Wordly music or Christian Lyrics?

[securityofficer2008]

I have been involved with preaching since 1996. From then until now I see see a change that has become more apparent in the way that we worship the Lord through music. Today we have worldly music with so called Christian lyrics. If I had to pick one, I would have to pick the Christian lyrics. I am 110% against Christian Contemporary Music. This movement started out small, but now has grown so that non-believers are now listening to it. Music that is Contemporary in style promotes the idea that you do not have to change when you get saved. However, my Bible says that we are to put off the old man. We are to change clothes, attitude, wants, etc. (spiritually speaking). When salvation takes place in the life of a person, that person should start to change their desires (including music). I am so sad to see Christians falling by the wayside because of the influence of Contemporary Christian music in their lives. I know someone right now (I will not give their name) that is far away from the Lord (smoking, cussing, dressing like the world, acting godless, etc.) and it all started with Christian Contemporary Music. It is a sad day when Christians say "I listen to CCM because I like it" instead of saying "I listen to this music because God likes it". The truth is that they cannot say this because God does not like it when Christians have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. This is the Lukewarm church that is talked about in the book of Revelation. I honestly believe that CCM makes God sick because of the points described above. I believe that CCM is sending people to Hell because it uses emotions to convict instead of using the Holy Ghost. I think that many people believe that they are saved because they made some false profession that was hyped up on emotionalism. Do not think that I am against emotions (i.e. Jesus wept. John 11:35). However, when a group uses emotionalism through getting people hyped up at a "concert" to convict: I have a problem.


What about you? What do you think? What are some experiences that you have had with music being used to worship God?

 

[annsni]

CCM is not the evil - it is the heart.

Clothing is not evil - it is the heart.

CCM does not send people to hell - an unregenerated heart does.

 

[corndogggy]

I know someone right now (I will not give their name) that is far away from the Lord (smoking, cussing, dressing like the world, acting godless, etc.) and it all started with Christian Contemporary Music.

Ah, that devil music will get you every time. :laugh:

How would you define "worldly music that has Christian lyrics but is not Christian music" anyway? Verbally describe it to me.

 

[rbell]

INCOMING!!!!

(amazing what happens when we equate our preferences with Scripture, ain't it?)

Oh well...

 

[rbell]

Ah, that devil music will get you every time. :laugh:

How would you define "worldly music that has Christian lyrics but is not Christian music" anyway? Verbally describe it to me.

It's in the book of 1 Opinions. Or is it 2 Confusions?

 

[corndogggy]

It is a sad day when Christians say "I listen to CCM because I like it" instead of saying "I listen to this music because God likes it".

If you can't consider the lyrics, what makes you think you can determine what kind of music God likes? Where in the bible does it say that God doesn't like funky beats and guitars? :laugh:

Actually, Psalms 150:4 tells us to praise him with stringed instruments and a "timbrel", which is a small hand drum similar to a tamborine. Apparently God DOES like funky beats and guitars. :thumbs:

Personally, I think God hates pianos... :laugh:

 

[tinytim]

Banjos and twang! YUCK!...

Personally, I can't stand to hear the McKameys butcher music!...

Southern Gospel is atrocious...

BUT I am not God.. .I am sure he loves it if the singer's heart is right.

Just because the OP doesn't like CCM doesn't mean God doesn't.

 

[tinytim]

The truth is that they cannot say this because God does not like it when Christians have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. This is the Lukewarm church that is talked about in the book of Revelation.

I didn't know CCM existed in John's day! Wow..

You need to practice exegesis.. instead of reading your opinions INTO scripture...

IF what you say, Pianos, organs, guitars, etc.. must be thrown out... for they are worldly instruments...

 

[ShotGunWillie]

I didn't know CCM existed in John's day! Wow..

You need to practice exegesis.. instead of reading your opinions INTO scripture...

IF what you say, Pianos, organs, guitars, etc.. must be thrown out... for they are worldly instruments...

I think we get the idea of what he is saying, when lyrics and songs sung in a guise as to be singing to God, when in fact you can take the same song and sing it to your bf or gf, then really, is it a song that praises God and lifts him up.

I am beginning to think some of you carry it a little too far and get a little childish in your responses.

Music today has evolved and changed into something more sensual and more attractive to non-Christians.

As modern music evolves, as goes "Christian Whatever". The Christian Contemporary Music market evolves and competes directly with the secular music leaders. For instance, look at how DC Talk evolved to keep up with what is popular, went from Rap, to Alternative, to Easy Listening. "Christian Rock" is a direct competitor of secular music. For every hot young girl singing "Baby One More Time" there is a "Christian" Artist singing "Baby One More Time", just with a tweaked lyric here or there, you can't tell them apart. And these are the types of songs that are creeping into churches, sang as special music and so forth. I don't think the instruments are the problems, its the way the song is either delivered or the message within the song.

If I haven't clearly spelled it out or explained what I think the OP was getting at, let me know.

 

[corndogggy]

Willie - Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, and others fall into the category that the OP is talking about, yet I don't think there is any mistake that they are constantly talking about God. There may be a few exceptions but to condemn this entire genre is lunacy.

 

[annsni]

Willie - Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, and others fall into the category that the OP is talking about, yet I don't think there is any mistake that they are constantly talking about God. There may be a few exceptions but to condemn this entire genre is lunacy.

Amen. I'd add in Lincoln Brewster, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and others.

I do think some CCM should not be labeled "Christian" because, honestly, it's not. I'd also separate many of these artists who do worship music because it's not CCM but worship - a totally different ballgame, IMO. Just as some hymns are stories, some are theology lessons and others are songs to God, so are songs of today. Some are shallow and some are theologically very deep and very much on target. I do not think that the latter are displeasing to God.

 

[SBCPreacher]

I have been involved with preaching since 1996. From then until now I see see a change that has become more apparent in the way that we worship the Lord through music. Today we have worldly music with so called Christian lyrics. If I had to pick one, I would have to pick the Christian lyrics. I am 110% against Christian Contemporary Music. This movement started out small, but now has grown so that non-believers are now listening to it. Music that is Contemporary in style promotes the idea that you do not have to change when you get saved. However, my Bible says that we are to put off the old man. We are to change clothes, attitude, wants, etc. (spiritually speaking). When salvation takes place in the life of a person, that person should start to change their desires (including music). I am so sad to see Christians falling by the wayside because of the influence of Contemporary Christian music in their lives. I know someone right now (I will not give their name) that is far away from the Lord (smoking, cussing, dressing like the world, acting godless, etc.) and it all started with Christian Contemporary Music. It is a sad day when Christians say "I listen to CCM because I like it" instead of saying "I listen to this music because God likes it". The truth is that they cannot say this because God does not like it when Christians have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. This is the Lukewarm church that is talked about in the book of Revelation. I honestly believe that CCM makes God sick because of the points described above. I believe that CCM is sending people to Hell because it uses emotions to convict instead of using the Holy Ghost. I think that many people believe that they are saved because they made some false profession that was hyped up on emotionalism. Do not think that I am against emotions (i.e. Jesus wept. John 11:35). However, when a group uses emotionalism through getting people hyped up at a "concert" to convict: I have a problem.

You're kidding, right?

Let's see, worshiping God makes Him sick??

Praise and Worship music is sending people to hell??

Again, you've got to be kidding.

Oh, now I see the problem. Non-Believers are listening to Christian lyrics. You're right, that should never happen!!

This is ridiculous!!!

 

[corndogggy]

Wonder if you can write a Christian song in the key of A minor...

 

[corndogggy]

This reminds me of a conversation with my dad not too long ago... he was wondering why there isn't anybody making "new classic rock". I was like, well, that's an oxymoron, it's impossible to do. He doesn't understand that the new stuff now will be classic rock in 20 years.

Same thing here. People get used to their church music being a particular way, and anything outside of that is bad, its uncomfortable, it just ain't right. They don't understand that younger people feel dead inside when listening to traditional songs on traditional instruments in traditional ways. The new stuff speaks to them more.

I have a hard time seeing why this is bad, especially considering that the "traditional" songs and instruments today were once considered modern and worldly.

 

[thegospelgeek]

As mentioned, many artist today are very Chritlike and their songs are wonderful. Some are not. The ones that are not will fall away, just like the ones who were not 100 years ago have fallen away. The good ones will stick and be around as long as God allows them to be.

I challenge anyone to listen to "Cry out to Jesus-Third Day" and honestly tell me that the writer and singer are not worshiping God in a proper manner.

Anyone willing to take that challenge??


Don't trow out the genre because you do not like the sound.

 

[rbell]

Wonder if you can write a Christian song in the key of A minor...

(sung to the tune of "Feelings.")

Culottes...nothing more than culottes...

 

[securityofficer2008]

I think we get the idea of what he is saying, when lyrics and songs sung in a guise as to be singing to God, when in fact you can take the same song and sing it to your bf or gf, then really, is it a song that praises God and lifts him up.

I am beginning to think some of you carry it a little too far and get a little childish in your responses.

Music today has evolved and changed into something more sensual and more attractive to non-Christians.

As modern music evolves, as goes "Christian Whatever". The Christian Contemporary Music market evolves and competes directly with the secular music leaders. For instance, look at how DC Talk evolved to keep up with what is popular, went from Rap, to Alternative, to Easy Listening. "Christian Rock" is a direct competitor of secular music. For every hot young girl singing "Baby One More Time" there is a "Christian" Artist singing "Baby One More Time", just with a tweaked lyric here or there, you can't tell them apart. And these are the types of songs that are creeping into churches, sang as special music and so forth. I don't think the instruments are the problems, its the way the song is either delivered or the message within the song.

If I haven't clearly spelled it out or explained what I think the OP was getting at, let me know.

Thanks! This is exactly what I was getting at. These other replies show that this music is really moving into the church (Christ's Church). I just do not understand why people would go back to the way that they lived their lives before they were saved. I guess that they were not discipled right and that they decided (without thinking about it) that they did not want to change. God demands a changed life. The fruit that our lives yield is what shows that we are a Christian.

 

[securityofficer2008]

Oh, now I see the problem. Non-Believers are listening to Christian lyrics. You're right, that should never happen!!

This is ridiculous!!!

You are twisting my words the way you want them because you are for CCM and against what God wants in music. The problem is not that Non-Believers are listening to Christian lyrics, the problem is that they see no change in the Believers that listen to CCM. This does not convert and help strengthen a non-believer that becomes converted. CCM doesn't convert a sinner, Christ's finished work on the cross does. I know many people like to use music as a means of evangelism, but show me in the Bible where sinning worldly songs converted anybody. Music was set aside to worship God and not to evangelize.

 

[securityofficer2008]

It's in the book of 1 Opinions. Or is it 2 Confusions?

What are you five?

 

[securityofficer2008]

I didn't know CCM existed in John's day! Wow..

You need to practice exegesis.. instead of reading your opinions INTO scripture...

To bad I do not read my opinions into Scripture, but instead I remember what God says about a topic while I read other portions of Scripture. It is called comparing Scripture with Scripture instead of taking verses out of context and trying to sound smart by typing things such as "I didn't know CCM existed in John's day! Wow..." Go ahead and mock, but when you give an account for what you did in your life you can answer for this one. Also the next time you type the word Scripture maybe you should capitalize it because at least you will look like you have respect unto it.