Contemporary Christian Music: Good or Bad

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Bro Enda:
[QB] </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> It's just a simple matter of ignorance. You simply have no idea what really is out there.

In this case IGNORANCE IS BLISS. I have no desire to learn any more about 'what is out there'.

I strive always to avoid the ways of the ungodly.

You're amazingly insolent for a ministers son, I can only assume your father spared the rod, more's the pity.

If you can drag yourself away from your ungodly music for ten minutes consider Psalm 1.

1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.


</font>[/QUOTE]The problem isn't Psalms 1:1-3. The problem is that you say that CCM is ungodly. Here is a popular CCM song:

We delight in the law of your word
We delight in the son who was perfect from birth
We delight in the day he's returning to earth
Hallelujah

We will bow our hearts because we are free
As we raise our hands to give you glory
Father of life and love and infinite worth

CHORUS
We delight in the law of your word
We delight in the son who was perfect from birth
We delight in the day he's returning to earth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

We will lift our eyes to the cloud and the flame
Lord you guide our steps and restore us again
The nations of man will rejoice in the God of the wilderness

 

[Guitar25]

Its not so much a generation thing, but more your taste in music. I like some of the southern style gosple but i am big on bands like Desciple, Skillet, Relient K and Pillar. I myself am a christian musician (and JFYI i am making a CD in early september) and i have found that alot of older ppl like my family like bands like Skillet and Newsboys. So its really all a matter of opinion.

Also i can see where you two are coming from but Jonathan is right. I am also a pastors relation. I'm a pastors nephew. You need to listen to other bands before you judge anything. Listen to things like Skillet, or Newsboys or Sonic Flood or the Paul Coleman Trieo. Its a bit hypocritical to judge all christian contemporary music off of a few bands. There are bands out there that are said to be christian bands like U2 and Creed that give CCM a bad rep, but get a grip and listen to the other stuff out there.

Lemme give you an example. Here is a song by a CCM band called Skillet called -My Hope-

Times are hard, times have changed
Don't you see
But I keep holding on to You
Its hard to keep the faith alive day to day
Leaning on the strength i've found in You

You're the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You're everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope

Far beyond what I can see and comprehend
Etching Your eternity in me
Nations scream and angels sing, Jesus Reigns
And every knee bows down

Your the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You're everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope

Carry on and I sing in hope.
You love, and I love You now
All the times when I start to sink
You come and you rescue me

You are my hope
You are my strength
You're everything, everything i need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope

Lemme ask you Bro Enda, can you find anything wrong with that song, and i pity you if you do.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Temper your words carefully, gentlemen... remember, we're all family here... we just may not want to go on vacation together.

The fact is that there is plenty of "CCM" that is not good, as well as some that is just plain bad. There are flavors of ice cream that I can't stand, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying a bowl of Cookies and Cream once in a while. (For those who've never tasted Blue Bell ice cream, you have no idea what you're missing!) Likewise, there are flavors of music ("CCM" included) that I don't like. I don't judge "CCM" by those things, just like I don't judge "ICE CREAM" by those flavors I can't stomach. Just my humble opinion.

In His Grip,
joshua

 

[Candi016]

Hello!

As my view on contemporary Christian music, I enjoy it a lot. I go for the more slower stuff like Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, but all in all, this is how I see it.
Ask yourself, does it glorify God? I always ask myself that while listening to Christian music. Becaues Christian music, obviously, is suppose to be used to glorify God and delight in the Lord, am I wrong? There is nothing sinful about music. God gave us music for us to enjoy. Music in itself is not sinful, it is what some people do and say with it that is sinful.
But, I gotta say, almost all Christian contemporary I listened to glorifies God.

Those of you who don't listen to it because it seems to you to be "of the world"(which is foolish to think especially if you say all chirtsian contemporary is. Sounds kinda self-righteous to me), you don't know what your missing.

 

[Guitar25]

There is some bands that claim to be christian that give CCM a bad reputation but i still have yet to see or hear any CCM that is bad.

 

[DanielFive]

So I guess that makes me an IGNORANT LEGALISTIC PITIFUL SELF-RIGHTEOUS FOOL, WHOSE ONLY HEARD A COUPLE OF OBSCURE IRISH STREET ARTISTS AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S MISSING.

Thanks guys, I know you love me anyway.

 

[Aaron]

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
LOL. You probably wouldn't have been a big fan of a guy named John the Baptist then, huh?

Not a big fan of OT forms of devotion.

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Aaron:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
LOL. You probably wouldn't have been a big fan of a guy named John the Baptist then, huh?

Not a big fan of OT forms of devotion. </font>[/QUOTE]Well, I would have liked to hang around with him, even if others wouldn't.

 

[DanielFive]

Lemme ask you Bro Enda, can you find anything wrong with that song, and i pity you if you do.

I can't hear it, how am I supposed to judge it. Do you buy Skillet CDs just to read the lyric sheet?

 

[Sherrie]

I like CCM, but I myself do not care for the song in your example Guitar25.

I also do not like the fact that a persons nationality was used as slander against him. I don't care if he is from Chicago slums or from where-ever. It has nothing to do with liking CCM or not liking it. Nor does it matter if you are a Ministers/Pastor/Preachers son or not, when liking CCM. I was neither a Ministers son, or not a ministers son. I still like it.

I agree this hate bickering back and forth is not good. It accomplishes nothing. Everyone is going to hold true to what their own opinions are.

This very thing keeps a lot of people from coming here and posting. This forum gives off a taste of much bitterness.

Like everything else you have to pay attention to what you are listening too. I do not care for bluegrass. It gives me a headache to know end. But it does not mean it is evil, or less of a song for someone to sing to God.

I think Joshua has done a fine job of posting good solid CCM songs. If it is not the lyrics that those who do not care for CCM have a problem with, then it must be the music or the singer.

So anyways.....


I do not think...or am sure... that your reference that you used in scripture Enda, really is talking about music...CCM, or even Hymnal.

God Bless
Sherrie

 

[DanielFive]

I also do not like the fact that a persons nationality was used as slander against him. I don't care if he is from Chicago slums or from where-ever.

Thanks Sherrie but I think most of the "banter" on this thread was good-natured, I haven't taken anything too seriously.

I was neither a Ministers son

I should hope you weren't or CCM would well down the list of things we'd need to discuss.

I agree this hate bickering back and forth is not good. It accomplishes nothing. Everyone is going to hold true to what their own opinions are.

I would have to disagree there, I don't think there has been any hatred shown on this thread, and just so everyone's clear I don't hate anyone because they like CCM.

The second point is that as Christians we are open to accepting the truth about erroneous views on anything. I'm open to change if anyone can convince me that there is any merit in certain styles of CCM. I don't dig my heels in for the sake of winning an argument, that would be pride, I dig my heels in sometimes because I truly believe that in order to live a seperated life the Christian is called to forake the things of the world. To me rock music is of the world, it is not Christian and doesn't become Christian when "christian" lyrics are added to it.

I think Joshua has done a fine job of posting good solid CCM songs. If it is not the lyrics that those who do not care for CCM have a problem with, then it must be the music or the singer.

I agree, I haven't read all the posts on Joshua's thread. I would just say that Joshua is not demonstrating that certain CCM songs are good, but only that certain lyrics are acceptable. I don't deny that there must be some good Christian lyricists in the world today, why shouldn't there be, but I find it hard to understand what they are hoping to achieve by entering the music business and entering the CCM industry.

Also as you point out the music is also something that needs to be considered, as I have already said.

I do not think...or am sure... that your reference that you used in scripture Enda, really is talking about music...CCM, or even Hymnal.

I agree, I wasn't suggesting that Psalm 1 was speaking about music specifically. I used this reference because it describes the godly man, I was seeking to demonstrate to Jonathon WHY I am happy to be blissfully ignorant of much of what is called CCM.

The Psalm speaks of the godly man as one who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, the godly man meditates in the law day and night.

What I am saying is that I don't feel it is expedient to listen to CCM, there is nothing there that will edify me more than the Word of God. If I have a desire to listen to music just as a way of unwinding I will listen to hymns which are based on the Word and are recognisably Christian.

In my view much of CCM is produced by ungodly men, people who aren't saved, why would I want to hear what they have to say? If there are good Christian artists within the CCM industry then they should seperate themselves from it and openly reject it.

I will not stand in the way of sinners by listening to styles of music that are used by the devil to lead people into sin.

I don't want to be waking up in the morning humming a rock tune (listening to music affects me in this way and to this degree). Meditating on Scripture or on Godly hymns or even poetry can allow God to speak to me directly from His word.

Hope that clarify's my thoughts a little.

God Bless

Enda

 

[ScottEmerson]

Honest question, Enda. Had you lived in the 17th century, would you have openly welcomed the hymns of Martin Luther?

 

[Pete]

Originally posted by Guitar25:
...but i still have yet to see or hear any CCM that is bad.

Easy fixed with 3 words: "Spirit filled pizza"

Pete

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

I second that, Pete... pretty stupid song.

 

[Sherrie]

And I really third that one Pete and Joshua! hmmmm....can you third something?

Hi Enda!

Sherrie

 

[Pete]

Thanks Joshua & Sherrie

Sherrie, I think "thirding" means "motion carried!"

 

[DanielFive]

Is that "Spirit Filled Pizza" song for real?

If it is I'll fourth it.

Hi Sherrie.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

Yes it is, Enda. I can't remember the artist, but it's really old. Thankfully, it's one that's gone away into obscurity... only to be revived by Pete. Gee thanks!

 

[Candi016]

I think when a Christian chooses a proffession to be a Singer, right away we start judging them. I mean, can't they sing about life situations as long as its not offending God? We all have proffessions, some christians choose singing as theirs. But some people are so quick to judge them and attack them if theyre not singing Hymns and Psalms. We are right to examine everything that we listen to. If it's not a Hymn or a Psalm it doesn't mean its offending God.

 

[Pete]

By Bro Enda:
Is that "Spirit Filled Pizza" song for real?

If it is I'll fourth it. [thumbs]

Bro Enda, yep mate, sadly it was real. Even I couldn't make up something that weird

By Joshua Rhodes:
I can't remember the artist, but it's really old. Thankfully, it's one that's gone away into obscurity... only to be revived by Pete. Gee thanks! [Wink]

It was one of Carman's. It is on same standard as a lot of other songs from him. If we started a "100 days of shockin CCM" thread, I reckon ol Carman would manage at least a fifth of the spots on it

Sorry for digging that one up Joshua

I'll try not to do it again

Pete