Comments on: A Thought On The Music Of Christianity

By: Dan Wilt

Dan Wilt — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:43:52 +0000

Great mix of thoughts here friends.

By: James Talley

James Talley — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:09:13 +0000

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?

By: JJ

JJ — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:59:50 +0000

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?

By: Jen Wright

Jen Wright — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:02:25 +0000

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!

By: Lorien

Lorien — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:30:29 +0000

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.

By: Joy Romage

Joy Romage — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:48:15 +0000

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.

By: Kurt Buchholz

Kurt Buchholz — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:49:15 +0000

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!

By: Graeme Campbell

Graeme Campbell — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:35:48 +0000

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.

By: Laura Berry

Laura Berry — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:48:59 +0000

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.).

By: Sheri Carr

Sheri Carr — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:19:31 +0000

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!