Christian contemporary musicis to worship as a bologna sandwich is to a steak house.
But, really -- what is a Conservative to do in the 21st century?
Perhaps love trumps taste.
24 comments:
Anonymous
said...
You know, some people think the bologna sandwich tastes better than the steak and prefer the bologna sandwich. Doesn't mean Ruth Chris' has to serve bologna sandwiches just because SOME people want it on the menu.
But, Sarah, since we don't actually OWN Ruth Chris, we don't get a say in the matter. ;)
I, personally, won't be ordering bologna when there is filet mignon on the menu -- but I've decided not to leave the table just because someone else in my party insists on it.
What if you were at dinner and you were the only one requesting filet mignon, and it was available, the cook just didn't feel like serving it because everyone else was satisfied with bologna sandwiches?
And when you made your case for how wrong it was to deny you the filet mignon, (and, additionally, how much more nourishing it would be to ALL if they served more filet mignon in place of bologna sandwiches) they cook said, "Well, there are other restaurants you are welcome to eat at, but for now, in this restaurant, we aren't serving it EVEN IF it's on the menu."
Love trumps taste, after all. Love covers a multitude of personal disagreements. As long as you are willing to be really loving and accept the fact that the rest of your dinner party will be praying that you convert to bolonga soon, because...after all..filet mignon is antiquated.
ROFLOL! They really are praying for my conversion, aren't they? So true. But that's o.k. I'm THAT confident that my music food is of a higher quality -- I don't even engage in the debate or defense with the bologna lovers anymore.
Ah - a kindred spirit! Our church is still having a service that satisfies our need for hymns, choir, organ. Wow! We have had to go to a second service for the rest, but we still have a lot of people who love the traditional style. I am thankful we still have a choice - I really am not satisfied with bologna!
Thankfully Jesus came to be all things to all people because without the "bologna" I wouldn't be here...Filet Mignon always came with some bones that someone forgot to pull out that would typically choke me.
I cant agree with you more. I have to say that I am so unexposed to praise music that it does nothing for me when I hear it. It sounds all modern and strange to my ears.
But you get a huge group of people singing How Great Thou Art and I get the chills up and down my spine it's so beautiful.
Our church sings only hymns. We have no worship team and all that stuff. Truly hymns are steak!
Of ocurse the true definition of a hymn is a song without a chorus. But then thats another post for another day.
Whether it's an old hymn or a newer song of praise and worship... I like both of them (although not all in either category). Some of the older songs I love more for the music than the lyrics... while some of the newer songs have lyrics that speak to me in ways the older ones cannot.
Interesting thought. This is another thought to ponder. Our pastor says this about music. If you can sing it to your girlfriend, it doesn't do God justice. God is so much bigger than that. (not an exact quote, but in essense that is it) I can't agree more. I do enjoy some of the contemporary chrisitan music, however, I am finding myself more drawn to the old hymns, again not all, but the "meaty" ones. For instance, "It is well"
I love that pastor's quote - I have thought often that a song on Christian radio could easily be on secular radio singing to a loved one. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Having worked in contemporary radio of various formats, Husband and I are hyper-aware of the manipulative design and promotion of music. Most CCM sounds just like the cookie-cutter stuff we played at our stations a decade ago -- melody-wise. There's nothing truly worshipful about a song with a "hook." (That's the one phrase of the music that catches up in your head for the rest of the day -- it's a marketing ploy.)
Lyric wise, the music is very simple. There is a place for that I guess, but I think it's overstepped its place. Many CCM lyrics are more about ME, how the Lord makes ME feel, what He's done for ME...
Give me doctrinally rich words of Luther or the theologically-rich compositions of Bach or Pachelbel or Buxtehude or Handel.
I would challenge anyone who has never tried out this incredible music to listen to it, EXCLUSIVELY, for 30 days and see if you're not stirred in a more profound way.
We pray "Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name...On earth as it is in Heaven." God's names and titles are a declaration of who he is. Is our music contradicting who He claims to be? Is our music Heavenly music? Read Revelation. He is not sung about lightly, in a frivilous way, without respect. That is a pretty high standard. I commented earlier but lost it. I hope it is not found. :-)
I just realized that I left something out of that last comment. I meant to say that many of the old standard hymns were set to music that at that time was already being used for a secular song. So would that mean those songs were bologna then, but now filet mignon?
CCM played a vital role in my turning away from all things liberal to a more conservative lifestyle. It spoke to me in a way that no one had in a long time. It made me think of God and it had a place in my life, and I'm thankful for the way God used ANY and EVERYTHING to bring us to HIM.
But, as I grew in understanding my relationship with God, I slowly found myself unable to listen to CCM without much speculation. Upon researching many of the popular CCM artists that I really loved, I was shocked, saddened and then repulsed at their behaviour, what they believed in and what the supported.
I still have some favorite CCM artists. But I'm highly selective. And I will even play our local KLove station if the kids want to listen to the radio. But not on a regular basis. We filter their music as much as we filter their TV. Christian or not.
BUT...in WORSHIP (that is corporate church worship)...I prefer to worship God in a manner that edifies who HE is, not in a manner that glorifies the latest, greatest, chart-topping #1 CCM jingle of the year.
My $0.02 Take what you want, leave the rest at the table.
As a former media/music industry person, let me point out that CCM has become a successful radio format and even has a sales and airplay top 40 chart in Radio and Records-a music industry "bible". Contemporary Christian music is a seperate category in the secular bookstores and music stores...in other words, CCM is BIG BUSINESS...its always worth asking yourself "where is the line that divides worship and marketing?"
If I get consumed by what music is filet mignon and what music is bologna then all of it is spam...
Christ should be what I am consuming and if I become moved to worship Jesus by "CCM" vs beautiful hymns and vice versa then let it be just that, being moved to praise my God. AND, maybe, just maybe it is Christ moving me not the artist, lyricist or publicist...it is Christ.
There is little in this world that is not "Big Business"...making Christ OUR/MY business and praising Him even if it is what He did for me or my neighbor or my child...vs praising Him simply for who He is (of which I personally do but others may not have learned yet) if I am praising Him and loving Him and giving Him the glory then I am moving in the right direction.
Even Christ said that those preaching His word but did not really believe His word and doing it for their own well being were still promoting Him.
Whether I'm stuck on the bones left behind in the steak or the hooks left in the bologna...I am simply stuck and hooked on something that is not Christ.
(This is not meant to be preachy it is simply my own opinion)
Thanks for your comment, Tam. I think these words from Paul in prison are what you were quoting; and while true, they're not actually Christ's directive, just Paul's looking at a fallen situation with trust and hope, the best he can:
Phil 1:14 - 19 Contemporary English
Now most of the Lord's followers have become brave and are fearlessly telling the message. Some are preaching about Christ because they are jealous and envious of us. Others are preaching because they want to help. They love Christ and know that I am here to defend the good news about him. But the ones who are jealous of us are not sincere. They just want to cause trouble for me while I am in jail. But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad.
I will keep on being glad, because I know that your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Christ Jesus will keep me safe.
24 comments:
You know, some people think the bologna sandwich tastes better than the steak and prefer the bologna sandwich. Doesn't mean Ruth Chris' has to serve bologna sandwiches just because SOME people want it on the menu.
But, Sarah, since we don't actually OWN Ruth Chris, we don't get a say in the matter. ;)
I, personally, won't be ordering bologna when there is filet mignon on the menu -- but I've decided not to leave the table just because someone else in my party insists on it.
On again, off again, flippy the switch....
What if you were at dinner and you were the only one requesting filet mignon, and it was available, the cook just didn't feel like serving it because everyone else was satisfied with bologna sandwiches?
And when you made your case for how wrong it was to deny you the filet mignon, (and, additionally, how much more nourishing it would be to ALL if they served more filet mignon in place of bologna sandwiches) they cook said, "Well, there are other restaurants you are welcome to eat at, but for now, in this restaurant, we aren't serving it EVEN IF it's on the menu."
Love trumps taste, after all. Love covers a multitude of personal disagreements. As long as you are willing to be really loving and accept the fact that the rest of your dinner party will be praying that you convert to bolonga soon, because...after all..filet mignon is antiquated.
ROFLOL! They really are praying for my conversion, aren't they? So true. But that's o.k. I'm THAT confident that my music food is of a higher quality -- I don't even engage in the debate or defense with the bologna lovers anymore.
Eating better takes more effort, doesn't it?
Ah - a kindred spirit! Our church is still having a service that satisfies our need for hymns, choir, organ. Wow! We have had to go to a second service for the rest, but we still have a lot of people who love the traditional style. I am thankful we still have a choice - I really am not satisfied with bologna!
....but it's really really good driving music!! Helps me restrain old, sinful behaviors like flipping birds and screaming at budgers.
Thankfully Jesus came to be all things to all people because without the "bologna" I wouldn't be here...Filet Mignon always came with some bones that someone forgot to pull out that would typically choke me.
Ah! But there ARE no bones in filet mignon! lol. It's just meatier and more expensive -- but is anything too good for King Jesus?
Shall we offer Him a sacrifice that costs us nothing? (note reading, theologically edifying text)
I don't begrudge anyone their own expression of worship, but I can't call all music equal.
And...I include more than a few 20th century hymns in the "bologna" category, too. I'm a self-admitted, equal-opportunity music snob. (:^O
I cant agree with you more. I have to say that I am so unexposed to praise music that it does nothing for me when I hear it. It sounds all modern and strange to my ears.
But you get a huge group of people singing How Great Thou Art and I get the chills up and down my spine it's so beautiful.
Our church sings only hymns. We have no worship team and all that stuff. Truly hymns are steak!
Of ocurse the true definition of a hymn is a song without a chorus. But then thats another post for another day.
Whether it's an old hymn or a newer song of praise and worship... I like both of them (although not all in either category). Some of the older songs I love more for the music than the lyrics... while some of the newer songs have lyrics that speak to me in ways the older ones cannot.
Interesting thought. This is another thought to ponder. Our pastor says this about music. If you can sing it to your girlfriend, it doesn't do God justice. God is so much bigger than that. (not an exact quote, but in essense that is it) I can't agree more. I do enjoy some of the contemporary chrisitan music, however, I am finding myself more drawn to the old hymns, again not all, but the "meaty" ones. For instance, "It is well"
I love that pastor's quote - I have thought often that a song on Christian radio could easily be on secular radio singing to a loved one. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Just keep in mind, that at one time, all music was contemporary.
Ditto what melissa m said. Her pastor makes a very good point.
Heartsdesire has a good point. In addition, songwriters often set their lyrics to secular music. So is it words or music that make CCM "bologna"?
Having worked in contemporary radio of various formats, Husband and I are hyper-aware of the manipulative design and promotion of music. Most CCM sounds just like the cookie-cutter stuff we played at our stations a decade ago -- melody-wise. There's nothing truly worshipful about a song with a "hook." (That's the one phrase of the music that catches up in your head for the rest of the day -- it's a marketing ploy.)
Lyric wise, the music is very simple. There is a place for that I guess, but I think it's overstepped its place. Many CCM lyrics are more about ME, how the Lord makes ME feel, what He's done for ME...
Give me doctrinally rich words of Luther or the theologically-rich compositions of Bach or Pachelbel or Buxtehude or Handel.
I would challenge anyone who has never tried out this incredible music to listen to it, EXCLUSIVELY, for 30 days and see if you're not stirred in a more profound way.
We pray "Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name...On earth as it is in Heaven." God's names and titles are a declaration of who he is. Is our music contradicting who He claims to be? Is our music Heavenly music? Read Revelation. He is not sung about lightly, in a frivilous way, without respect. That is a pretty high standard.
I commented earlier but lost it. I hope it is not found. :-)
I just realized that I left something out of that last comment. I meant to say that many of the old standard hymns were set to music that at that time was already being used for a secular song. So would that mean those songs were bologna then, but now filet mignon?
Karen...they weren't just secular melodies, some were actually bar tunes! So...no, truth be told, in my opinion, they're probably still bologna.
But, bologna can sustain life...just not very well.
CCM played a vital role in my turning away from all things liberal to a more conservative lifestyle. It spoke to me in a way that no one had in a long time. It made me think of God and it had a place in my life, and I'm thankful for the way God used ANY and EVERYTHING to bring us to HIM.
But, as I grew in understanding my relationship with God, I slowly found myself unable to listen to CCM without much speculation. Upon researching many of the popular CCM artists that I really loved, I was shocked, saddened and then repulsed at their behaviour, what they believed in and what the supported.
I still have some favorite CCM artists. But I'm highly selective. And I will even play our local KLove station if the kids want to listen to the radio. But not on a regular basis. We filter their music as much as we filter their TV. Christian or not.
BUT...in WORSHIP (that is corporate church worship)...I prefer to worship God in a manner that edifies who HE is, not in a manner that glorifies the latest, greatest, chart-topping #1 CCM jingle of the year.
My $0.02
Take what you want, leave the rest at the table.
As a former media/music industry person, let me point out that CCM has become a successful radio format and even has a sales and airplay top 40 chart in Radio and Records-a music industry "bible". Contemporary Christian music is a seperate category in the secular bookstores and music stores...in other words, CCM is BIG BUSINESS...its always worth asking yourself "where is the line that divides worship and marketing?"
If I get consumed by what music is filet mignon and what music is bologna then all of it is spam...
Christ should be what I am consuming and if I become moved to worship Jesus by "CCM" vs beautiful hymns and vice versa then let it be just that, being moved to praise my God. AND, maybe, just maybe it is Christ moving me not the artist, lyricist or publicist...it is Christ.
There is little in this world that is not "Big Business"...making Christ OUR/MY business and praising Him even if it is what He did for me or my neighbor or my child...vs praising Him simply for who He is (of which I personally do but others may not have learned yet) if I am praising Him and loving Him and giving Him the glory then I am moving in the right direction.
Even Christ said that those preaching His word but did not really believe His word and doing it for their own well being were still promoting Him.
Whether I'm stuck on the bones left behind in the steak or the hooks left in the bologna...I am simply stuck and hooked on something that is not Christ.
(This is not meant to be preachy it is simply my own opinion)
Thanks for your comment, Tam. I think these words from Paul in prison are what you were quoting; and while true, they're not actually
Christ's directive, just Paul's looking at a fallen situation with trust and hope, the best he can:
Phil 1:14 - 19 Contemporary English
Now most of the Lord's followers have become brave and are fearlessly telling the message. Some are preaching about Christ because they are jealous and envious of us. Others are preaching because they want to help. They love Christ and know that I am here to defend the good news about him. But the ones who are jealous of us are not sincere. They just want to cause trouble for me while I am in jail. But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad.
I will keep on being glad, because I know that your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Christ Jesus will keep me safe.
Wow, did you expect to get this much response from such a small post?
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