I recently read a blog post that really resonated with me. The author was doing nothing new (a Christian taking shots at contemporary Christian music), but her reasoning got me thinking. I think the author was the first person that I have read that explained what is wrong with CCM. I've also recently became a fan of country music. I'm actually not sure why, though I think I am starting to figure it out. For some reason singing about driving an International Harvester is meaningful to me, though I work in an air conditioned office.
One of the critiques of contemporary Christian music is that it is out of touch with reality, especially biblical reality. Christian music gives little acknowledgment to the reality of human sin, the wrath of God against sinful humanity and the need for a Savior. There is plenty of celebration of vague things like the love of God, but little recognition that Christ had to die for the love of God to be directed towards us. Actually the sentimental view of life described in Contemporary Christian music resembles closely the Christ-less Christianity preached in many churches.
At least country music acknowledges a more realistic view of life. Whether it is celebrating a red Solo cup or feeding beer to horses, Country music deals with the realities of life, death, love, justice, injustice and generally celebrates the joys of simple life. The book of Ecclesiastes does this as well. I really think that country music and the book of Ecclesiastes is discussing the same reality. How many country songs sound like Ecclesiastes 5:18 "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot and be happy in their toil--this is a gift of God" (NIV, e.g. Chicken Fried)? Ecclesiastes also discusses the meaninglessness of wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:8-17 and Little Big Town's Boondocks), the virtue of honesty (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, White Liar, You Lie) and justice (Ecclesiastes 3:17, Beer for my Horses, Courtesy of the Red White and Blue) and the joys of family (Ecclesiastes 9:9, Watching You) and work (Ecclesiastes 9:10, International Harvester). While certain songs are certainly inappropriate for kids, so are some passages of the Bible (the Noah with the cute animals in pairs is the same guy that is naked and drunk in the next chapter, thank you, red Solo cup). Some country songs are downright Christian (e.g. compare Psalm 51 to Chris Young's The Man I Want to Be).
Admittedly I am comparing the best of Country to the worst of CCM. The big glaring deficiency, however is the lack of a Savior that will come and die in our place, for our sins. Country just does a better job Oh for a day when music will help us "see and savor" the God that has created a way for sinful people like us to enjoy him, the God that brings more joy that horses, women, red Solo cups or honky-tonk.
One of the critiques of contemporary Christian music is that it is out of touch with reality, especially biblical reality. Christian music gives little acknowledgment to the reality of human sin, the wrath of God against sinful humanity and the need for a Savior. There is plenty of celebration of vague things like the love of God, but little recognition that Christ had to die for the love of God to be directed towards us. Actually the sentimental view of life described in Contemporary Christian music resembles closely the Christ-less Christianity preached in many churches.
At least country music acknowledges a more realistic view of life. Whether it is celebrating a red Solo cup or feeding beer to horses, Country music deals with the realities of life, death, love, justice, injustice and generally celebrates the joys of simple life. The book of Ecclesiastes does this as well. I really think that country music and the book of Ecclesiastes is discussing the same reality. How many country songs sound like Ecclesiastes 5:18 "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot and be happy in their toil--this is a gift of God" (NIV, e.g. Chicken Fried)? Ecclesiastes also discusses the meaninglessness of wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:8-17 and Little Big Town's Boondocks), the virtue of honesty (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, White Liar, You Lie) and justice (Ecclesiastes 3:17, Beer for my Horses, Courtesy of the Red White and Blue) and the joys of family (Ecclesiastes 9:9, Watching You) and work (Ecclesiastes 9:10, International Harvester). While certain songs are certainly inappropriate for kids, so are some passages of the Bible (the Noah with the cute animals in pairs is the same guy that is naked and drunk in the next chapter, thank you, red Solo cup). Some country songs are downright Christian (e.g. compare Psalm 51 to Chris Young's The Man I Want to Be).
Admittedly I am comparing the best of Country to the worst of CCM. The big glaring deficiency, however is the lack of a Savior that will come and die in our place, for our sins. Country just does a better job Oh for a day when music will help us "see and savor" the God that has created a way for sinful people like us to enjoy him, the God that brings more joy that horses, women, red Solo cups or honky-tonk.
I think your last paragraph should have been your first. While the premise is clear, I could probably find magazine articles that tied to scripture if I tried.
ReplyDeleteWhat is CCM? Does "In Christ Alone Still Count?" Does it have to be currently on the radio, or do we have a time period where it expires and becomes part of that purgatory of music that's not quite contemporary anymore, but too new to be traditional.
The problem isn't even that this music is available, because not every song has been written to encompass the entire gospel. Just like Red Solo Cup doesn't espouse the hard work of International Harvester.
My bigger concern is worship leaders who bring new music into the life of a church because it's popular on the radio. I actually have stopped doing certain traditional hymns (When We All Get to Heaven for one), because I realized there was a large contingent of our congregation who didn't have that assurance. So there is always a need to examine what is being sung.
In conclusion (this got too long), any pastor knows that often 30 minutes of preaching still often leaves gaps in our ability to explain a truth of God, scripture or salvation. It's only natural that a 3 minute song would probably fall short of that as well.
Love this post. No wonder I like country music lately! ;) I listened to CCM from the age of 18 to about 28, and at some point it seemed to lose any depth for me.
ReplyDeleteI mean, who can argue with "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"? :) Heard this when I was on the road and thought of this post!
ReplyDelete