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Quotable Monday, 12.10.2007

Dec 10th 2007

By: tom cottar

5 comments

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I hate much of ‘Christian music’. Chances are that if it’s in heavy (or semi-heavy) rotation on your radio or in your local Lifeway store in the ‘Staff Favorites’ section, I have a hard time stomaching it. But that’s me, and I know that somehow the Spirit uses the sugary shallowness of it all to give hope to the masses to carry on. Or, at least, keep CCM in business.

But I have to take this into consideration:

“Trying to describe the Eternal using earthly words is like trying to scoop up the whole ocean into the palm of your hand. It’s like trying to count every star in the endless midnight sky. All of our words fall so short; every melody failing to capture the true beauty of the Heavenly.”

-Vicky Beeching, a fourth generation worship leader, music prodigy and Oxford -educated songwriter.

Those of us who fancy ourselves creative sometimes feel her conflict. How do you describe the Unfailing within the vehicle of much-failing words? Granted, as much as I moan about the Christian music scene, I have to admit that it’s a huge task to put into words the works of the Spirit.

Maybe I should lighten up.

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theology, worship

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- jimmiekersh
  
  December 10th, 2007 at 12:53
  
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  Do not lighten up! It is nice to know at least some Christians demand better than mediocrity.
- millersus
  
  December 10th, 2007 at 16:32
  
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  Ah, CCM. As I listened to Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Mans Desire earlier today, I thought he had come close to capturing a tiny portion of God’s majesty and glory. I think we have traded in depth for mass market appeal. As in education, the subject matter is oftened watered down to meet the needs of the many. I have become accustomed to praise choruses, but in times of need, I remember the hymns that I grew up with.
- tom cottar
  
  December 10th, 2007 at 17:45
  
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  I agree…and I’m the guitar-wielding youth guy. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great theological expressions out there in the form of modern worship…but they seem pretty few and far between. I love some of the things guys like Tomlin and Crowder are doing with old hymns, but I think we can still do better.
  
  Plus, it seems like many people check their theology at the door when writing contemporary stuff…sigh…don’t you think our worship ought to be rich with expressions of God’s grace and power and majesty and trustworthiness and even pain and suffering….and…and….instead of just trying to find a catchy hook or decent rhyme?
  
  Thanks for stopping by!!!
- stefanierasco
  
  December 11th, 2007 at 10:56
  
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  Whew! I am so glad you said that.
  
  I think I was learning it, but slowly, and with lots of resistance. I remember being beat upside the head when in junior high and high school that you HAVE to listen to “Christian” music as a follower of Christ. Because, of course, God would never approve of U2, Goo Goo Dolls, Incubus or any of my secret indulgences. Burn those CDs! Snap them in half over the trash can for Jesus! I was made to feel so guilty. It was confusing when the music that I enjoyed seemed to have a much stronger message, something that I could relate to or find truth in, when I was told to buy into (what seemed to me to be) the goofy choruses on repeat that provided little musical or emotional depth. But! They did mention God, so that was what I was supposed to be listening to.
  
  But now as an adult, I am more confident in making my own decisions and filtering the nonsense (most of the time), even with the sometimes deafening voices that still feel the need to tell me what to do, how to experience music, or how to experience my Lord. My iTunes is ripping at the seams with the likes of DMB, O.A.R., Blue October and I happen to still be completely in love with Christ.
  
  So do the alternative lyrics and melodies speak more accurately of this Mighty God? Probably not. The point is that we are too sinful and ignorant to utter of His true glory behind our blurred perspectives. But we do have a Hope, a connection through the Person of the Holy Spirit, and a voice (or whatever vehicle/tool we have been given) with which to spend the rest of our short days trying to glimpse Him. Here we go…
- scott
  
  December 12th, 2007 at 09:57
  
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  I didn’t have the experience of growing up and being shaped by a particular Christian subculture. And musically, I grew up to the sounds of both classical music and the Beatles, Dylan, Joplin, Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and all the rest. I never had any desire to reject that music (it’s good stuff!), so I’ve always just added to it. My tastes as a young adult ran toward the Cure, Dead or Alive, Book of Love, Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, Pet Shop Boys, Psychedelic Furs, Blondie, and the rest in that genre. I continue to find music today which I enjoy like Blue October, James Blunt, 3 Doors Down, and so on.
  
  With all that said, the only thing I find odd about CCM is that it exists as its own musical genre — at least for marketing purposes. Throughout history, where Christians have made music, it’s simply been music. Separating it and labeling it “Christian” has always seemed very odd to me. However, with that said, the decision of what makes it onto my music player tends to be based solely on whether or not I like it and enjoy having it frame the activities of my life.
  
  So there is lots of “CCM” on my player just as there is plenty of all the above I mentioned. As that prophetess Janis said, “It’s just music man.” And music binds us together.
  
  I agree that it would be very strange and disturbing to be pressured to listen to Christian music instead of whatever else you want to put in that place. (Although I’m unclear exactly how music converts to a believing allegiance in the Lord Jesus Christ, we’ll leave the whole idea of “Christian music” for a later date.) But some of what I hear about “CCM” seems to be more a reaction against that and a further splintering. I think we need to pull things back together in a more holistic fashion instead of continuing this strange division that seems particularly intense in the evangelical Christian subculture.
  
  Sure. Lot’s of “CCM” is relatively shallow and simple entertainment. But popular music is often simple. Certainly non-CCM “pop” music (and yes, you will also find Madonna on my player) is often simple and shallow. So what? Ancient and medieval working and drinking songs were typically very simple and pretty shallow. People still loved them. We need both the simple and the artistically profound. There is a place for both in our lives.
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