Music Series: Part 6
CCM pleases your ears, which is part of the flesh, and anything that pleases the flesh is sin.
Remember this thing called “dualism”? Basically, it was a theology in Christianity that claimed that everything that is spiritual is good, and everything that was physical/material is bad. (simplified)
Although this doctrine has long since been realized to be ridiculous and heretical, it seems like in certain circles a small piece of dualism has crept its way back into our mentality. As with most of the music-nazis (no offense), they only apply this principle to music, which is what we are going to cover today. I have to admit though, this is not going to be very long since it’s a relatively easy myth to debunk.
So easy, in fact, that I can do it in one sentence:
This afternoon, I drove to my favorite restaurant in the world, Chick-fil-A, and had a chicken sandwich and a sweet tea, and this meal was extremely pleasing to my flesh.
Now, as I said earlier, for some reason the anti-CCM crowd does not apply the same judgement on a good meal as it does on music. Why is that? Why is it that we can turn up the heat on a cold day to “please our flesh” and not call that sin?
Does CCM have a beat that I enjoy? Is the music produced and written well? Do the words speak to me? YES! CCM is very pleasing to my ears, but it also nourishes my faith. It allows me to worship sincerely. It removes the barriers of music that I don’t like so I can get to that place where I worship and reflect most effectively.
Let me ask a question to those of you who think that the only style of music God permits is classical style. Do you enjoy classical music? Do you appreciate its difficulty and complexity? If someone asked you what your favorite style of music was, would you answer “sacred/classical”? If so, you’re just as guilty as you’re accusing me of being! The music you claim is the only one that’s God-approved is just as appealing to your ears as CCM is to mine, and worse than that, you play yours in church!!!
I’ll not continue to beat the dead horse here, but hypocrisy is not attractive. If you are going to argue against something, at least don’t be guilty of it yourself.
I find it so funny to watch people run around in frantic disarray over the issue of music. One minute they’re screaming “the beat is bad, it’s fleshly!” and the other minute they’re yelling “the words are shallow, it’s not as good as the old hymns!”. Some people, I fear, just don’t get it. Thankfully, some do get it. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who takes seriously the challenge of the anti-CCM guys out there. I love what I read over at evotional.com today. It’s a quote from Len Sweet:
Ask the grandparents in your church: how many of you would lay down your life for your grandchildren? Every grandparent will raise their hand. Then ask them: how many of you would lay down your musical preferences for your grandchildren?
I’d like to end with a quote from a guy calling himself “Dr. Bob” on the forums at sharperiron.org
Spiritual is always contrasted with carnal/fleshly.
So when folks ask about “biblical” music, I say look at the words and see if they elevate your spirit or your flesh.
Then look at the music and see if it elevates your spirit or your lustful flesh.
Can someone please tell me how I can tell if music is elevating my “lustful flesh”? Also can someone please tell me the difference between music elevating my “lustful flesh”, chicken elevating my “lustful flesh”, or air conditioning elevating my “lustful flesh”. I sure would appreciate any suggestions on this matter. [blatant sarcasm] Seriously, if you have any objections to this article, please let me know in the comments or by emailing me. I’d be happy to address them.
Previous posts in the Music Series:
Part 1
Part 1.5
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
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First off, thanks for the link! Great post, by the way. I like to confront this argument similarly. Music styles cater to the flesh in a similar way that flavors of ice cream do.
Now obviously it is more complicated than that, and I have heard and seen people go into lots of seemingly Biblical arguments to claim that their point is bigger than this. But I don’t buy it. It is dualism, plain and simple.
I am going to want to read all your posts on this subject in the near future (currently I am very pressed for time). If you feel like banging your head on a telephone pole for a while, go check out this post of mine where I get entangled in a debate over the issue of music with a hyper fundamentalist. The comments go back and forth for a long time. Actually there are some good points of discussion raised, and I was glad I had the chance to defend my points. I didn’t convince him though (surprise, surprise!).
Blessings in Christ,
Bob Hayton
No surprise you didn’t convince him. It’s rarely possible.
Simple or not, that’s just an awesome way of putting it! Your absolutely right.
So is your head hurting by now? I’m interested in what you emailed me about. I’ll get back to you soon.
I read your series. Good stuff.
I’ll be checking your blog out more. And I got to get in on that contest. I’m the ultimate sucker for free books, you know. :^)
God bless you brother, because of Jesus.
Bob Hayton
It was hurting after reading 2 of that guy’s posts. I haven’t even gotten to read through the whole thing yet. I’m looking forward to it though.
Definitely get in on the contest and tell your friends (or blog about it) so your chances are even better. Who doesn’t like free stuff?
Talk to you soon
I find it interesting that you say that I don’t get it, when in reality I think that you failed to read the article written on my blog in context.
I do take to task your one catchphrase that is cute but misses the entire point.
If we are supposed to be picking ice cream because of how we enjoy the taste, then, by all means, pick the ice cream. Eat more chicken, and listen and sing whatever appeals to you.
The problem is that it’s not about what you think about the music. It’s all about what He thinks about the music, and how the music in the church effects the ability for the corporate body to worship.
So, check your music with the sources:
1. Does it glorify God or man (including those that compose or perform the music)?
2. Does my singing a certain style in the church cause my brother to stumble or offend my brother? If a brother cannot sing a song because he believes that he was saved from a style of music– who am I to force that style of music on him? (Paul: If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat.)
3. (And this was the closing point of the post that you quoted) If the appeal to the flesh is getting in the way of appropriately worshiping God, then it needs to go.
I have bolded in the church above because that’s where the article is talking about. Christian liberty applies in the cases of being in the home. Then again, I’m sure you would have adequately addressed my position had you read the article and the ensuing discussion.
Please don’t get the wrong idea here (I didn’t catch your name, so for now I’ll just call you Min).
First of all, your blog is great. I have nothing against you or it at all. In fact, minthegap.com covers many of the same topics I cover here, but with different conclusions (which I absolutely love!) So, please don’t take anything I say personally.
Second, I’ve read your entire post… multiple times! Regardless of your emphasis, the fact is I still think that your post represents a position I disagree with.
For instance, you said:
I would respond to that with a similar statement: Take the Bible for instance. One argument for the Bible is that it attracts the people to Christ. They merely took a sinful secular carnal book, exchanged some words for the “word of God”, and everyone’s happy.
Moot point, huh? Replacing neutral or sinful words with godly, worshipful words is exactly what we SHOULD do!
Also:
You forgot to establish that the words are “carnal”. Is it “carnal” when we heat/cool the church building? Is it “carnal” to use a sound system to make it easier to hear the message? What is so “carnal” about CCM?
Finally, to respond to the post you made here, you said:
Completely relative to what you make it do. You’ve yet to establish that there is a certain style of music that God likes/prefers.
Say for a minute that I was saved from a very ritzy lifestyle where opera and symphonies were a weekly excursion. What about a country or bluegrass background? Shouldn’t we just throw out music altogether since, after all, someone might have been saved out of a lifestyle that included ANY NUMBER of musical styles! Why pick on rock? We, yes the CHURCH, shouldn’t have to go around worrying ourselves sick and watching our backs to make sure we don’t offend someone. If it offends him, he’s more than welcome to go to another church that uses music that’s more to his liking.
By the way, since we’re pulling out examples of particular cases to prove our points, what would you say if I told you that a teenager not only would get “offended” but wouldn’t get saved because you wouldn’t use CCM in your church to remove his preconceived barriers. Wouldn’t you be sinning just as much as you accuse the church who “offends” the guy “saved from” CCM style music of doing? Just a thought.
As I made very clear in the article by saying:
If it doesn’t do that for you, then go to a church where the music does do that for you. Are you saying that a church that plays traditional hymns (something that would absolutely get in the way of MY “appropriately worshiping God”) is sinning by playing them? Or is this just a strategy to find a way to offend the least amount of people?
I’m sincerely curious about your position on CCM, and of course, CCM in the church. I hope you’ll come back and elaborate for us.
Stupore! Amo questo luogo!:)))))))
Hmmm. I just read through the seven posts in this series and don’t believe I saw a single argument defended with scripture. Maybe I missed the references, but can you tell me if scripture is there? Thanks, Gary
@Gary Petersen
A position that is based in extra-biblical arguments doesn’t need to be defended with scripture … nor can it be most of the time. That is how legalism takes hold … by taking an extra-biblical position against a certain activity, then challenging anyone to find a verse of scripture that condones the activity.
I believe you won’t find a single verse of Scripture that outlines the correct “style” of music, nor a single verse that condemns any “style” either. All you will find in the arguments against styles of music is loosely interpreted principles of scripture, hijacked by legalists to not only keep themselves in bondage to a self-imposed law, but to also eventually put others under that same bondage.
By all means, challenge any of the points I’ve made … but don’t accuse me of not using scripture without using any of your own.
Goodness, Nathan. I don’t believe I accused in any fashion. I just stated an observation (that was grounded in fact, by the way) and asked a question. Thanks for answering it – and then some.
I can’t imagine anything good happening if I were to “challenge any of the points” you’ve made if your answers to an actual challenge would be a biting as those where a challenge didn’t exist.
Be well.
@Gary Petersen
With all due respect, my answer wasn’t biting at all. I gave a response to your telling me that I used no scripture in my arguments, and explained my reasoning.
If you’re afraid of challenging my points, then I would suggest taking a look at some of the stories on this blog with good discussion. You’ll find that I have been more than willing to concede entire points and arguments when I am shown to be wrong. If you were to present some argument that showed CCM or rock music (music, not lyrics) to be a sin, then I am absolutely sure that I would have no problem conceding. My main concern, is and always has been, to please God in everything I do, including the music I listen to. Therefore, I’m more than willing to hear you out. Many people have tried, and I’m always of an open mind.
It’s up to you. I’m here if you decide to return.