have so many things I want to ask about your life and how it’s going but more importantly I wanted you to know you were then and now his chosen few his bride be for your first breath.you are very precious to him and I hope we can celebrate in some way even if I’m just sharpening our iron.I pray that you ask God also if it’s ok that I enter your life so I know I’m not dreaming this.
Keep up the realest deepest music I’ve heard in our creators repesenters.GOD BLESS YOU
RESPECTFULLY
SHAWNAKEA SMITH
7607134994
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Ps please excuse the spelling I was in a hurry and I never was a great speller.lol
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In a culture of consumerism, creativity at all levels will suffer.
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I appreciate the constructive attitude that has been displayed in the portions of this comment section that I have read. I don’t feel extremely passionate either way. I think that CCM should have in-depth gospel truth, and I appreciate many hymns. I have a question posed toward the author of this post.
Let’s think about many of the illustrations of the Bible. I mean, Song of Solomon, seems to be an entire book purposed to display a symbolic representation of God’s love toward’s His people. The Goel kinsman redeemer (Boaz) in Ruth is a picture of God’s redemptive power. In Ephesians 5:25, God commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. When Christ went up to heaven he said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (A reference to the Jewish espousal period) We also know that the church is called the Bride of Christ.
My point, in short is this. If there is figurative language and symbolic pictures all through the Bible why would we be surprised if that same type of language appears in our songs to Him?
Yes, I believe that Jesus, God, Lord, Father, Heavenly Father, etc. should be mentioned in a song, I don’t think there is much to complain of if portions of a song could be said to a girlfriend/boyfriend.
If you think differently, I would be open to discussion.
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I appreciate very much Jamie Grace commenting here and explaining the lyrical intent of the song quoted in the post. However, the fact that Ms. Grace had to explain the lyrical intent plays directly into the argument of the “Jesus is my boyfriend” musical and literary genre. Few hymn writers, if any, ever had to defend or explain the intent behind the lyrics to such timeless treasures as “All Creatures of Our God and King,” “Old Rugged Cross,” “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today,” and many others. The fact that clarifications, explanations, and defenses are necessary reinforces the argument that such music is often nearly devoid of theological content and sometimes overflows with “squishy” love themes.
Rather than resort to personal preferences for music in worship, there would be far less separation between musical camps if we embraced the doctrine of Scripture, and let all our experience/knowledge pass through the truth of Scripture as a filter, rather than passing Scripture through the filter of our incomplete, subjective experience/knowledge.
God bless…
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That was well said I’m amazed this got to her.God is good
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I will flip it – I’m not Jesus’s girlfriend or wife ! Not only is this concept absurd it’s just not true ! Jesus isn’t a bf to anyone !!! There is no dating and people who say this is what many call ” spiritually immature ” I call em liars . I don’t care why they do it it’s just not the truth .
So if people are ” married to Jesus ” did they send out wedding invitations where the groom is listed as Jesus of Nazareth smh
To me this is foolish !
Single women are single
What about single guys ? Is Jesus a gf or worse a bf too smh
Enough ! Jesus is our savior not our significant other
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God has ministered to me specifically through contemporary christian music and stations like KLOVE radio on a daily basis. The absolute perfect song has played that I can feel in my heart God telling me he played that song just for me. I have prayed and the biblical lyrics have poured out in ways similar to how words have almost popped off the page when I read scripture. The lyrics mentioned in this article are upbeat and just what I need to remind me God is there. I think we as Christians need to ban together more to get the secular junk off the radio/tv. Instead of wasting time measuring or “judging” other Christians. Our efforts should be spent supporting each other and working together to reach a lost world.
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Heck no will I support foolish christians being foolish ! Jesus is no ones literal husband and writing romantic songs to Him is folly and very disrespectful !
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The song “hold me” is intended for young girls not for mature Christians. I feel like this song is a good song for young girls who are searching for love. We need songs to reach all kinds of Christians. I have three young girls and 10 nieces. These songs reach these young hearts more than you realize.
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The issue, as far as I can see it, is not only that some CCM leaves a lot to be desired in the ways that James has described in his post, but that, for those who sing these songs in a church setting, many of these songs are simply not edifying. If every church member who sings during a worship service had a thorough understanding of essential doctrine, theology, hermeneutics, etc, then it would be far easier to forgive a song for sacrificing substance for style. The reality, and the heart of the matter, is this: the vast majority of congregants in the typical Western church do not have deep, thorough understandings of Christian doctrine – at least, not to the point where a less-than-ideal Christian song has little or no impact on the congregant’s faith. There are generally two major parts of a typical church service – the singing and the sermon. For the sermon portion, the congregant sits and listens for half an hour, maybe engaged and thoughtful about what is being preached, and maybe not. For the singing portion of the service, the congregant is far more engaged than during the sermon portion. The congregant stands and often moves around, sings, thinks about what is being sung and quite often responds physically and emotionally – a process that is, necessarily to the human experience, far more engaging that simply sitting and listening to a sermon. To think that the process of joining one’s voice to a chorus of other voices is not an enormous opportunity for the person to grow his or her faith is to miss the point. Singing, due to the engagement of the whole being in the process, is probably at least as important, if not more important, than anything that is being said by the preacher during the sermon. When the congregation stands up to sing, the church music director has an enormous opportunity to “preach” to everyone in the church – both new Christians, old Christians, and non-Christians alike. To people going through all sorts of life-stages, life-phases, trials, tribulations, and joys. To sing songs that are shallow, devoid of substance, devoid of doctrine, devoid of the things that are essential to Christianity – to sing songs that declare love for a saviour without declaring why He is worthy of that love – to sing songs that do nothing to grow the song-singer’s faith by engaging the person’s mind, and not just a person’s heart – is to waste an opportunity and do a disservice to the people of God. It is to feed the sheep food devoid of nutrition. This produces a people who are that much less committed, and therefore, that much less effective in their mission – something that the Western church cannot afford to do today. The reality is that those who write songs should bear this in mind – and if someone does write a song for mass Christian consumption, that person has a duty to ensure he or she is fluent in christian doctrine, to ensure that the lyrics are full of nutrition. The worship leader likewise has the same responsibility – to ensure that their opportunity to “preach” to the congregation is exploited, not wasted.
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Oh my gosh my husband and I have been followers of Christ for years and we are older people and yes I will admit it when we heard this song come on the radio it made us smile and we were glad about that.
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You made some good points, Mr. Punch. You also used the “if it wasn’t played on a Christian radio station” standard as I have used in the as I think that there are too many Contemporary Christian songs that wouldn’t pass that standard (I think some cross the line as they seem like music that can be played in some type of club or something). However, I also think one can go too far with this standard and by thinking that Christian music should all be sober. In fact, I think you will be surprised to find out how fun our Lord really is as everything good comes from Him which includes humor, smiling, and laughing (just to name a few examples) just as long as these things are used wholesomely. Moreover, I think that there are some Christians who just don’t understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is not some lame, slow music, always crying, sad song singing place, but it’s an eternal joy-fest. Yes, Christian music should be distinctive from the world’s music, but please don’t judge anything that was sincerely (I am assuming of course) created by someone who is a child of God! Everyone has a role to fulfill in the body of Christ, and this notion includes Christians who make teeny-bop melodies (it’s kind of like what the Apostle Paul said about “becoming all things to all people so that by all possible means [he] might save some,” and so has Ms. Grace, Christian rappers, Christian rockers, and etc.
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Believer:
Here is the problem with your position:
You seem to have thrown all sacred music and traditional hymns under the bus by claiming it is only somber compositions. The hymn and sacred music catalog has a plethora of music that is uplifting (versus the “upbeat” nature of Christian pop music); the beauty of somber sacred music directs our hearts and minds to a place where we embrace the significance, importance, and beauty of the price Jesus paid for all of us–a love that has no equal throughout eternity.
Harold Best writes in his outstanding book, “Unceasing Worship” that we can slip into dark territory if in listening to or making music I assume that faith will bring substance and evidence to the music, so as to make it more “worshipful.” If I truly love the music–if I have chosen a church that uses “my music” and I am deeply moved by it–I can make the mistake of coupling faith to musical experience by assuming that the power and effectiveness of music is what brings substance and evidence to my faith. I can then quite easily (and mistakenly) forge a connection between the power of music and the nearness of the Lord.
Once this happens, I may slip further into the sin of equating the power of music and the nearness of the Lord. At that point, music joins the bread and the wine in the creation of a new sacrament or even a new kinds of transubstantiation.
What if I love the Lord but detest the music? Do I look for another church, hoping my faith will be fed and felt needs met? Or do I turn from music to the Lord, knowing that faith remains faith and the music is merely music and not a sacramental substance that mediates between God and me? The danger in thinking music as sacrament is that the music becomes the Paraclete and Advocate (and replaces the Holy Spirit)….God then becomes god; and music becomes Music.
This is the danger of embracing any kind of music in Christian worship.
Artistic freedom is not artistic license to create just anything; in the Christian arts, there are no off-limit subjects but there are off-limit intentions and directions. It is in the best interest of every Christian artist to place freedom in Christ above artistic freedom; we make and offer art because we worship. We should not make it to “lead us into worship” because worship is the “continuous outpouring of all that I am, all that I do, and all that I can ever be in light of a chosen or choosing God” as Harold Best writes.
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Believer:
Here is the problem with your position:
You seem to have thrown all sacred music and traditional hymns under the bus by claiming it is only somber compositions. The hymn and sacred music catalog has a plethora of music that is uplifting (versus the “upbeat” nature of Christian pop music); the beauty of somber sacred music directs our hearts and minds to a place where we embrace the significance, importance, and beauty of the price Jesus paid for all of us–a love that has no equal throughout eternity.
Respectfully, LeVie, this is a highly subjective viewpoint. What may be “upbeat” to you may not be “upbeat” to me. What may bring you closer to the Lord may not bring another Christian or potential Christian closer to the Lord (keep in mind, I don’t really get moved by the teeny bopping music, but I understand their place and their purpose and their potential effect on a youth or on anyone that thinks that Christianity is “lame”). This is the reason why Paul was happy that the Lord was preached to the masses even in a hypocritical fashion (I am not saying that such music that we are discussing is hypocritical) as he noted in Philippians 1:18: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
Do you really think that David was dancing to the Lord with somber music rather than Gospel or some kind of hand clapping, roof shaking music? Or do you really think in 2 Chronicles 20:21 that Jehoshaphat’s singers were singing a song that invokes tears as they marched in front of Israel’s army? You mentioned a lot of points that seems to be highly preferential, but, in spite of this, you or I still don’t know how a potential Christian may get the opportunity to learn about the Lord. You being “an eye” or “an ear” have your function, while the other parts of the Lord’s body have their functions (1 Corinthian 12:15-18). The point is about saving lives and not about worshiping the Lord in their own image or another’s (respectfully). I see too often on music streaming sites when I hear of hymns that makes it seem like we are entering a funeral march for all eternity. But, He has come to give us “life more abundantly!” Moreover, He will “wipe away every tear” from our eyes (Revelation 21:4) (and tears of joy and/or somberness doesn’t seem to be the exception to that rule). Yes, He paid the price for us and we will never forget this, but we will never forget even more so that He is Risen! This should evoke joy and dancing (much like the children who were playing the flute in Lord’s parable in Matthew 11:17 were trying to accomplish). Can we really receive the Kingdom of Heaven like little children with overwhelming sorrow in our hearts (Mathew 18:3) (again, what brings you joy may not work for others as we are distinctively placed in the body with our own personalities and tastes)?
“We should not make it to “lead us into worship”
I actually don’t get this point as I never made such a statement (respectfully, dear brother, I think you implied that I did)! I’ve always viewed music a compliment or an expression of one’s worship of the Lord and not the substance of Worship!
I am sure Harold Best is an outstanding Christian artist, but, respectfully, I don’t worship him or meditate on his word. As far as I can see, the Lord can even take hypocritical preaching from greedy, fake Christians and turn it into a good thing. In contrast to this point, should we judge those who may be sincere Christians, but choose to profess their faith in the Lord by using the unique abilities that He gave them (as long as they are not promoting sin, but, instead, are promoting faith in the Lord then who really cares. Choose what you want to listen to and bypass what doesn’t move you)! Moreover, in regard to your above statement, my previous statement stands uncorrected (at least to me it does) as neither you nor I do not know what avenue a person may travel down that will lead (or rather guide) them to the Lord! Everyone has their distinct testimony on how they got a chance to know the Lord. On another note, my observation reminds me of what my Christian brother told me that “it’s our job to catch them [i.e. the lost], but it’s the Lord’s job to clean them up [because we can’t even clean ourselves up perfectly].”
Again, I do not condone tainting something that is sacred. As I mentioned before, I believe that there have been Christian artists who are just throwing stuff together to sell records (but, again, the Lord can use that for the benefit of the listener just like He does with all of those mega, fame and money-hungry preachers in this world)! Now music from such artists probably would not move either you or me (although, I have a variety of all of types of Christian music including hymns that have been sung by Contemporary artists such as “Come Thou Fount” by Jadon Lavik). But, let us remember that both you and I are imperfect. We can’t perfectly read the sincerity of someone’s declaration of faith as we can only judge them by the result of their conduct (Hebrews 13:7). Therefore, I refuse to judge the quality of someone’s declaration especially when it does not lead to sin!
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Believer:
Thank you for continuing the conversation.
I don’t consider the term “upbeat” as an adjective for describing music for worship; as sung prayer, I am concerned with how well the hymn uplifts the congregations praise and prayer, not whether it is “upbeat or somber” as those terms color an emotional state. Throughout your response, you seem heavily invested in how the music makes you feel, as in “hymns that makes it sound like we are entering a funeral march…” As for me, I have no preference but only that which is the “utmost for his highest” when it comes to worship.
By the way, there are some errors in your examples. (1) Scripture makes no reference to music when David in joyous spontaneous celebration upon the return of the ark. (2) Your reference to dancing children in Matthew 11:17 is out of its proper context. The reference to the parable in Matthew 11:17 was in reference to Jesus reflecting on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He accuses them of being childish; He likens their behavior to children’s play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. (Hendrikson New Testament Commentary).
My comment: “lead us into worship” was a general one (I didn’t mean to imply it was your statement) as I’ve heard so many worship leaders say this. It is a complete misunderstanding of the term “worship.” Glad you agree that music is music.
Harold Best was the dean of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College, an organist, and composer. He served as president of the National Association of Schools of Music and is the author of “Music Through the Eyes of Truth” and “Unceasing Worship” (a truly great work).
Be careful about “the ends justifying the means” because it can take you down the wrong path. You mention how the Lord can use poorly written Christian pop music that may contain theologically weak lyrics “for the benefit of the listener” but what kind of a distorted message is the listener receiving? Colossians 3:16 is often cited as justification for incorporating a variety of musical styles into the worship environment. In our rush to get to the part of the verse that mentions “spiritual songs,” we gloss over such key words as “teach and admonish,” “with all wisdom” that suggest there are boundaries for what we select as psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Just to put in proper context I Corinthians 9:19: Paul did not use the ends to justify the means as you implied at the end of one of your earlier postings. The passage in I Corinthians 9:19 is often lifted out of context to suggest that Paul was willing to do anything to reach the lost. At extremes, such logic then dictates that one cannot reach a thief unless he or she becomes one; one cannot reach a murderer unless he or she becomes one as well. This is not what Paul meant; when he became a Jew to the Jews, he implies that by becoming a follower of Jesus, he becomes a new creation and that he is no longer a Jew or a Greek. During his ministry, Paul adapted himself to Jewish customs when he tried to win the Jews to Christ. Paul adapted his teaching style to their thought in their culture to reach them – not the message, and not his morality, ethics, or behavior.
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“Utmost for his highest” when it comes to worship.
Most respectfully, you seem to focus on the substance of the musical piece itself rather than what I focus on which is the sincerity of it for our God loves everything that is honest and doesn’t like things to be done out of compulsion or out of insincerity (e.g. sort like what Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 6-7 about God loving a cheerful giver). It must be noted I am defending those who choose to focus on the sincerity of their composition rather than it’s arrangement.
By the way, there are some errors in your examples. (1) Scripture makes no reference to music when David in joyous spontaneous celebration upon the return of the ark.
Your right as I forgot that there was not any music playing. I guess I was too focused on the apparent exuberance of his dance and forgot that he wasn’t dancing with music. I don’t like to make any assumptions beyond what the Bible states so I withdraw that example, or, rather, I would rephrase it by stating that if someone does dance before the Lord with all of his/her might with a style of Christian inspired music that may not be hymn worthy, I will not judge the sincerity of that person’s dance!
(2) Your reference to dancing children in Matthew 11:17 is out of its proper context. The reference to the parable in Matthew 11:17 was in reference to Jesus reflecting on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He accuses them of being childish; He likens their behavior to children’s play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. (Hendrikson New Testament Commentary).
Actually, I was aware of the context that the Lord used His parable in. I was using that to support the “enter into the Kingdom of Heaven like little children” statement. I was focused on the fact that, just like the Pharisees, some Christians too can be too somber and too cold to just, simply put, “let their guards down” by acting spirited rather than by acting so cold and rigid (not that I am accusing you or any hymn writer/compose as acting like such, but I’ve been in too many Christian services where my fellow brothers and sisters are incredibly uptight and somewhat cold where it seemed like every service was some kind of funeral procession). I just imagine and believe that the choirs of the Old Testament had some spirit when they sung!
My comment: “lead us into worship” was a general one (I didn’t mean to imply it was your statement) as I’ve heard so many worship leaders say this. It is a complete misunderstanding of the term “worship.” Glad you agree that music is music.
Your latter statement pretty much sums up a good point that I was making. Moreover, I didn’t mean to imply that every song is worthy of being played during service as some songs are certainly inappropriate. However, just like those who only like to watch Christian-oriented movies/shows/etc., I find that when you are driving down the road or jogging or etc. and you just want to listen to something that doesn’t glorify sin, then, Christian Contemporary Music comes in handy during such situations! But, in other situations, I wouldn’t want to listen to such music so it pretty much is just contextual.
Be careful about “the ends justifying the means” because it can take you down the wrong path. You mention how the Lord can use poorly written Christian pop music that may contain theologically weak lyrics “for the benefit of the listener” but what kind of a distorted message is the listener receiving? Colossians 3:16 is often cited as justification for incorporating a variety of musical styles into the worship environment. In our rush to get to the part of the verse that mentions “spiritual songs,” we gloss over such key words as “teach and admonish,” “with all wisdom” that suggest there are boundaries for what we select as psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Okay, I realize perhaps there was a mistake in the position that I was taking in regard to this discussion. It’s all contextual to me in regard to the appropriateness of a Christian-inspired song/work. As I mentioned before, there are certainly songs that just would not cut it in a sacred gathering of believers as they can come off as being too worldly. However, if I was a Christian who likes to dance, then, I would want to listen to music that doesn’t glorify sin. Or, if I have a bunch of at-risk kids to teach and a Christian rapper, staying true to the Word, raps a good message, then, I can use that during a Christian-sponsored youth program of some sort. But, in all contexts, I would never condone inaccurate teaching of the Word as I mentioned before, as long as the songs don’t promote sin (and blaspheme is certainly a sin), then, I won’t judge a person’s faith declaration to the Lord even if I don’t like song itself (but, I can at least appreciate that others do and may get something from it)!
Just to put in proper context I Corinthians 9:19: Paul did not use the ends to justify the means as you implied at the end of one of your earlier postings. The passage in I Corinthians 9:19 is often lifted out of context to suggest that Paul was willing to do anything to reach the lost. At extremes, such logic then dictates that one cannot reach a thief unless he or she becomes one; one cannot reach a murderer unless he or she becomes one as well. This is not what Paul meant; when he became a Jew to the Jews, he implies that by becoming a follower of Jesus, he becomes a new creation and that he is no longer a Jew or a Greek. During his ministry, Paul adapted himself to Jewish customs when he tried to win the Jews to Christ. Paul adapted his teaching style to their thought in their culture to reach them – not the message, and not his morality, ethics, or behavior.
Wow (I say this as I type up my response by reading you’re your response one paragraph at a time)! This really isn’t what I was implying at all! I don’t know if you were making a general statement or not, but if not, I think I respectfully covered where I stand on this issue in my first two posts (and in my reply to your previous paragraph above). My previous assessment of this verse stands as I respectfully think that you misinterpreted what I was stating. As I don’t have time to go back and reread everything I stated, I believe I mentioned that as long as the work itself does not glorify sin, then, I will not judge another supposed Christian’s inspired work by judging its sincerity! I am aware that Paul, in similitude to what the Lord did when He fulfilled all of the Hebrews customs perfectly, was referencing to the fact that he walked and lived as a Jew (which is the reason why some of his own party were circumcised). But, to equate that an inspired Christian song that does not teach anything that is sinful and it being used to reach a variety of different lost sheep who may not have been reached in the same way that either I or you or any other brother and/or sister of the faith was reached is, in contrast, the same as a Christian musician selling out his/her faith and teaching things that are immoral is not to me the same thing as even that teeny bopping song seemed to be pretty clean (even though I do agree with the author’s original thought in regard to some Christians artists being confused when they sing/discussed their relationships with the Lord, for example, Circuit Rider’s “Not My Will” can be twisted horribly).
I just cannot underscore two points that I wanted to make: that it is all contextual and it is all subjective to the Christian’s taste just as long as their particular preference doesn’t glorify sin (which includes blaspheme and all other sinful behavior). In other words, if I am jogging and a Christian song comes along that supports the intensity of my jogging, then, I have no problem with it if even if it sounds too contemporary as I am merely jogging. But, a song that sounds like it should be played at some kind of a college party or some kind of a youth dance or festival probably does not belong in a church service as we are supposed to be sober-minded when teaching and learning about the Word so that the message will not be trivialized! I hope I explained my stances more clearly now because it just seemed like the mood of this discussion that the author started was that there was no place for such music and all I am merely pointing out is that I believe that the Lord permitted it to thrive because there is a place and a time for such music, and it can be helpful to reach a hardened person who wouldn’t have been reached in some other way!
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