There was interesting discussion that my brother-in-law brought up on his page that I would like to continue here. That is about contemporary christian music. I agree with Bill Colrus and what he said about 98% of cont. christian music. It is bush. No good - stinks - pop- inauthentic. However - I thought of this question while at my in-laws.
What would authentic music look like that was done for the glory of God? Religious music. I hestitate to call anything Christian other than people because only something that chooses can be christian - the bible makes that clear. You have no Christian cars or gum or etc.
But what would authentic music with a christian message be like?
Posted by bran at August 9, 2003 05:47 PM | TrackBackBob Dylan. The White Stripes. Van Morrison. Badly Drawn Boy. David Byrne. Led Zeppelin. Damien Jurado. Neil Young. Gram Parsons. Paul Simon. Ben Folds. Ben Harper. The music of Yann Tiersen. Billy Bragg. Wilco. Uncle Tupelo. Whiskeytown. Woodie Guthrie. New Order. Johnny Cash. Willie Nelson. Leonard Cohen. Moby.
Sure, this really doesn't necessarily answer your questions, but if you're familiar with the concept of the "antithesis", I'm fairly certain it runs through people, and therefor runs through music also. Which is why in some artists, like Johnny Cash, the "Christian" is so obvious, and while in others like "eminem", it's there, but also has a great deal of evil.
Further: unfortunately I'm not so certain though that we could, even if we wanted to, be able to reduce a piece of music down to an either/or "good/evil" categories.
Posted by: JosiahQ at August 9, 2003 07:11 PMI agree that there's a lot of bland, un-inspired christian music out there. However, there's a trend towards certain artists really focusing on worship. Real, inspired worship.
I think the 1st century christians had 'music' that was drastically different than what we're used to. Their entire lives were clearly different and their style of music was too. All records say they sang in a chanting kind of style without instruments. What's that mean for us? I'm not exactly sure.
Posted by: Dale at August 9, 2003 08:09 PMbland, uninspired chanting?
Posted by: cmwillis at August 10, 2003 02:07 PMI like chanting. Sometimes I just say the same thing over and over again like a broken record. It's fun. You should try it. You'd like chanting. I like chanting. Sometimes I just say the same thing over and over again like a telemarketer. It's fun. You should try it. You'd like chanting. I like chanting. Sometimes I just say the same thing over and over again like a politician. It's fun. You should try it. You'd like chanting. I like chanting. Sometimes I just say the same thing over and over again like a radio disc jockey. It's fun. You should try it. You'd like chanting... Really, you'd like it.
Posted by: ron at August 12, 2003 05:14 PMSomebody is going to have to explain to me how REALLY EMOTIONAL music is akin to true worship. From what I hear and read about contemporary christian music these days, the "real artists" are regarded as the "real artists" of the secular industry are regarded - having fresh musical ideas, "pushing the envelope," or "sounding different." ou would need a forensics team, by the way, to discover any scripture in their work.
Music, in general, is WAY overemphasized in all churches as a basis for worship - always has been. It's a component, but the way I see real worship, is through recognition and dedication to the truth of THE WORD, and a longing to be more Christ-like; Which have very little to do with, "oh yeah, I really FELT that. I FEEL so much closer to God through those lyrics."
Also, be careful not to confuse chanting of churches past with the mantra-like, bland and dangerous repetition of "inspired" worship music of today.
I have had some first-hand experience with a couple "praise and worship" services lately where the hair on the back on my neck stood up - not in a good way - and the one thought that kept entering my mind was, "this isn't of God at all." The kicker was that the last one I attended a couple weeks ago (I was filming for a job), lasted 45 minutes, and neither "Jesus" nor "Christ" appeared in a single lyric.
A lot of people are making a good living from, and never thinking to ask God what he thinks about it.
Last sentence should be:
A lot of people are making a good living from the name of God, and never thinking to ask God what he thinks about it.