Originally posted by av1611jim:
Mike;
Contemporary; marked by characteristics of the same period of time, modern.
By definition Mike, "contempoary christian music' is a misnomer. Why? Simply because it is identified by the SAME characteristics as those of the secular music world.
[1]con·tem·po·rary
Pronunciation: k&n-'tem-p&-"rer-E
Function: adjective
Etymology: com- + Latin tempor-, tempus
Date: 1631
1 : happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time
2 a : SIMULTANEOUS b : marked by characteristics of the present period : MODERN, CURRENT
- con·tem·po·rar·i·ly /-"tem-p&-'rer-&-lE/ adverb
synonyms CONTEMPORARY, CONTEMPORANEOUS, COEVAL, SYNCHRONOUS, SIMULTANEOUS, COINCIDENT mean existing or occurring at the same time. CONTEMPORARY is likely to apply to people and what relates to them <Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin>. CONTEMPORANEOUS is more often applied to events than to people <contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping>. COEVAL refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons <two stars thought to be coeval>. SYNCHRONOUS implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals <synchronous timepieces>. SIMULTANEOUS implies correspondence in a moment of time <the two shots were simultaneous>. COINCIDENT is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship <the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year>.
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Sorry, but, given the commonly accepted definition of "contemporary" I do't see the problem.
Unless you've discovered some form of time travel we're not aware of, we have no choice but to be "contemporary".
Therefore to be both christian and contemporary one would have to nulify all the Scriptural admonitions to be SEPERATED FROM the world in this area of music.
Why? You still haven't demonstrated why. C'mon! If it's as self evident as you seem to believe, it can't be
that hard.
You continue to 'bang the gong' insisting that I show you in the Bible HOW the modern music is bad.
It would be nice, yes.
To which, I reply with many Scriptures which are telling us NOT TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.
But, other than simply being of the same time period, you still have not demonstrated why you think they're like the world and, frankly, it's starting to become annoying. You're just repeating yourself again and again to hear yourself talk, all the while, saying nothing.
I sense that you are of the camp which believes the lie that music is nuetral and only has meaning or impact when "holy-sounding' words are added.
No, I believe that all music has
some meaning, words or no words but until a meaning is appplied to the music, it
is neutral.
Must I remind you of the truth that music can TAME the savage beast?
Actually, that's from a poem by Longfellow.
The other side of that coin my friend is that music can CREATE a savage beast.
Really? Demonstrate, please.
Remove the words of such trash as Jars of Clay or P.O.D. and you will find Jimi Hendrix, or Robin Trower re-incarnated. Or perhaps Seals and Croft. Or even Barry Manilow.
Actually, the five artists don't sound anything alike and the Bible teaches that "it is apppointed once for man to die and then the judgment", so I sincerely doubt that any of these men is a reincarnation of the other.
But nevertheless you will find secular STYLES and beat.
What is a "secualr style and beat"?
Do you pretend to deny that the worlds music is DESIGNED to incite passion and sex and rage and rebellion?
Yes I do deny that. I don't deny that there is
some music that is designed for that purpose but I can't take seriously the idea that contemporary music as a whole carries that purpose.
To be honest, if a song like Jimmy Buffett's "1921" or "Little Miss Magic" or Steve Goodman's "My Old Man" or "Would You Like to Learn to Dance" inspires "passion and sex and rage and rebellion" then you have some serious issues you need to deal with.
How can you be so blind as to not see that this old world's junk would never be acceptable to a Thrice Holy God?
When did I ever say that?
I don't care how nicely you dress it up. It is still spawned from the pits of hell and it is unholy.
In your opinion.
Unfortunately, I have two choices of radio stations in this tiny town I live in. One is a Country music station full of farming news and Garth Brooks. The other is sponsered by the Calvary Chapel network of "praise". I tell you in all honesty and humility that many times I shut off my radio simply to get a break from the RAGE!!!
I'm pretty familiar with CC praise and worship music. Could you please give me an example of CC music that conveys "rage"?
I am sorry but you will never convince me that the CCM artists are not out for a buck rather than praising God.
They're musicians. Period.
The only difference is, in this case they sing from a Christian world view. That's all.
Do they make money? Yes. Not nearly as much as their mainstream counterparts but there's still money to be made.
When I was involved in CCM, there were several who still worked day jobs and played on the weekends. Mark Gershmehl of White Heart was a school teacher, Jerome Olds and Bruce Carroll were social workers, Michael Card was a forest ranger, etc. As far as I know, it's still the same today.
If they're all out for money, then I have to wonder why Dana Key quit music to become a pastor or why he authored several Bible studies for teens. I'm curious to know why John James left what is arguably one of the biggest bands in the history of Christian music to become a youth evangelist in Australia. I wonder why Mylon Lefevre and John Schlitt quit mainstream music where they toured with the major artists of their day and made ten time as much as they ever did in CCM.
Same with Kerry Livgren, founder and leader of the rock band, Kansas.
Kansas sold more tham 70 million albums and he walked away when the band's popularity was at it's peak.
He left to make music, offering his craft and his talents to God.
He eventually stepped away from music altogether, starting a ministry to help Christian and gospel artists hone their craft.
As far as I know, he does this on a pro bono basis.
When was the last time Buddy Greene, Wes King, Darrell Mansfield (another one who quit mainstream music to take a pay cut for God), Margaret Becker or Jerome Olds played for any more than forty or fifty people?
When was the last time Rick Cua played anything bigger than a Friday night youth group meeting? He was part of one of the biggest Southern rock bands of the seventies and one of the premier CCM artists of the eighties, yet, he stepped back to play to much smaller audiences.
That sure doesn't sound like a way to get rich to me.
Contrast that with Southern gospel groups like Legacy 5 who charge $22 for a show.
If so then I challenge any and all CCM artists out there to remove their copyrights and give the songs away. You won't see it happen my friend, because they are out for a buck and not the "glory of GAWD".
Unfortunately, artists very, very rarely own the rights to their own songs.
However, Keith Green, Honeytree, Bill Batstone, Ritchie Furay, Glen Kaiser, Rich Mullins, Chuck Girard and others actually have written songs for which the royalties have either been given to charity or are considered public domain.
Perhaps I am getting a bit sarcastic and maybe too straight up and biting for this board.
Maybe. Or maybe you're just so intent on showing everybody how super spiritual you are by making grand, sweeping statements about something you obviously haven't looked into without considering anyone else's opinion or feelings.
[ June 23, 2003, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Mike McK ]