Project Description

2014/03

Contemporary Christian Music: Why Not?

What is Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)? Wikipedia defines it thus, “Contemporary Christian music (or CCM—and occasionally “inspirational music”) is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith. Today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, rock, or praise & worship styles.”    It is typically associated with the drum kits and guitars of modern music.

The use of CCM is justified because it is said to be a powerful means of reaching contemporary culture with the message of Christ. However, we cannot endorse something in worship simply because we feel it will help us, or because we enjoy it. The Bible and the Bible alone must be our rule of faith and practice. So what are our objections?

The first problem with CCM has to with its source. CCM is really rock or pop style music with some Christian-type lyrics attached. But where did this rock and pop originate?  Rock music grew up in an atmosphere of rebellion. Although there was some influence from negro spirituals and black Pentecostal and Charismatic music, many young blacks rebelled against that, considering Christianity to be a “white man’s religion”  They began to develop a new form of music to express their suffering,  rejecting the hope and salvation found in the old negro spirituals, and this became known as “rhythm and blues”. Instead of directing men to hope in Christ, this music was utterly pessimistic and sensual. It was this antichristian black music, which became the real origin of ‘Rock and Roll’. It was soon being imitated by white performers like Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, who added the conventions of ‘Rockabilly’ and ‘Tin Pan Alley’ to develop the music into a new sound.
Since then, this already antichristian standard has declined still further. British group The Beatles’ influential “Sergeant Pepper” album has been described as “drug-drenched”. And this group started experimenting with eastern religion, even including the Hari Krishna chant in one of its songs. Rock became a promoter of drugs and false religion. It appears that many of today’s female artists feel they must dress immodestly and act lewdly, as they sing songs glorifying every kind of evil practice and philosophy.

Large sections of the ‘Rock and Roll’ industry have connections with Satanism, and with the promotion of drugs, illicit sex and perversion of all kinds. Internet music stores display album covers with labels that warn of explicit lyrics. The most ardent fan of rock music cannot deny that this is the case!

The CCM movement has taken this music, which is associated with rebellion and violence and drugs and perversion, and has brought it into the church. This can only be the product of a love for this worldly music. The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15) People debate the definition of ‘worldliness’ but the rebellious, anti-god thrust of much rock music is certainly worldly! And the desire to bring it into the church can only have arisen from a worldly mindset.

The second problem with CCM centres on its strategy. CCM mainly arose out of New Evangelicalism. The strategy of the New Evangelicals is different from that of traditional evangelical Christians. Instead of separation from apostasy and false doctrine, they believe in making friends with, and dialoguing with, outright modernists.  Dr. Harold Ockenga, the Boston pastor who coined the term “New Evangelical”, put the strategy honestly and bluntly when he said, “The ‘New Evangelicalism’ has changed its strategy from one of separation to one of infiltration.” This strategy of infiltration is the main justification for the use of CCM. We are constantly urged to go to where the people are and use music that is familiar to them – after all, the Lord went to meet publicans and sinners.

However, there are a number of problems with this premise. The first is that while the Lord Jesus went to where publicans and sinners were, He did not act like them.  He did not mirror their conduct so that they could identify with Him. The second thing is that the Bible does teach separation, not infiltration.
When something is marked by sin and is anti-God you do not try to live with it, or adopt it; you separate from it. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you”

My third objection to CCM has to do with its focus, its stress. Because it is designed to appeal to men we need not be surprised if it is mainly “man-centred.” I deal in generalities here but  CCM ‘stars’ say, “It’s all about the music.” But that is not what I find in the songs of the Bible. They are God-centred. The first recorded song is in Exodus 15, and was sung by Moses and the Israelites in celebration of their miraculous deliverance from the Egyptians. That song contains these remarkable lines, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (verse 2).

What is remarkable is that Moses here refers to God as “my…song” and it would be impossible to link the nature of God and the nature of song in worship closer than that! The song is not only about God but the song has the character of God about it. And this has to be true of all Christian music. But in many CCM songs, it’s about the music to such an extent that you can hardly hear the lyrics – and when you do they are often ambiguous. And the beat of the music is designed to prompt dance. That means the music is essentially sensual in nature. For many adherents, the primary thing is not to glorify God but to exalt and entertain man. No matter what the arguments, worship music should not be designed for the sensual response of dancing or clapping, but for the spiritual response of glorifying God.

There are many other things that might be said, but I conclude by urging every child of God to exercise discernment and care. Just because a thing is contemporary, and has a pleasing sound, does not make it right. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Rev Gordon Dane.