From the Experts: The Contemporary Debate

If ever there were to be a post this week that gets close to touching on the music debate, it would be this one. I scoured the net looking for great music articles to share with you, but the ones I found more or less supported the contemporary/christian rock movement to the extent where they could care less about compromising their Biblical standards.

When I did manage to find one from a conservative fellow, it was almost too conservative. I know that the Bible says, "I would thou wert cold or hot," but come on, we aren't talking doctrine here. In the media tip this week I listed a few Biblical principles to follow. The Bible isn't dogmatic about music, and so neither am I, but I do insist that it honor and uplift God every single time.

Without further ado, this week's articles:

4 Reasons Christians Don't Take Musical Conservatives Seriously by Benjamin Everson
Written by a conservative for conservatives, this article breaks down popular arguments and examines the basic problem. Many times musical conservatives build themselves up as a being the authority on what is right or wrong with music. Instead, we ought let the Bible be the guiding factor.

Review
This article is written from a very realistic and humorous approach and is a great read. I've got all praise and nothing bad to say about this article. Some of the headings seem kind of vague, but after you read his content, it becomes apparently clear as to what he means. This is a must read. If you read none of these other articles, read this one. Do you want to read more about Ben Everson? Check out some of his other articles.


Are Our Hymns Becoming Stupider? by Ben Myers
I'd call this another must read. This article examines what makes a hymn bad and why the songs that have come out in the last 50 years are better than the ones from 100-200 years ago.

Review
The article begins a little harsh. There is certainly no tact to be seen. Even in the title, he is quite bold. I think it's a little harsh to be calling most all hymns from the 19th century stupid. He does draw attention to the fact that there are a few great hymns (hymns like Amazing Grace and O For a Thousand Tongues) that stir your spirit and bring joy to your soul.

I certainly agree, though, that some of the more recent songs like How Deep the Father's Love For Us are infinitely better than the songs I listed the other day. May this be a challenge to any would be song writer out there. We need good hymns and spiritual songs. Will you commit to to serving God in this way?


Why Hymns? by Paul Lusher
Have you ever wondered why we sing hymns? What is the benefit or what good is it? This article will answer that question. It also...pushes them a little too far.

Review
I wasn't planning on this being a long review, for a review shouldn't be longer than the article itself, and this is a pretty short one. I really enjoy how highly the author values music. I agree with him that the only thing that deserves higher praise than our song is the Word of God itself. However, saying "no other musical form can replace the singing of hymns in the church" seems a little bold. Does not the Scripture instruct us to sing to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs? Just the same, where does Scripture say that we must only sing hymns? Who created the hymn book? It wasn't God. Who wrote the hymns themselves? It wasn't the prophets or apostles. That's my 2 cents.


Bible Guide to Christian Music by Somebody
Just so you know, I support this guy's conclusions, not the way he presents it. He's got all his information right, but he's a confrontational, in-your-face kind of guy that gives Christians a bad name. If a name isn't written with it, how do I know it's a guy? I just can't see a woman saying the things he does, I give you more credit than that ladies. You know how to be tactful in your communication. Sometimes us guys are just dumb and we don't think first (ask my wife).

I'm probably going to get myself in trouble here, but I only read this article for like 5-10 minutes. You need about 2 hours. It's long. Really long. From what I saw I stand by what I said above, but he could say something heretical later on that I didn't read and I just want you to know I don't support it if it is (I know that's lame to say, but maybe you'll feel like reading it if you like the confrontational stuff).


Why is Our Worship Music Conservative? by Robert Hammond
This article is primarily just a doctrinal statement on music. It's by no means all inclusive, but if you want some Bible verses to give sound principles to your music and my short synopsis was not long enough for you, then check this out. It contains a principle, Bible verse, and implications for each thought. I'll not write a review for this because it doesn't really need one.


What's your opinion about the whole issue? I would like to know where you stand. I would also like to know if you've learned anything helpful about the issue that you use when talking to people about it. Let me know in the box below.

Posted in: Article Reviews, Church Music