Photograph "Rock Concert" by Udy
Just last year, I was convicted by the Lord that I should stop listening to the filth that is secular music. Consequently, I began building up a library of Christian music, most of it contemporary, with the likes of Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Paul Baloche, Paul Wilbur, and even Hillsong.
What I then noticed was that much of the songs from some, not all, of these artistes weren’t that Christian, to the point where it was more about “me” rather than the Lord Jesus Christ, or even if there was a reference to God, He was referred to as “He”, “Him”, or even the generic “You” and not specifically.
Worse yet, there were songs which seemed to suggest that the Lord Jesus Christ is our “homeboy”, “boyfriend” and even some needy, lonely man who needs our companionship.
In fact, if you step into some churches today, you’ll find a rock concert going on at full blast with people in the congregation, mostly the teens and young adults, jumping, stomping their feet, even shaking their heads to the rock beats pulsating out from the giant speakers!
Some people say that without such beats and songs, we’d not be able to bring in those in the world into the church to hear the Gospel and be saved. My question then is this: does the end justify the means? Is it right to turn the church into some rock arena so that the unsaved can feel at home when it’s quite clear that the church is a place of gathering for those who love the Lord? To me, doing so, i.e. pandering to the world, denies the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16)!
Just today, I’ve been blessed to find out that Berean Wife, a dear sister, has actually done an exceptional study on the adoption of secular music into the church and an excellent critic on contemporary Christian music and the artistes who perform them. You can read the summary of her study here, then download the PDF which contains the full study (325 slides).
I pray that you will be blessed by reading and heeding the Biblical advice in the study. If you are convicted as I am, and feel the need to pass this information on (for I think many are unaware and need to be informed!), please first seek her permission before doing so.
The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.
Charles Spurgeon
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Tags: Casting Crowns, Charles Spurgeon, Church, Concert, Contemporary Christian Music, Gospel, Hillsong, Mercy Me, Paul Baloche, Paul Wilbur, Rock, Secular
13 Comments
Brother like I said in her blog sometimes we don’t Know when the glorifying God part stops and glory our own self begins.
I think that is a major problem. I remember when I used to work with models and go for photo shoot with the photographers
sometimes you hear some of the girls say I won’t go naked I won’t do this or that. I will know when to tell the photographers to stop, but before you know it, a little skin is shown and more flesh is shown and before you know they are stark naked in front everybody. so it is what the market demands that the markets gets! everybody wants to sell forgetting that the market is the World and the World is being controlled by the devil., lusts and evil desires.
I know my comment is off but just making my point
Love and Godbless
How bad was Casting Crowns compared to the other CCM groups? This seems to be one of the favorites when I read the profiles of Christian single women. If they’re particular secular it might explain why I never hear from them either.
I’ve heard good things about Jason Upton, though I haven’t listened to his music yet.
@channelofhealing -
Sis, you made a very good point. I think that’s exactly what happened with Miley Cyrus as well with that recent hoo-ha about her showing more than a little skin in a photo shoot.
That sounds like an interesting job you were doing!
@Lincoln -
Hm… brother, download and read the PDF; I’m not giving it away. Trust me, it’s worth spending time reading those slides.
Thank you Isaiah for the kind comments. I am humbled.
I just pray that it will be a help to others.
Haa Interesting Job!, my brother, I had to run away from them because it is a terrible industry my brother,, do you know that most times after the shoots you have to sleep with the producers to be able to feature in major billboards and adverts or do you think models just the part they auditioned for just by merits? you might be beautiful and all that but you would see other girls get the job cos they are willing to do . . . with the producers and managers. get my drift
So it is a dirty industry, when I saw the case of Miley I was not surprised at all cos I know how the industry operates. You might even make up your mind but when you get there you will be cajoled into doing all sorts of things even in extreme cases drugged too to get what they want.
Godbless
I started dealing with this not too long ago myself — realizing that it’s kind of hypocritical singing the lyrics of a song on MTV one day and then singing ‘Blessed Assurance’ the next. Thank GOD for being merciful and loving in correcting HIS children.
So I have been looking for Gospel music, too. And I am very cautious… if I don’t hear ‘Jesus’ in the first minute or so, it’s over. Most songs don’t even make mention of the Savior, as you said… like, what else would you be singing about in a Christian song? We are because of him.
We all have to be careful and examine these lyrics like we would a sermon or any other thing someone wants to slap a ‘Christian/Gospel/Religious’ label on.
And always, always, always obey the Holy Spirit. You know that’s HIM telling you to change the channel or turn off the music.
@Berean Wife -
No, I should thank you for the study, and I too pray that others will benefit from it.
@channelofhealing -
Aye, sis, from some accounts I heard it’s the same in some entertainment industries and even in the corporate world as well. That’s how the world works, where people will make use of and exploit another to further their own interests, no matter the method so long as the ends justifies the means.
Well said, sis, well said!
Just to add some more information about CCM.
Our church is taking the youth next month to En Fluego, http://www.enfuegoinfo.com/v2/history.php.
It is self-proclaimed as the “Christian Woodstock.” Explain that to me?
@Berean Wife -
I’m speechless. Don’t recognize half the artistes there, but I do know about Barlow Girl and I don’t think that they are remotely Christian.
Christian music, like any other genre, comes in many forms due to the creative inclination of the artisit. It may be more prominant in some them others, but that does not mean it is not as important or heartfelt.
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