It has finally become personal—my aversion to and strong dislike of contemporary Christian music. The pastor of the church I attend proclaimed from the pulpit that if you come to church late enough to miss the “worship time” and come only to hear the speaker, then you are a hypocrite. Well, I am no hypocrite. And I’m sure that he did not have ME personally in mind as he was speaking, but I DO purposely arrive to church AFTER the song service. So how do I square what the pastor said about being a hypocrite with me simply detesting the choice of music they sing and play? I don’t know.
Should I defend my intolerance of contemporary Christian music? Should I change churches (I’d rather not)? Do I endure the torture of the music and show up on time? Or do I continue as I have been? I need to hear the word of God being proclaimed and I prefer to do so while in the presence of likeminded people. Do I give that up altogether?
I think I know what the pastor would say. He would say I’m being petty and that since the music is being sung to worship the Lord, then I should put aside my own taste in music and simply join in. (Yet, it is not just about personal taste. The music is inherently unholy). Well, I’ve told myself that—many times. I will glean from a song a half-way decent phrase and let my mind equate it with a biblically spiritual meaning somehow. But how many times does that phrase have to be repeated! Not only is a phrase repeated incessantly, the song has no melody, no real musicality. My mind starts to wonder, I get irritated and stir crazy. I’ve tried sitting down and reading my Bible while the others are standing and singing but I feel that appears very rude.
Another way I try to endure the song service is that I often stand and view the congregation as they worship and I think what a miracle that in churches all over the United States and the world, millions of Gentiles are praising a God they have never seen. I am overcome with emotion when I realize that I am witnessing scripture being fulfilled before my very eyes. (Ask me which scriptures and I’ll tell you). But on to my rant.
Am I less spiritual than the others who enjoy the music? Is there something lacking in my faith? A big fat NO! That is the thing that is so frustrating. Yet, I doubt if I can convince the pastor of that. So I feel isolated, disenfranchised.
Years ago when this type of music first started being performed (yes, performed, for that is what it appears to be—a performance), I embraced it. I whole-heartedly joined in. I felt it would reach people who were tired of traditional church. Soon, however, due to its inherent shallowness, I tired of it, even detesting it. I recognized it for what it is—a poor copy of worldly entertainment. In fact many of the songs are written by artists out of Nashville for the sole purpose of making money. Interestingly enough, the few compositions that are spiritual and worthy of being sung, seem to be written by artists who actually experienced the Christian life with its trials and tribulations.
Now back to the present situation: I thought by my simply bowing out of the so called “worship service” rather than complaining about it, I was being mature and respectful. Now I just don’t know what to do.
If I speak up in my defense I will most likely, somewhere down the road, be used as an example in a future sermon, of a petty complainer. That is okay. I know the truth.
And in defense of my declaring CCM being inherently wrong, there are countless articles, blogs and message boards saying the same thing I’m saying, only better. I AM NOT ALONE.
I would want to ask the pastor this: Do you truly feel like the music currently being sung promotes holiness? Think about it. I mean REALLY think about it. What is holiness? For one thing, being set apart from the world. And holy music should be just that—set apart from the world.
Instead, we have a worship team that stands in full view of the congregation, dressed (usually) in stylish clothes that mimic the world’s extremes, for example, skinny jeans which don’t leave much to the imagination. (Thankfully this is not so much of a problem in our particular congregation). We see their facial expressions which to me look like they are conjuring up phony piety. (Maybe they are sincere, but I’d rather not see their distracting facial expressions). 1Someone told me that I shouldn’t be looking at their faces. To which I saw, “Then don’t stand up front on the stage to be seen”! The singers’ slur their words and intonate in the modern rock/folk style (rather than in a manner that promotes congregational singing) The music itself mimics worldly contemporary music only it is a poor copy. The lyrics are shallow, repetitive (like pagan worship) and often are not Biblically sound. The pastor will argue that he will do whatever it takes to get people in the church to be saved. (Yet he claims the seeker sensitive movement missed the mark). Where is his faith in the Holy Spirit to do the job through songs that are theologically sound?
Even if the churches insist on playing the style of music that is popular with the world, at least do it better than the world, and demand lyrics that are in keeping with good solid theology.
Music can preach a sermon in and of itself. Modern Christian music does not invoke in me a desire to be more like Jesus.
To avoid the distraction of the latest fashions and “pious” expressions from the worship team leaders, how about having them dress in choir robes. How about they stand off to the side and have one modest person lead the congregation to keep tempo. Hmmmm. That is not a new idea.
And finally: a few weeks ago as I was thinking about revival (the content of a previous post), I was wondering what could bring about revival in our churches in America. Well, for one thing—and this is a big one—change the music. It will take a brave and courageous pastor to do so. It will take work.
Going back to the older hymns would be a good start but my point is to not focus on that. Why not search out the “best of the best” CURRENT songs of praise, adoration, proclamation, contrition, humility and holiness.
Maybe the songs don’t have to be all about “I Good. God got me” as one critic put it.
