I’ve actually listened to Christian rap, and have a couple of CD’s by Christian rap artists. Now, you might be thinking I’m some fundamentalist freak-show, but I do like rap. I have the Winans CD “Return” (which is now 15 years old!) and Kirk Franklin & God’s Property CD. Nice stuff, but not too theologically deep. Thanks for the link to his post. I didn’t read the original ‘music’ post (the one about Piper having Voice at BBC), but I thought that Shai Lynne’s comments were desperately necessary. I’d go as far as to say that those who are divisive and schismatic over the ‘contemporary Christian music’ issue are those fundamentalists who just don’t have a clue.

Thanks for the encouragement, and yes my head is spinning. I could use a beer, seriously! Well, I need to go down for my recovery sleep. I get off Monday morning, and usually am sleeping soundly by now, but…this thing has me wired.

You don’t need to read Aniol’s stuff. I would recommend going to World from Our Window and reading Shai’s post. You probably read it on SI, but in the comments there, there are some helpful coments and interaction. And there might be something else in the comments that might interest you, too.

I happened to get back online today (I don’t get online during the weekends– I work a second part-time job and don’t have time) and noticed that your other thread on music has garnered a lot of discussion. Having read your comments, I think that I would have thought it through like you did with your stolid opponent. Methinks that the iron got sharpened (ahem…) a lot here.

You mean Brian McCrorie not Greg Linscott! There is a big difference. I don’t think Greg would have concluded quite like Brian. Brian has the blog “Bowing Down”, that I link to in my sidebar and from Bobspotted Blogrolls every now and then.

Did you see Scott Aniol’s quite extreme post during this whole thing? Toward the end one of the pro-rap guys linked to at as an example of a “wrong spirit”. I was almost shocked by it. It was so defensive and not very Christ-like. NeoFundamentalist referenced that post in a recent post as well. I appreciated Pastor Tom Pryde’s thoughts on that matter.

Later, Larry!

Bob

I liked your comments– very well thought out! Your invitation for Greg Linscott to reply to your comments was taken. I don’t know if you got the chance to see what Greg said in his reply, but surprisingly he agrees with you. Here is what Greg said:

“Okay, Bob, but I doubt it will do any good in this context. I’ll definitely be including these areas in my book where I can address them more fully.

So here are my conclusions thus far in my Christian journey:

1. Either musical style has inherent morality or it doesn’t.
**Musical style doesn’t have inherent morality but it is always expressed in a moral context.**

2. Either associational baggage renders musical style unacceptable or it doesn’t.
**It can and does but shouldn’t.**

3. Either musical style should be a test of fellowship or it shouldn’t.
**It must not be a test of fellowship and it is wrong to make it thus.**

If you want to discuss these in greater length, have at it!! I’ll try to pop in and participate as I’m able.”

(me– Larry– again)

I think that in your reply the context setting was properly corrected as it seemed that the worship song led by “Voice” was made at the main worship service with Piper being present. I figured that since you were a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, you could set the record straight about when/where this had taken place. Regardless of whether Piper had given approval for this, the issue is moot; contemporary worship music has been maligned by ill-intentioned fundamentalists by being branded ‘worldly’ when there are no Scriptural evidence to demonize it. Greg Linscott’s final comments were truly telling that fundamentalism is shedding its unbiblical attitudes against irrelevant spiritual matters. Thank you for your comments/arguments/observations regarding music. I hope that Greg will be able to comment over here on Fundamentally Reformed.

Thanks for pointing out that discussion thread. Wow! Talk about some stern “grumpy” reactions! It is sad really.

I chimed in with my two bits over there on page 32. They are closing the thread down at 10pm EST, in case you wanted to know.

Over at SharperIron, there is a great ‘controversy’ over Curtis Allen’s(“Voice”) recent leading of music worship at Bethelehem Baptist Church (your home church). Methinks that this controversy is a regurgitation of ‘histrionic hyper fundamentalism’ being hacked up, and it’s quite a soupy mess to say the least. See: http://www.sharperiron.org/sho.....1&pp=7 This topic got started only two days ago, and it’s already running over 21 pages long. I wouldn’t have a problem with Curtis Allen coming to lead worship in song at my church. Sheesh.