Music Series: Part 1
For many Christians, music is somewhat of a non-issue. Many Christians are members of churches that use all types of music in their services, including classical (sacred Christian music), old-west bar* style (some modern hymns), country style (southern gospel), pop (contemporary Christian music), and rock/rap (Christian rock/rap). Notice the words I put in the parentheses. There is no style of music that exists in any great circulation, be it in church or on CD, that was not developed originally, or used primarily, by non-Christians.
*some have pointed out to me that the previous statement sounds like I’m saying that the hymn tunes we use today originated in a bar. That’s not what I was saying. This is commonly confused because some hymns are written in “bar style”, which is an actual musical style and has to do with the way the music is written. I was aware of this, and I was not talking about the tunes themselves being written for use in a bar, but the style of music originated in old-west saloon pianos. Other hymns were written in simple classical piano style. Either way, neither of those music styles was created by a Christian, and that was my point.
The Christian community has, in some sense, taken the music developed or used by secular artists, adapted and redeemed it for use in the church or to worship God.
Unfortunately, there are some churches in America who are convinced that their musical preference is the only one God approves of, and those churches are on a mission to convince the entire body of Christ that they are in sin unless they give up all music but the kind that they approve of. Typically, these churches are Independent Baptist Churches. Even under the umbrella of “Independent Baptist” (IBCs) there are quite a few differing opinions concerning music. Some IBCs approve of Gaither style southern gospel music. Some condemn Gaither style southern gospel, but believe that “simple” southern gospel and bluegrass gospel is fine. Others say that the only hymns should be played southern gospel style and that any music written recently should be avoided. There are yet others still that believe that only sacred music (symphonies or other classical instruments such as a piano/organ/harp/etc.) is right.
As you can see, it can be very confusing for a new Christian to figure out, and this is just within one small section of Christianity.
I’m going to make a statement that might rub you the wrong way. I read this on a church website a couple years ago, and I thought it was a tremendous truth.
“There is no such thing as ‘Christian Music’, only Christian words.”
For the next few minutes, I want to share with you why I have come to believe this statement in its entirety. I’m going to ask some questions that may offend some people, and some questions that will hopefully make you consider your position a little more carefully.
As was stated before, there are quite a few differing opinions among the IBCs. I am not, however, going to try and hammer out their differences in this entry. Instead, I’m going to go one further. Regardless of what they all think of each other’s music, there is one thing they all agree on: contemporary Christian music is a sin. This is where I want to start. If I can establish that CCM is not a sin, at least not by biblical standards, then all the other musical differences between IBCs will theoretically go away. I say theoretically because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a Pastor or someone from an IBC say, “You’re not going to change my mind, so don’t even try.” That’s fine, because I’m not trying to change the minds of people who will “stay by the stuff” even if “the stuff” is only a caricature of actual content. No, I’m trying to save the confused ones among us who may inadvertently get sucked into web of the typical IBC mentality. Eventually, all the people stuck in their own way will die, and the ones without the tunnel vision will inherit the church.
So, here we go. I’ve been arguing about music since high school with just about anyone who would listen, so I’ve heard just about every argument there is against it. Let me tell you right now that not a single one of them holds any water when scrutinized. Right off the bat, I want to list the most common arguments, so we can get them out of the way.
1. CCM is not godly (yes, this is an actual ‘argument’ I’ve heard before)
2. CCM is just Christian words with sinful music
3. CCM is bad because it tries to unequally yoke light with darkness, and the Bible says not to do that.
4. CCM is performed for money and fame, and does not glorify God.
5. CCM artists are wicked worldly people who are in sin.
6. CCM makes you want to dance, so it is therefore sin.
7. CCM sounds like the world, so it is therefore it is sin.
8. CCM represents rebellion, therefore it is sin.
9. CCM pleases your ears, which is part of the flesh, and anything that pleases the flesh is sin (yes, someone actually tried to use that one before).
10. CCM uses the same beat that satanic music uses.
11. CCM is a poor attempt to copy the world’s music in order to be popular, which is sin.
12. CCM is a copy of Rock ‘n Roll, which was a originally a description of fornicating in the back seat of a car, then driving away (get it, rock and roll)
13. CCM, like all everything in life, must directly glorify God. Any music that doesn’t glorify God in both words and music, is a sin.
14. CCM is performed by unsaved people, and if music is performed by an unsaved artist, it is sinful.
15. CCM is performed by artists who may be saved, but are not “separated”, and if music is played by an non-separated artist, then it is sin.
16. CCM is performed by artists that are from churches we don’t agree with. If music is performed by someone who is from a church that doesn’t believe exactly like you do, their music is sinful.
17. CCM artists “…by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18.
18. CCM artists have fans that come from churches that believe different than you do. If this is the case, their music is sinful.
19. We are not to be like the world in any way, including music. If we are, we are sinning. If the world does it, Christians shouldn’t.
20. The Bible says that God puts a “New Song” in your heart, which obviously indicates that CCM has to go.
These are the 20 most common arguments I hear. There are plenty more, but this should suffice. Not to mention that the longer I go, the more ridiculous the arguments get (yes there are even more ridiculous arguments than these, just ask the pastor of a local IBC).
In part 2, I’ll begin going through each one of these arguments, pointing out holes, underscoring hypocrisy, and showing how each one is completely devoid of substance. Stay tuned…
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Is satanic music bad? I like the way it sounds, but I feel bad when i listen to it because i think that it is probably a sin, even if i laugh at some of the lyrics
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You state that:
“There is no such thing as ‘Christian Music’, only Christian words.”
I believe you’re correct, but I also believe that just as there are words and actions that are unbiblical, there is music that is unbiblical. I came across your series while Googling some thoughts on that.
I’ll read through what you’ve written in the series to see how you determine what is biblical or not. Thanks for the articles.
I believe that there is difference between the worldly music and the sacred music in the music itself. Nevertheless the line moves with the time as you stated, so is not an absolute value o what we called principle, like the 10 commandments (they don’t change), they don’t move stay the same are eternal. Only God knows what’s good to us in our time, and if we ask Him he’ll guide us to everything that is good, that has good name… etc.
There are other subjects that are not explicit in the Bible but are explicit, like what we eat, what we see, the tv programs we like, the way to make relationships, the clothes we wear, and all these things speak about whose master we follow. Certanly there must be a difference because when Jesus comes back there will be two groups according to the Bible. I’m a musician myself, and perform and sing ccm and bach’s music as well, I don’t see anything wrong with the term CCM but definitively I can’t deny the effects of music and the fact is that there is worthless music both contemporary and old, and classical too. Quality may be one of the issues that I have with CCM. Rock i don’t understand it so I’m not interested, and you can’t separate the pictures of a rock musician, pictures that don’t make sense with morality or christianity. I believe that you can sin with non ccm too, because only God knows the heart. Well I received an important phone call. I’ll think about this with more time. Thank you, and Franck Garlock I don’t know him, neither I am a Baptist but I think He’s got good points too.
IMPLICIT, INSTEAD OF THE SECOND EXPLICIT