I was very grateful for a song this morning, that moved me, and helped me to move forward with God.
I have some more subjective, multi-themed, inaccessible “artful” music I listen to all the time. Some of it is by Christians. Some of it is not.
I need regular doses, however, of music written by believing folks to center me more often than not. (Unless it’s Imogen Heap. Pretty much feel centered by most anything she writes for some strange reason).
I’m grateful for Jon Foreman for me right now, a variety of worship music for my wife, TobyMac for my son, and still other bands for my girls. We get our values fed in the place of music, and our minds and hearts receive some helpful direction (discernment, whether the music is created by professing Christians or not, is always necessary).
I believe that the strength of the contemporary Christian music industry is its ongoing investment in the embodying of biblical stories, ideas, themes and passages in music. The opening of the soul, and the feeding of it across a lifetime, is an important role to find oneself in – it should be stewarded well no matter the revenue.
Most who know me, having banters on the latest art and music, are a bit shocked when they dis Christian music and I react with such heated response. It’s not about me being churchy – it’s about a generation deciding that art anchors them, no matter who is writing or what they are writing about. I say, enjoy the art and mine the soul, but recognize that your thinking and view of God (and everything) is being shaped.
I am especially grateful for Christian music as my own children daily imbibe the values-soup in which they swim on a daily basis. Worship music can tether the heart to central truths that stabilize, and even invigorate us, by anchoring us to unchanging themes. For my skeptic friends, yes, it can often stabilize people in such a way that they become unstabilized in other ways.
And yet, I choose to mix my music cocktails, to keep my soul expanding artfully, and in faith.
The contemporary Christian music industry’s weaknesses lie in its view of acceptable sacred art, its worldview (sacred/secular split), its vision of the holistic Christian conversion, life values and the eschaton, its handling (possibly – I can’t judge this) of significant cashflow, and its diffused sense of mission. The weaknesses should be addressed, and I am considering an open letter to the Christian music industry and radio community to do my part in the support of something I believe should be – as opposed to should not be.
In a moment of gratefulness for the Psalms this morning, I simply say that while great art is everywhere in the world, I’m grateful for attention to investing a story in which I choose to live in myriad forms. Sure, there will be much repetition the simpler and more widely accessible it quests to be (a value I appreciate, but left to itself is choking out the artful possibilities flowing from many believing writers who must write less accessible work).
I’m going to put some Psalms to music in the next bit, I believe. I’ll get in line, and do it because I need to.
Then, I’ll write some whacky poem about the eyelid of a tree frog or the flash of my wife’s eyes to keep myself, and my friends, playful.
13 Comments
the best music and stories for me are the ones that are not so obvious. far too often so much that is made for “christians” is heavy handed and only ONE understanding of something is given – it is clear that the author/writers thoughts are exactly what they want you to think/read/sing.
the music and story that gives me life are the ones that i can come to on my own – and meet their words exactly at the place i am. it is gentle and light bearing. respectful and life giving.
this is why jon foreman can cross over like he has so successfully. he thinks big thoughts and isn’t afraid of being misunderstood. he has released his words to the listener to embrace as they see fit – and that is why his music has legs and walks me through so many stages of my life without growing old or tired – because each time i come to it is is different – living and active – so much like the one we are seeking to become more like. living and active. not heavy handed and obvious.
I love the music / lyrics that require pondering. I have some favorite songwriters that write songs where I have to spend some time thinking about the words, and a few songs where the words have brought a new depth after some event in my life brought new light to an old piece. I also love to find a new little piece of arrangement that I didn’t hear before in the music after hearing it many times, or a more complex chords that make me think and celebrate that music can have so much depth. These things cause me to respond in worship because they have made me pause, and not spelled out everything in the first listen.
This is juxtaposed with the need to make worship songs accessible to the worshippers in a congregation, and yet I feel we do a disservice to them to always take the easy route of songs understood and sung fully the first time they are heard. It’s somewhat of an insult to their musical ability. And many have lots of ability. I think balance is in order. It is also true for the team. They should not be pushed beyond their ability all the time by hard to learn music, but to stretch them and doing something more from time to time honors the Lord and grows everyone.
ex: Charlie Peacock – “Wouldn’t it be strange if Jesus came again?”
I love Imogen Heap as well! Isn’t she fabulous? What a beautiful, unique gift she brings to the table.
I so appreciated this paragraph of yours:
“I believe that the strength of the contemporary Christian music industry is its ongoing investment in the embodying of biblical stories, ideas, themes and passages in music. The opening of the soul, and the feeding of it across a lifetime, is an important role to find oneself in – it should be stewarded well no matter the revenue.”
Your words encourage me as a worship artisan to keep at it “no matter the revenue” when I presently find myself so easily discouraged by the failing sales report of my latest solo attempt. I realize more and more that is my call to continue to cultivate the gifts God has given me and to continue “giving them away.” What the Lord chooses to do with my humble offerings is completely up to Him. I can’t be reminded of that enough!
Beautifully written Dan.
Music can calm, excite, soothe, propel, release, ignite, diffuse. It’s expressive.
Couple music with lyrics that reflect ‘biblical stories, ideas, themes and passages’ and then it’s expressive and _________(restorative, reminding, centering, etc.).
I agree that the strength of Christian music is in the stories and truths that it conveys. I don’t listen to much worship or CCM but the music I have related to includes artists such as Larry Norman and Kevin Prosch, who have written about the darker side of life as well as the light. I’m also drawn to “secular” artists, whom I believe have a God given gift, but don’t realise or believe it themselves. I have seen Springsteen sing with just his guitar and hold 12,000 people in an arena in Sheffield, enthralled with, and identifying with , stories of hardship and industrial decay (Youngstown) as well as youth and shattered hopes (The River). I get inspired musically, by the sheer volume and experimental power of Cream (from 1968), Albert King’s soulfulness, Led Zeppelin’s multi layered, folk inspired hard rock and celtic lyrics, all the way to Seasick Steve with his 3 string slide guitar and hobo tunes.
I only wish that there was a little more, nope actually, a lot more raw, experimental, edgy, messy humanity in Christian music, as it is in the Psalms.
Dan, I loved reading your thoughts on contemporary Christian music. I believe that are such important changes in the last 20 years in the music industry, and these changes directly influence worship music. I expanded on my blog about these changes I so appreciate.We live in a blessed age!
Dan I agree with you. Sometimes especially in my life right now when things are so crazy and stressful, christian music soothes my soul. I was practicing with my team last Sunday and I was overwhelmed by a song we were singing and brought to tears. The song is “Here in Your Presence” out of New Life Church, Colorado Springs Colorado. I have been going through a very difficult time and satan has been attacking me from all sides. At first I felt like a hypocrite because I was able to worship and soak in His presence here at church, practicing with my team. But then I thought what better place to rest in His loving embrace. But I also think he was reminding me to use my music to help me get through this difficult time. Thanks for reinforcing that for me.
I have loved Jon Foreman’s music since the first time a roommate introduced me to him in college. Some people in my life have complained that he came across as synical or depressed at times, but the same people also made some general statements about music coming out of the vineyard sounding depressing to them. I am just so glad there is music to fit my every mood – too express how I am feeling when I can’t express it myself and to make me realize I am not alone. Quite often I need music to lift my spirits, but sometimes I need it to acknowledge that life is hard.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the theology behind music lately, while studying worship theology. Every song on christian radio that I hear gets weighed against my new found understanding of christian theology. Most of it seems sound, but sometimes there will be songs that use frazes that I don’t agree with. There does seem to be a lot of emphasis on “us” and our “feelings” in contemporary christian music. My husband says the songs are sounding very “emo”. I understand that christian radio does a lot of reaching out to those who are hurting and in need of encouragement, but if the majority of people who are listening to christian radio are christians, it would be great to hear more exhortation and encouragement to go be God’s hands and voice to a hurting world.
Music is always what brings me to the heart of God. I love all Christian music which has an indescribable element that helps me enter the throne room. An example of this for me is Hosanna by Hillsong/Brooke Fraser. The simple start building into the guitar solo is just so powerful!
I also love finding the hand of God even in non-Christian music. There is a band over here called Starsailor who aren’t Christians but I can see it in their music and lyrics, “She was born again, she was born again. Not into the world they put her in…”
Thank you God for the wonderful gift of creativity and music!
As someone who has spent an almost equal amount of years in the secular and Christian music industries, I can say that God has spoken to me clearly through “both” (and by the way, why is there a both?)…because He’s just that awesome.
Just this morning I was listening to “When Love Comes To Town” by U2 and worshiping God so deeply (“I tossed the dice when they pierced his side, but I’ve seen Love conquer the great divide”) that I was in tears. I agree with one who said they appreciated artists who spoke of the darkness of life from a Christian perspective. Bands like The 77s have done this for years. Other artists make music that God speaks through as well. I was moved to change a very self-destructive pattern in my life through of all things a Third Eye Blind song (Jumper)!
And I’ll be honest, even though my heart is open to Christian music, the same-sounding emo-esque landscape of the industry doesn’t engage my artistic sensibilities enough for me to tolerate it much. Frequently when I hear a song on the radio that we’ve sung at church I go “BLECH!” from the sound. Is this just me?
Life is messy. We need more messy Christian music. At least that’s where I am right now. Maybe when God has refined my spirit more I’ll look back and think I was being childish.
Who knows?
Today I find playfulness in the Psalms,
“He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters
he makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the winds.
he makes wings his messengers, flames of fire his servants” ps 104: 2-4
great visuals; vividly playful; clearly majestic. Could it be congregational?
Great mix of thoughts here friends.
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