Loooong Music Article

After a looong exam day I was upset by some videos on youtube I saw about contemporary Christian music, so I wrote this. It's in a pretty angry mood, but I still think what I wrote expresses what I believe concerning the subject.
_______________

-Word disection.
-Christian: follower/member of Christ. Seeking to glorify God.
-Contemporary: new and modern.
-Music: "the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity"

CCM then equals "New art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity to the glory of God."

In the 16th and 17th century hymns were considered contemporary. Martin Luther was a founder of the regulative principle of worship which sought to end "exclusive psalmody". Exclusive psalmody stated that Psalms were the only Biblical songs allowed to be song, and usually without accompaniement.

So in years past CC music was what we now sing today as normative and orthodox. We don't go shouting down hymns just because unbelievers enjoy classical music do we? We should not be quick to do the same to today's CCM.

Picture for a second(a couple centuries ago) a man is walking down the street and hears voices singing! The thoughts that come to his mind are "Of all things they are singing the psalms, and they are even using a stringed instrument! We are to be separate from the world, not join in their revelry just because we enjoy it." He then hastens to chasten the group of young people for their sin. "That type of music is not fitting for Christians to listen to and "sing". They must be content with the chanting of psalms past down by our fathers. That racket is no different from the bar music playing down the street. Chanting is harmonous and rich in and of itself, there is no need to bring strange fire to the altar of God!"

Ok, that may sound strange when you read it. Just think of that same person walking down the street today... He hears a group of young people singing along with the christian radio station. "Of all things they are singing rocky music, and they are even using a bass and drums! We are to be separate from the world, not join in their sexually stimulatation just because we enjoy it." He then hastens to chasten the group of young people for their sin. "That type of music is not fitting for Christians to listen to and "sing". They must be content with the hymns and psalms we've been singing for decades. That racket is no different from the music playing in walmart. Hymns are melodic and soothing. These people cannot bring this devilish fire to the altar of God!"

Now, before I continue, I want to make some things clear. I am not trying to say that rock music should be played in service-that is a completely different topic, and not one I wish to get into right now. As far as that goes, I believe that rock and roll is not appropriate for a worship service, but there are some "praise and worship" songs that could be sung during service such as "In Christ Alone". Anyway, I also don't want you to think that the only reason we should listen to CCM is because it's new. Just keep reading please...

Dissonance. I'm starting here, because this is one attack on CCM music that simply irks me. It presumes that certain types of music are evil, because the dissonance in their sound is presumably contrary to what the Bible commands. The problem is assuming that dissonance is itself evil, and that an individual can absolutely know when a piece of music is dissonant. I am not a relativist, and so I will not say that dissonance depends on what a person thinks about a piece of music. I will say that there is an absolute perfect way to praise God, but He has not revealed that physical way. The Bible doesn't say that dissonant music is evil, and even if it did-my definition of dissonant music is different from yours. While I am growing to like certain types of classical music, much of it sounds dissonant to me. Does that mean that that classical music is wrong? No, all it means is that I can't hear the resolution of the clashing notes and chords. I simply do not have enough practice listening to it to hear the resolution coming. The same goes for "contemporary" music. Just because you haven't taken the time to listen to contemporary music so that you can understand the melodies and harmonies which *DO* exist does not mean they're not there. Dissonance is an intrical part of music, and without it there is no mystery or curiosity to music. It is essential, and just because you can't hear it or don't like it doesn't mean it's Biblically wrong or not God glorifying.

My next point is concerning the beat. Ok, my first question is do you find anywhere in Scripture that beat is wrong, or that there are certain types of beats that are ungodly? The answer is a plain and simple no. Anyone with any musical aptitude(not including me, but...) knows that beat is essential to any piece of music. Just because rock, rap, and other contemporary music happens to have a louder and more resounding beat doesn't make it wrong. The whole argument that the beat originates from "african tribal calling up of demons" is a load of hogwash. Do you really think that beat didn't exist until North Americans happened upon some natives pounding on a drum? Even if the "anapestic beat" which is accused of being evil in contemporary music did originate from such-it doesn't make a difference. The world uses video cameras to make movies, so do Christian directors. The world uses anepestic beat, so do Christian music writers. Just because something is used in an improper way by the ungodly, doesn't make that something ungodly in and of itself.

"Bodily rythms" I will barely touch on for the simple reason of contradiction. The people who claim that rock beats can throw the heart beat into a frenzy and sexually stimulate are the same people who say the same beat causes depression. A quick second point is the evidence. When rock music is playing on the radio in a store-do you see people balling their eyes out in depression, or having heart attacks from "unhealthy" raised heart beats?

I don't deny the affect of music on the body, just whether those affects are ungodly or not. During times of meditation my heart beat is slow as I'm in prayerful consideration. After a convicting sermon and we sing a convicting song my heart beat rises as tears well in my eyes. There is nothing wrong with either of these. The problem is when someone tries to lay guilt on another for having an emotional response to something emotional. People are made to be emotional, and to have physical responses. That should not be the main goal of anyting made or listened to to glorify God, but it is simply a reality. There is a time and place for everything. Maybe I'm listening to "Forgive Me" by Rebecca St. James-a piece with lots of soothing piano and a slow somber mood. Or maybe I'm listening to "Absolute" by Thousand Foot Krutch which causes feelings of righteous anger against this relative world. Both attitudes and moods are righteous in the sight of God.

"So much music treats Jesus like a boyfriend/girlfriend" This is one which confuses me. If we are supposed to be Christians with a Christian worldview-why would this even be a consideration. My presupossitions force me to view everything in the light of Scripture-including music. Here's the lyrics to "Draw Me Close" by Michael W. Smith which I posted on my blog a while ago.

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find the way, bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

Now the reason I picked this was because I read on a KJV Only(Fundamentalist/Legalist/UnScriptural group) that this song is "clearly about a girl". You know what-if you are an insecure unbeliever whose thoughts never go beyond bf/gf love and sex, you just might take the song that way. However, as a believer I come to everythign through the worldview that I am a Christian(a follower of Christ who is my Creator and Sustainer). Thus when I read "You" I think God. "Never let me go"-I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit who will never let me go. "I lay it all down again"-I think I lay down all I am "to hear You say that I'm your friend"(a restored relationship with God".

As we have learned from our catechism and apologetics, the minds of natural man are so mangled that anything can be twisted to fit into demented thought. The mind of regenerate man is different though! We see things from a renewed perspective granted by God! In light of this I make a case that the Christian could even listen to secular music and praise God through it, because our minds are interpreting the songs differently.

Just as an unbeliever may take the above song to be speaking about a bf/gf relationship, I can take a secular song and use it to praise God. The origins of the music itself do not matter. What man has intended for evil, God(by the renewing of our minds) can make good by the awesome transformation of our minds.