Posted on 08/04/2014 8:38:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery. So let's admit it: if we swop the lyrics of a Taylor Swift ballad with some of today's contemporary Christian worship songs, no one would know the difference.
Others have noted the "Jesus-is-your-boyfriend" style worship songs clogging the airwaves of contemporary Christian radio and Sunday morning worship sets lack depth and reverence to the Almighty. They're right. But there's an even bigger problem when contemporary Christian songs downplay, even scold Christian's public witness for the sake of couch-potato Christianity.
Last week a fellow pro-life, pro-family activist turned on his local "family-friendly" contemporary Christian radio station while driving his kids to camp. As his kids were belting the words to a new hit, my friend was shocked by the lyrics.
The song was Family Force 5's "Let It Be Love," number #14 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs list. Of course this means it is one of 20 songs that local contemporary Christian radio programs play over and over ad nauseam. The song's lyrics go:
I've never seen a soul set free Through an argument I've never seen a hurt get healed In a protest… It's not about the stand we take But the grace we give
For my friend, the first line "I've never seen a soul set free through an argument" couldn't be further from reality with the conservative Christian movement. In addition remembering that the Apostle Peter urged Believers, "[A]lways being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
My friend witnessed a life changed from a same-sex lifestyle to a redeemed follower of Christ thanks to a bold, counter-cultural argument presented at a Parents and Family of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) event. A young gay man made the decision to offer over his life to Christ after listening to Robert Knight, Senior Fellow for the American Civil Rights Union, described God's love for humanity and purpose for sexuality and marriage.
Most devastating is the lyric's second line, which reads, "I've never seen a hurt get healed in a protest." I'm not sure what kind of protests these band members have attended, but they must not have been pro-life oriented.
A beautiful example of lives transformed at a protest is told by Wendy Wright, former President of Concerned Women for America and Vice President for Government Relations and Communications. Wendy spent many days peacefully protesting outside of abortion clinics. She and her fellow protestors not only offered hurt women prayer and side-walk counseling, but worked to save the lives of their unborn babies.
Wendy was blessed to come face to face with a young woman whose mother protected her from abortion because of Wendy's abortion protest. "After speaking to Generation Joshua home school students, telling stories of rescuing babies from abortion," explained Wendy. "A young woman asked, "Have you ever met one of those babies that you rescued?"
Shaking her head no, Wendy explained that while she hadn't she would love the opportunity. "I was rescued from abortion and adopted because of you," the young woman told Wendy.
Lives are changed, in part, through vessels willing to "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people" (Jude 3) Sadly you wouldn't know that based on the premise of this "Christian worship" song.
To be fair, Family Force 5 is correct that grace is a necessary component to lead others to salvation in Christ. But it alone it is not enough. Grace without substance is pity and nothing more. Behind our compassion must be a willingness to share the totality of Christ's character and His command to turn from sin.
Contemporary Christian music has a tremendous ministry opportunity that expands beyond the borders of the local church. Christians cannot present half-truths for the sake easy listening and broader audiences. As followers of Christ, we can do better. Or at least turn off the radio.
-- Chelsen Vicari serves as the Evangelical Program Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. She earned her Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University and frequently contributes to conservative outlets
Yep, that was the one, thanks.
PPFFFTTTTTTTTTT......
Spewing water all over the monitor and keyboard.
Perhaps a review of your posting history would be enlightening.
calling pop Christian music ‘vain repetition’ is ‘offensive online vendetta’
wow just wow,
were all the other protestants who couldn’t stand pp Christian music guilty of offensive online vendetta too or is it just because I’m Catholic?
BTW you haven’t heard what I think of most of current Catholic pop music - besides being unsingable its unlistenable.
For the Greater Glory of God - not thin skinned people
yes and I always choke at ‘wretch like me’.
For the Greater Glory of God
Thanks for the ping. I prefer music that shows respect and love for the Lord, because, after all, HE is the audience and the complete focus of our worship, not our puny selves. :)
correction:
would *never* say publicly what I told her privately.
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
Well, your comment in post 205 would be a little less than accurate, as you just demonstrated........
Confusion? My point was that, if it required twenty years of training to attain the required level of ability of performance, any thing of a “contemporary” nature would of necessity be discounted. As anyone can notice, contemporary music today requires very little in the way of effort, ability, or talent.
ALL generalizations tend to be inaccurate...
I knew that’s what you were going to say. It does not follow logically though. Doctors take almost a decade of training before they can practice, and they are constantly being updated on contemporary knowledge.
Second, you are saying the only music is the music in THE Temple. You can’t apply that here.
Third, when David “danced before the Lord” - there is no reason to think it was to old music.
Nice try. (What is your scriptural basis for this any way?)
Yet you posted it anyway.
It has been removed.
Just last night as I was drifting off to sleep, I started thinking about the great hymns I grew up with. Though there ARE a few exceptional modern songs that truly do contribute to genuine worship, many today are repetitive, single stanza ones, that seem like a waste of time. Hymns such as “The Old Rugged Cross”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace” preach a story and help remind us of our great God and Savior. I find it difficult to get through them with dry eyes.
I really liked Amy Grant’s early Christian music albums. I was sorry to see her give in to the secular world.
Those are four great anointed hymns - no doubt - but to your point, I think you could go through a book of 400 hymns and find 375 that are not anointed at all.
Hearing a “popular” Christian song performed by a local youth minister nearly made me puke.
I recall him singing...
“Heaven meets Earth with a ‘sloppy wet’ kiss.”
“He is the hurricane I am a tree...” then something about shaking.
It was disturbing.
Katy Perry started out “Christian.”
Thanks for the info!...:)
But we don’t like “POP” style music... so we hold those artists to a different standard.
Johnny Cash and Tennessee Ford made their money before going to Gospel music.
These kids going around to the churches with their so called music are depending on the people in the pews to doll out for something they would not pay a dime to go see if it was not a Church thing.
I left the Church when this started happening but I assume it is still the same way, that has been a lot of years ago.
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