Overview of the Issue
With many fundamentalists, music is a topic for heated discussion. A majority of fundamentalists teach against the use of contemporary orchestration in church. I’m not talking keyboards and violins, I mean guitars and drums. Such music is worldly, even Satanic. Classical music styles are preferred, and everything from Southern Gospel to Rap, Jazz and Country is frowned upon. Various Scriptural arguments are raised, but generally the argument comes down to such music being “of the world”. Christians should fill their minds with godly music, not that which Satan uses for his purposes.
I don’t want to downplay this issue. There are many good reasons for holding to a conservative music only position. But I don’t see this supported in Scripture. The fruits of modern Christian contemporary music reveal that such music is not Satanic. Rather it ministers to the hearts of multitudes of believers, and encourages them to live lives of faith. I conclude that modern music styles when coupled with decent lyrics are fine. And when coupled with Christian lyrics can be used to the glory of God in the church.
My Blog Posts on the Topic
One can view all my posts on the topic by clicking this link, but the major posts, where I hash out the details of this debate are listed below. Following those posts, I provide a list of recommended Christian music, as well.
The Music Debate
Are certain forms of modern music unacceptable for Bible believing Christians to enjoy or employ in corporate worship? This is the music debate. The posts below are my attempts to defend the discerning use of contemporary Christian music.
- The Rise of the Modern Hymn Movement
- Morality, Music and the Bible
- Great Thoughts on Music, Style and Worship
- The People Clapped, He Sat Down, and the Fundamentalists Went Wild [includes an informative, lengthy debate in the comments section]
- More on Music
- Christian Rap — Take 2
- 10 Points on the Music Issue
- Chuck Colson, Sam Storms, and Jonathan Edwards on Music
- A New Song for the Nations
- Music and Munchies: Romans 14’s Instructions on Food Applied to Music
- Dictating Applications and Enforcing Personal Convictions: Three Case Studies [one is music]
- Casting Crowns & MercyMe: A Look at Motivations
- They are Wrong, We are Right: Worship Wars and Music
- Dissonant Views on Music
- A Musical Antidote to Legalistic Thinking
- I Don’t Wanna Know If the Answers Aren’t Easy…
Many fundamentalists are simply unaware of how good many modern praise songs really are. They’ve heard a few shallow ditties and have written off the genre completely. Or they don’t understand that some of the songs are still worth singing when set to a more traditional accompaniment. Because of this I have tried to highlight the best modern worship songs available in hopes of encouraging more to use these Christ-centered, doctrinally rich, beautiful songs.
- In Christ Alone — Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
- Before the Throne of God Above — Steve & Vikki Cook; Charitie Lees Bancroft
- I Will Glory in My Redeemer — Steve & Vikki Cook
- The Gospel Song — Drew Jones & Bob Kauflin
- Worthy Is the Lamb — Darlene Zschech
- Knowing You — Graham Kendrick
- In the Valley — Bob Kauflin
- Your Great Renown — Eric Grover & Steve Cook
- Receive the Glory — Bob Kauflin
- Marvelous Light — Charlie Hall
- Hope of My Heart — Ken Boer
- The Power of the Cross — Stuart Townend & Keith Getty
- How Deep the Father’s Love for Us — Stuart Townend
- How Deep — Stephen Altrogge
- I Love You, Lord — Laurie Klein, with additional verses by John Piper
- How Great Is Your Love (How High and How Deep) — Mark Altrogge
- We Will Dance — David Ruis
- Jesus, Hope of the Nations — Brian Doerksen
- Across the Lands — Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
- Only Your Mercy — Scott Wesley Brown
- Be Unto Your Name — Lynn DeShazo & Gary Sadler
- O Church Arise — Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
- Hallelujah, What a Savior — Phillip Bliss, arranged by Bob Kauflin
- You Are My King (Amazing Love) — Billy James Foote
- My Heart is Filled — Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
- Here is Love — Steve & Vikki Cook
- Who Am I? — Casting Crowns
- Still the Cross — FFH
- On My Cross — FFH
- Wonderful Maker — Jeremy Camp (written by Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman)
- Lord God Almighty — Fusebox
- Once Again — Fusebox (written by Matt Redman)
- Let My Lifesong Sing — Casting Crowns
- With Hope — Steven Curtis Chapman
- CD Recommendation — Lifesong by Casting Crowns
Other Recommended Sites and Articles
coming soon…
[...] Music [...]
[...] defense of selfish pursuits. They have staked out their love of booze, the movie theater, dance, rock music, dating touching, and a casual dress philosophy. These are all activities, which have [...]
My brother, for a while I’ve been looking at your site. Very good stuff. I am a fundamentalist without those idiots ideas. I applaud you for taking these steps for exposing the dangers and the hatred for fellow christians who are truly devoted disciples and worship without the worldliness creeping in. I am a graduate of Tenn Temple (fundamentalist school) class of ‘85, … today as a pastor, I see more confusion with fundamentalism and misapplied theology. My theology is not reformed, but my approach is the biblical focus on the sovereingty of God in all things. Let them try to figure God out. I want to serve Him and my worship music is blended in our congregation. I make no apology and will not apologize for it. Thank you for your site. God bless you.
[...] 1, 2008 I plan on highlighting some more praise music again. Every Monday, I will try to post on one of the songs we sang in church the day before. [...]
I have been a lifelong interest in music and enjoy music in just about every genre available (with the exceptions of gansta rap and death metal — as well as variants thereof). I worked in radio as a D.J. for 20 years starting at 13 years of age and have done every format imaginable. I even hosted my own talk show for a couple of years. Anyway, one genre that I particularly enjoy is Christmas music and currently have over 650 CD’s in my collection. And my collection contains music and artists covering all sorts of genres. In 1996 while I worked at a local talk radio station I convinced the program director to allow me to have a Christmas eve all-music show. He gave me 6 hours and told me if I felt like it, to go as long as I wanted so I ended up doing 8 hours. Back then my collection was considerably smaller but even then I didn’t repeat the same song twice during those 8 hours. Also has prerecorded skits, live interviews, celebrity Christmas greetings, etc. The station, unfortunately was sold only a few months later and went to a 24-hour satellite sports talk station with no local programming so I became just a board op. I haven’t gotten the chance to do a Christmas eve show since even though I’ve tried to convince regional stations. I still hope to do a Christmas eve show someday especially since there are loads of great Christmas music that doesn’t get airplay. I’ve got Christmas music that covers not only Christian artists but also country, rock, r&b, blues, cajun, zydeco, rap, novelty, jazz, classical, a capella, ska, reggae, etc. I could do a Christmas eve marathon that would surpass in quantity and quality any satellite service.
Anyway, please pardon my rambling. I don’t have many things of which I am passionate but music is one of them. I try to play guitar (emphasis on the word “try“) but am not very good. I keep an eye out for Christmas music all year long with ebay being a great source and even the local Goodwill bookstore gets various Christmas CD’s throughout the year. I guess fortunately for me, not too many people enjoy Christmas music as much as I do and unload their CD’s to Goodwill. Recently I picked up Sandi Patty’s Christmas CD (”Yuletide Joy”) which is excellent.
Thanks, Jean Claude. I forgot to respond earlier.
Carl, interesting history. I love music and try to collect as much as I can, too. You should broadcast online or something! And the Goodwill thing is a great way to pick up music, especially if you have a working tape player.
please tell me how i can hear only your mercy on the internet i love that song
Hi Bob, It’s been awhile. I’ve posted here before…mostly in the books area, I think, although I think I posted a response to a question some time ago. Anyway–I haven’t posted in awhile because I now have my own shop set up. Yes, I’ve joined the rank of blogger and I credit this blog as a part of my inspiration. Well, I just wanted to stop by and let you know about a site that I’ve been getting some great music off of…which you probably already know about.
The site is http://www.reformedpraise.org–David Ward is the main contributor there.
I’m still connected because I subscribe to your feed which has been such a blessing!
Thanks for your faithfulness!
Kim
oops…I guess I used to post here as K. Noble.
I’m aware of Reformed Praise. I need to finish my list of sites here and add them to it sometime. What’s your blog’s url?
Thanks,
Bob
Reverand Morin,
Interesting how compassionate you are with those who hold “idiotic” ideas. I guess it’s not just the fundys who can call names and be passionate without being able to articulate their position. You must be a very interesting pastor to listen to.
[...] of selfish pursuits. They have staked out their love of booze, the movie theater, dance, rock music, dating touching, and a casual dress philosophy. These are all activities, which have [...]
Try going to a RPCNA Psalmody only, No Musical instrumentation. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
GOD IS SOVEREIGN!
We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrologies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the State, to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ to any alliance with Government, and we will never make the Church, although the Queen, the despot over the consciences of men.
—Charles H. Spurgeon
I’m just a Christian.
how can I buy or what cite can I buy Shai linne Atonement CD online its very hard to find it , its not on crossmovementrecoerds.com nor even can I buy Lacraes new album.
Andre,
You should be able to order Shai Linne’s CD at this link:
http://www.merchline.com/lampm.....3163.c.php
Thanks,
Bob Hayton.
how can i purchase your song,be unto your name my wife passed away with lung cancer recently and i wanted to give copies of that song to her sisters . thanks ,sam
“YOu said” By Shane Barnard is awesome and truly reformed.
Enjoy your blog. Hope you’ll consider my music for your next listing.