Contemporary Christian Music

Many of the modern praise songs have been taken directly out of English scripture translations. I say what could be more worshipful than setting scripture to appropriate music!

However, many of these songs are part of "the big show" in many churches - and I would rise against "showtime" in place of worship at my church. Hey Dr. B, how do you feel about gospel hymn sings - they are normally pure entertainment. Is it possible that the traditional gospel quartet is nothing more than showtime, too?

 

Something interesting I heard on "Life on the Edge", a youth-centered program produced by Focus on the Family, tonight: The treasured hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God has the same music as that of an old English drinking song that was sung in the pubs.

 

Many traditionalists today are rehashing the same arguments about praise songs that our ancestors did back when Fanny J. Crosby started writing music.

As for me, I like a blended style - so I guess I'm a moderate, seeing value in both.

 

My family and I personally listen to ccm at home and in the car. However, we tend to prefer a more traditional worship style.

I have heard many a traditional hymm which is not entirely scripturally correct just as I have heard praise choruses which are also not entirely scripturally correct.

I prefer the traditional style because it gets me in a worshipful mindset. I have heard the same thing of praise choruses from other preachers, so I will not condemn either style...

 

I love CCM (try listening to the stream at Way-FM, which is what all our radios are tuned to. For a softer, more 'pop' type of CCM, try J-103.

Oh, and if you like 'edgier' (read very young, very loud) music, there is a link on the Way-FM website to a second ministry of theirs ( The X Station).

As to the impact of CCM on the church, I would rather have the people listening to it that any of the secular stuff out there (be it rock or country or rap or...whatever).

My family and I have felt the upifting that CCM has brought to our lives. We used to listen to regular rock stations, but were introduced to CCM several years ago by a friend. Now, we are appalled to hear the words that we used to sing right along with the radio!

Personally, I couldn't listen to the stuff we sing at church all the time (especially driving...I'd be asleep). Don't get me wrong, I love the old hymns, but they are just that---old (and usually not very Scriptual, I might add). And almost all the 'specials' sung in out church are Southern Gospel (way too close to country for my stomach to handle in large doses).

Now praise choruses are basically useless, if you ask me. Most of them are silly or unbiblical, but a few are worth singing.

In CHrist,
Trotter

 

I'm not real familiar with CCM, but I have seen some of the album covers in bookstores and can't tell much difference between alot of the CCM covers and secular covers.

 

So, what is an album cover by a Christian artist supposed to look like?

 

Probably shouldn't have girls showing off their figure, being a Christian group and all.

 

I don't listen to CCM but I do get CCM Magazine and I do spend some time in Christian bookstores.

I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like a girl "showing of her figure" in a lewd way or a way that would be at odds with scriptural teaching.

I be curious to see what these albums are. Could you please give us a couple of examples?

 

It doesn't have to be "lewd." If a woman shows off her figure, it is immodest and at odds with the teaching concerning modesty found in the Bible. Not only that, it may be a stumbling block for weaker brothers.

If you haven't seen it, that's fine. I have.

Like I said, I'm not a CCM shopper. But, if it pleases you, next time I'm in the store, I'll take notes for you and post them so you can investigate the matter for yourself to make sure I'm in line.

 

Not necessarily. It's mostly subjective.

Thank you. I'll look forward to hearing your report.

 

It depends on what you mean by 'shows off'.

 

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

 

Context, man, context. What is the cultural and Biblical ... context.

According to this, we should be like the taliban and make all our women wear burkas. Hock their wedding bands ( made of gold) and stop them from wearing braids.

I really think that the modern application must follow the intended application of the time in which it was written.

I can make up all kinds of doctrines based upon 1 or 2 verses pulled out of their context. The application made sense when the passage was written and should still make sense today. Dig into the situation at the time the letter was written and I believe you will see that you are misapplying it at least slightly.

 

I didn't pull anything out of context. Women today have the same body parts as women back then. It's a simple concept.

According to this, women should dress in modest apparel, with shamefacedness, etc. Just like the Bible says. Don't rise to the extreme because you can't or don't want to figure it out. It's a simple concept -- dress modestly.

See above.

And you did (see the Taliban reply).

It did and it does. Dress with modesty. Simple.

I'm not misapplying a thing. Take the command for women to dress in modest apparel and apply it. Very simple.

 

BTW, if you're charging me with "misapplying" Scripture, please show me where I have done so.