Does contemporary christian music belong in the local church worship service?
Contemporary Christian Music and the Local Worship Service
(An article by Dick Healy)
With the advent and emergence of contemporary Christian music in the church of Jesus Christ comes the need to examine this phenomenon within the scriptures to fully understand its’ place in the church of Jesus Christ and our worship activities within the church. Before embarking on this road it is essential for all reading this thesis to understand that this is about revealing what God’s Word has to say about worship practice and Biblical principles that relate to the practice. Scripture must be the final authority on all that happens in His church and we will be held accountable when it is not.
I have been troubled for sometime about the strife and division this movement has caused in the church. Prior to this demand by certain parties that we (the church) must introduce contemporary music in the church service in order to attract the younger population or to be culturally relevant there was for the most part unity in the church and a unified spirit of corporate worship because “worship” was being conducted according to Biblical principles. That being said one may conclude that my premise is that our present contemporary worship style lacks biblical principle. One coming to that conclusion would be correct. If one continues through this thesis with an open mind, I believe that they must come to the same conclusion.
Repeatedly in the Old Testament God judged His people for false worship. Exodus 32 says they were punished for both worshipping false gods and worshipping God falsely. In the book of Acts in the New Testament all references to worship are rebukes of false worship. In Exodus 32:4-6, Israel had come to the place where God was going to personally give them His Word. They missed it. Their self-appointed “worship leader” made a golden calf, called it god, rocked out the music, added dancing and eventually immorality, and called it worship. This led the people into God’s judgment; it was an abomination to God. Aaron (the first worship leader) led the people in dance and music to worship in Egypt’s style. How does this compare to what is taking place with the contemporary music in worship today?
Ron Owens in his book, Return to Worship, talks of “the rise of the chorus finds the death of the hymn”. We are stealing from this generation and consequently from future generations, our greatest heritage and our greatest teaching tool. Martin Luther used the power of hymns as he sent out singing groups to teach the people doctrine (Colossians 3:16) which played a great part in the Reformation.
Lowell Davey, President of Bible Broadcasting Network in his perspective has great concern that a pastor or worship leader may close the hymn book and eliminate the traditional instruments and steal our greatest tool for teaching the Truth to the next generation and beyond. It is like serving the appetizer and forgetting the main course if we neglect the hymns.
Michel Horton, a professor of apologetics and historical theology states that current contemporary/blended worship bespeaks consumerism, marketing and “a modern therapeutic orientation in its preaching, liturgy and music’. Horton adds “such worship echoes the example in the book of Nehemiah in which the Torah was read from the platform and listeners wept in confession of sins as a people and as individuals. Horton continues that the dangers of modern worship, with its long stretches of praise music, is not that one will be smitten by an angry God or lose salvation, but that one might not know God properly. Typically, (modern) praise choruses don’t focus on what God has done for us in Christ but on my response to all of that. I praise you, I serve you. I, I, I. The music has shifted from rehearsing Christ’s work in the history of redemption. Worship is not about the I s, but is about Christ (or should be).
Professor Robert Webber, a non denomination Christian and professor at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of many books on this subject states “that too much praise music” is about my personal experience with God and not reflective of what worship ought to be, which is God’s mission to the world, to save and restore the whole creative order. It’s an epistemological shift from the objective work of God to my subjective experience.
Romans 12:1&2 reads, “1And so, dear brothers and sisters, £ I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” I believe what verse two is saying regarding this subject is, DO NOT FASHION YOURSELF ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD. Think about it, isn’t that the opposite of what we are doing in allowing the “PATTERN OF WORLD”, the beat, the rhythms and the styles of secular music to be used in the worship service of Jesus Christ. We are to be in the world but not of the world. John 15:19 reads, “19The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don’t. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you.” And Titus 2:12-14 states “12And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, 13while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.” My question to you is how can God be pleased with a style of worship music that patterns itself after the immorality and sinful ways of the world?
Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life, states “One thing worship cost us is our self-centeredness. You can not exalt God and yourself at the same time. You don’t worship to be seen by others or please yourself. You deliberately shift the focus off yourself. Dan Lucarini in his book, Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement reveals from first hand experience how contemporary music in worship is about performance, sensuality, bodily movement brought about by the beat and rhythm of the music. Changing the words of a song set to secular, worldly music does not sanctify the song and make it acceptable for use in the Christian Church.
To be totally fair and objective on this issue we need to look at how those presently in the Contemporary Christian Music Industry view the status of Contemporary Christian Music. Twenty year veteran, Contemporary Christian Music Recording Artist Steven John Camp has published his 107 Theses: A Call for Reformation in the Contemporary Christian Music Industry. In his theses Mr. Camp is very critical of the present day Contemporary Christian Music Industry which is responsible for much of the content used in our present contemporary Christian songs used in the worship setting of many churches today, including FBC Defiance. While Mr. Camp presents issue after issue with the contemporary Christian music of today one of the most, if not the most telling indictment, is the movement on the slippery slope away from the three basic characters of the Christian faith. He says; “In the past several years there has been a not so-subtle drifting away from the Christocentric music to an anthropocentric music. Sadly this has resulted in various visible manifestations of spiritual sedition—where currently, the CCMI finds itself on a slippery slope away at accelerated speeds from the Savior, the Scriptures and the church.” What a damming indictment of this “style” of music and yet the church has invited and endorsed such in its worship services with little to no scrutiny.
My prayer is that anyone reading this paper would take the time to read Mr. Camp’s entire theses which is available on the following website www.worship.com/steve_camp_107_theses.html or you may want to check out Mr. Camp’s website at audienceone.com for other insightful articles and information relative to the Christian faith.
Mr. Camp believes that music created by Christians, amounts to a ministry and should glorify God by proclaiming God’s Word precisely. Contemporary Christian music “has committed a spiritual adultery in joining itself with the wayward world,” a reference to secular companies’ ownership of Christian music labels such as Word, Sparrow and Star Song. “I remember the days when people actually sang about the Lord and weren’t ashamed of it, now it’s simply marketing technique. It’s simply money.” He said other artists have told him privately that record labels have pressured them to leave words such as “Jesus,” “God,” and “sin” out of their songs.
Of course, there are those within the Contemporary Christian Industry and movement that take issue with Mr. Camp’s indictments but there are tons of supporters in Christian Radio and Christian retail who find much truth in his conclusions, according to the managing editor of an industry publication, The Contemporary Christian Music Update. But then Martin Luther had his critics within who feared the truth. Could the same be true of those within the $1 billion a year industry who have threatened to “bury Mr. Camp” if he continues the criticism? This “bury Mr. Camp” approach definitely sounds more like the worlds approach than the Christians approach…doesn’t it?
What is there about the contemporary Christian music in our churches today? Is it the biblical and theological accuracy of the words or is it the beat and rhythm of the music that excites our senses and emotions? Each of use has to individually give account for ourselves. But, we in leadership of the church have a much higher accountability and responsibility according to scripture.
Might each of us seek the Lord’s will in this matter with an open heart and mind to be conformed to the image of Christ.
tafj.org 
I Love this post!! I couldent of written it any better on my own
Where did ancient israel get there musical influences and instruments from? I don’t remember reading in scripture God detailing the construction of the instruments that are noted throughout the Psalms that are used to worship God. We need to accept that at one point Hymns were contemporary – Wesley and the like wrote amazing Hymns and I am sure they faced massive oppostion from Christians who did not like the then “modern tunes” that where prevalent throughout the world. Bach, Mozart etc all had influences on Hymn writers. Wake up Christians, we need to start thinking about real life issues here and get past these petty pharisaical squabbles!
Hi my name is Shamyr, and I would like to agree with everybody who does not have and issuse with contempory Gospel music. The reason being is that the music that is in the world is just a perversion of what is in heaven. That is satans whole job to try to stop the plan of God. So if he can lead us to believe that we can’t worship God in a certain matter then God is not getting all the praise. What i think the issuse may be is that everything that is coming out now in the contempory Gospel industry in not “biblical” That i can agree with. I agree with Mr. camp in that aspect but for one to say becasue it causes on to dance then it is of the world of not focused on God, I can’t agree with that because the bible says that David dance out of his clothes. Once it is done unto the Lord God and it is not forbiden to do then it is fine. With all that you have and with all that you are you should worship the Lord.
I think the real question should be about the lack of biblical truth in some (not all) of the “gospel” music. Even in the tradital everything is not biblical(most is). for example “ol’ time religion” This walk with not about our man made traditions or religoin but about our personal walks with Jesus Christ in been obedient and allowing God to use you to draw you to Christ.
Like someone said “whatever rocks ya boat” the bible say in Phillilpians 2:12 “[ Light Bearers ] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
if hearing the word from with a more rythmic beats helps you to walk in the precepts that God ;has placed before us the by all means listen to that music.
Our job is to make sure that whatever music we listen to be it traditinal or contempary it must be biblical.
Hi to everyone,
What really is happening with the modern music today? Is this the right question to be ask? Are you saying that if I sing from the heart the lyrics “I love YOU JESUS” in a rock and roll way, that is not acceptable to the Lord? Then what kind of God is HE? Well, it only suggest that we stick to hymnal tunes, that’s not bad and I have no against with hymn songs but guys let me tell you this that MUSIC IS EVOLVING. It’s just a matter of appreciating the different genre of music. A true worship comes from the heart and not from the songs we are singing. Are we just too old-fashioned or are we just saddened about the fact that the songs we used to sing are long forgotten.
If a particular song suggesting that we should love, praise and thank the Lord, then sing it from the heart and that song will surely come to live.
Bro. and Sis., let’s all rock n’ roll for JESUS! Don’t spoil our sunday worship service.
Take it easy Bro. and Sis.
Have a Christ-charged day!
Wow that was alot to digest. I have a sister who was singing Gospel and now has switched to contemporary christian music. She has met all the bigwigs in Nashville and many of these new Christian Rock Groups. She gets up in concert portraying her love for Jesus ,but behind the scenes she is one of the most selfish, self-centered people on the face of this earth. Its all about the praise she gets when others listen to her. She is always talking about the money she will get for this song and the money she can make on that song. She talks nasty to her neighbors and family. She disrespects her parents. She drinks in front of her kids and is all the time talking about how she is going to hell. Don’t be fooled by the music you hear or even what you think these people are. Its all about the money and self praise. I heard someone mention DC TALK , GIVE ME A BREAK…..these guys admit to worshiping the music of R.E.M. Did you forget that R.E.M. was involved in the occult?
Its a pretty sad day when people have to flock to the church because of the music , when our purpose for coming to church is to give praise to our God. Its not about getting something from God its about giving our all to God. There are plenty of texts in the Bible that tell us how God wants to be worshipped and it is to be done in Reverence to him. Go get a dictionary and look up the word reverence.
I ask you does God want controversy in His sanctuary ? This controversy didn’t happen until this music was forced on the church. Does God use force on us? If he did we all be dead by now! Who uses force…..Satan uses force. I can remember in the early 90’s when a Pastor of our church said we didn’t have a choice in the matter that this new form of worship was coming whether we liked it or not! That sounds like I didn’t have any choice. Fifty years ago we were happy with the music in church, it wasn;t until the Rock era that we found kids leaving the church and chasing this life. Which led to suicide,murder, drug use, alcohol abuse, family abuse and rebellion against all that was God. Now we say ” here God, here is the music that we gave to Satan first, now we changed the words so you can have them to enjoy. but first we have to tell you that we don’t want to be negative and so we leave out your name as much as possible, and we talk about me alot…I hope thats okay with you”
I can’t find one text where God ever wanted seconds. Don’t bring to him that which has been sacrificed to idols and expect him to give His blessing.
I am fully aware of the difference between praise and worship music. To worship is to revere, to bow down in spirit, admire in awe; and to praise is an appreciation, commendation, or hallelujah. Both have a place in our churches. I believe the Bible teaches that both are proper.
That said, allow me to express what I feel today’s Sunday Morning Contemporary music advocates are failing to recognize. God deserves more than a “Pop Music” or “knee slappin” attitude from us during Sunday Morning Worship Service. I’m not referring to the lyrics, the subject, or instruments used; but the mood which, in many cases inspires jiving, body motions, and results that imitate secular music concert movements. This in the same service where pastors orate mightily in a “holy” tone of voice and use inflections that simulate heavenly auras. These pastors know the value of awe and holy seriousness when delivering heavenly messages. They use no knee slapping and grooving. They use no “rap” forms of speaking. They know the awe and respect in worship of which an Almighty God is worthy.
During praise services, e.g., youth meetings, camp meetings, concerts, evening praise services, or in the home, or during private music listening sessions, contemporary religious music can be used to satisfy musical tastes that have been cultivated by years of listening to secular, pop scene renditions.
The argument that many have been won to Christ through the use of contemporary music, therefore should be used during Sunday Morning Worship Service, is not appropriate. Winning the lost should be through witnessing, and living observable Christian lives, then hearing the spoken word that explains the meaning of and way to obtain salvation. If the only effective tool to cause the unsaved to hear the “Word of God” is through baiting them with contemporary music in order to draw them in the front door of the church on Sunday Morning, then something is desperately wrong with such a church. The unsaved are not coming to worship, they are coming to a hear secular sounds that incidently contain religious words. And those individuals who insist on contemporary music during worship services may be worshiping the sounds, atmospheres, and moods engendered by the popular, secular music of the day. If musically great hymns and gospel songs make the unsaved turn away then perhaps poor performance has something to do with it. Incidently, many of the contemporary religious music performances fall far short of musical excellence.
To those who would remind me that some hymn tunes, when written, were originally popular secular tunes of the day I would respond: there is a very wide diversity in the present culture between secular “down and dirty” and “easy listening and lyrical” tunes. Both can be called popular tunes of the day but there is a vast difference in the mood that is set by their use. Too much of the contemporary religious music styles employed during Sunday Morning Worship services in our present age come close to the “down and dirty” genre.
On a personal level, I have often observed many young people and adults alike looking at each other as they are swaying and clapping to the secular beat of contemporary praise music during the Sunday Morning Worship service. There is no way I can judge what their thoughts are at the moment, but, through experiences of a lifetime, I have observed the same bodily movement responses and moods as I performed in night clubs during my early adult life.
Do advocates of contemporary music use during Sunday Morning Worship services also desire to see the sacrament, scripture reading, praying, and preaching performed in a secular contemporary mode? The logic with which the argument is made would dictate the desirability of such performances. Should the art on the walls and atmospheres in our sanctuaries be similar to that in the city’s pubs and gathering places in order to draw the unsaved to our churches? Why only music?
Thnk about it. Don’t have a closed mind to logic.
Jack
“How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are” . . .
. . . are words coming from a person who is experiencing a deep, close walk with Christ? A person with the Holy Spirit living within? It is not my purpose to judge you. However, I don’t recognize spiritual depth when I read phrases like “How stupid, closeminded, and arrogant you are.” We all reserve the God-given right to disagree, and I prefer thoughtful and mannerly debates over “put-downs.”
ARKAY
What interesting posts! I believe that a lot of christian movements have one by one fallen asleep. This has happened largely due to the family unit. Is it the church ‘s responsibility to train children? How about “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. Parents will one day give accountability for their actions. In the meantime, it seems that a lot of appetizers are being served and the main course is never served. I appreciate what the churches are trying to accomplish all in Christ name. May we all do a better job at home teaching our children and studying the Bible.