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DISCUSSYour Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
06/19/2008
By Dale Peterson
Thank you for choosing to worship with us today. If you are from a church that uses traditional hymns, you may be confused. Please take a moment to read through this guide to contemporary Christian music.
In our church you will not hear "How Great Thou Art," "Wonderful Grace of Jesus," or "Like a River Glorious." (Generally, hymns that have words like “Thou” are not used. They are too archaic and are normally replaced by words like “awesome” and “miry clay”). Yes, okay, we may do "Amazing Grace" or "Peace Like a River" at some point, but as a general rule we avoid songs with too many different verses or those that can't be played easily on guitar and drums.
If you are new to worship here, you may wish to know the reasons for this. One is that deep theological concepts do not belong in contemporary Christian worship. We frown on songs that change more than one or two words for each verse. For example, our version of "Holy is the Lord" consists of repeating that phrase six times per verse and then changing "Holy" to "Worthy," "Mighty," "Jesus" and finally changing "the" to "my." Isn’t that much simpler to sing and easier to remember? The twin goals here are a) repetition and b) chanting quality. We don’t focus on what we’re singing, but how we’re singing it. The main thing is to get that kind of tingly, "olive oily" feeling. Don't worry if you don't get this right away. It will come as you learn to disengage your intellect. Just free yourself. Immerse yourself. Relax.
Nevertheless, a traditional hymn may sometimes be used. For example, we’re not averse to "Holy, Holy, Holy." You may be tempted to sing this as you would have in your former church, but please note that it is sung here with changes, mainly the fact that we repeat it several times and try to sing as slowly as possible, thereby emphasizing the funereal nature of the verse.
Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music. We repeat: Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music. Just because a song may have one verse and one chorus does not mean that you only sing it through once. Old hymns have several verses, each of which introduces a new theological concept, and are meant to be sung once followed by "Amen." This is no longer how it’s done. The correct procedure is to sing the identical verse and chorus at least three times. Often it is preferable to repeat the verse two times initially before moving on to the chorus.
Also the worship leader may want to repeat a verse or chorus found in the middle of the song. This is signaled by “calling an audible." When this occurs, the worship leader will say the first few words of the verse or chorus he will be singing next. Sometimes, due to the similarity of the verses, this may be confusing and the overhead projector may flash several pages of text until the correct one is arrived at. Don't panic, this is normal. Just continue singing as though you know the words and soon either the correct slide will appear or a new chorus will begin.
After the verse and chorus are sung at least three times, it is permissible for the song to end. However, the chorus must first be repeated in its entirety, then the last paragraph, then the last line. When singing the last line it is important to slow down a little and look upward. Raising a hand is permissible and often done at this time. This may take a little getting used to but don't worry, if you just join in, in a short time you won't even notice and soon you will forget that you ever did it any other way.
We are just really glad you chose to share the worship experience with us today. Thank you and we hope to see you again soon.
Thank you and we hope to see you again soon. Thank you. Thank.
I seem to remember something about, "vain repetitions" from the Bible.
Yawn!!Have you ever noticed how dull and boring CCM is??
Kinda reminds me of the episode of King of the Hill:"Reborn to be Wild"!!
Bobby joins a youth group at the Methodist Church,however,the new Youth Pastor is tattooed and leads a Christian Rock Band!!
Hank tells him"You Haven't Christianity Better!!You've Only Made Rock and Roll Worse!!".
Why is it ok in our christian culture to use sarcasm with each other? When you want a genuine relationship with someone, acting like a dick usually doesn't promote that desired end result. Oh, but I bet the real reason is not relationship but to show how well read and smart you are. Is that really where your affections should lie?
Dear seth,
Sarcasm and satire are not the same thing but they go together like soup and sandwich. Satire is deeper than slapstick stuff. Although
in my humble "French" opinion Jerry lewis was a comic genious...for the french who for the most part are dense. Regarding the music I like the songs where we can sing words like "tarry" even though I think the Holy spirit quit inspiring christian music in 1767, I like the new songs like the great german polka rendition of john 3:16 "leben habe". Check it out at
http://godrocketsquad.com/
Right on, Seth!
Personally, I would be concerned with those learning their theology from hymns, old or new ...
I disagree.
Time for a few hums of "Fount of every blessing", hey, Chuck?
Ok.
Do you think Wesley got his theology from hymns?
No. But, he wrote thousands that taught millions.
True, true.
On this point: Rich Mullins speaks about his love for and dependence on traditional hymns for inspiration and instruction. See the book, An Arrow Pointing Toward Heaven (Broadman and Holman, 2000) that includes several of Mullins' comments on hymns. Yes, many of us are introduced to deep theological thinking through the poetics of hymns.
So he meant for people to learn from his hymns rather than actually reading the bible for themselves. Gotcha.
When John Wesley was preaching out in the fields and to the coal miners, he was preaching to people who could not read. They knew the popular tavern songs and the Wesleys took those tunes and wrote the words of a Christian message to them.
You take Theology add a drinking song and make a Hymn.
A fantastic way to bring revival to illiterate people.
Does it have to be an either/or?
Speaking of sarcasm…
So it's your opinion that singing in Church should say nothing about who God is (definition of theology)? We also shouldn't be using commentaries for Bible study or write Christian books that explain how to know God or how to grow as a Christian, yes? In fact, there probably shouldn't even be any preaching––just send everyone home and tell them to read the Bible. Gotcha.
Of course, the Bible is the fountainhead of all theology and 'everything we need for life and godliness', but there is nothing unbiblical about using all of the means God has provided to the Church for reinforcing those things, including music that teaches–particularly as we are commanded by Scripture to do all these things.
I enjoy singing both myself, but I certainly do tire of the 'Jesus is my boyfriend' variety of 'worship' songs that say much more about my own feelings than they do about the God we are supposed to be worshiping, as is playfully pointed out in this typical Door work of satire. It seems we try to find the 'power' in the way we sing, the energy of the musicians, and all the other rev-up-the-emotion tools, instead of finding it in the actual objective content of the gospel and the character of the Holy One in whose name we gather.
Satire can be a helpful tool when it's pointed at our weaknesses as a Church, which is where The Door usually aims and hits.
1 AND can it be, that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour's blood`?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel-minds inquire no more.
3 He left his Father's throne above,
(So free, so infinite his grace!)
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5 No condemnation now I dread,
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
My all-time favorite hymn, BJ. Wonderful.
I'm sorry Mr. Wesley we can't use your song in our worship service this week. To tell you the truth it's kind of a buzz kill. I mean gettin buzzed in the Spirit is what we are all about. You're just a little to wordy. If the lyrics won't fit on the church sign then we can't use them.
We welcome you to submit another song when you've had more experience in song writing. You shouldn't begin a song with the word And. May I suggest an online course I took in order to become the worship leader in our church. "How to have them raising their hands and drying their tears in 3 easy lessons." The second phase of the teaching is great also, "8 Steps to Creating Altar Traffic". I'm sure you will master worship song writing in no time.
I love it!
I tried to play this one, but it was no fun kicking off my distortion pedal so I decided not to. After all, if someone heard the lyrics, their heart might actually be pierced and we can't have that!
Yeah!Wow!
You are my all in all......
Hmmm. . .
I don't know, Dale. Maybe my Grape Nuts were too soggy this morning, but your article didn't sit well as I read it over breakfast.
Your attempt at satire seems to fall pretty flat. It is one thing to be a bit snarky or tongue and cheek while making a point, but it doesn't seem to be what you are doing here. Maybe I am not reading you right, but it seems like you might be a bit jealous of folks that have discovered intimate worship and decided to go after them with a sharp stick, rather than thought provoking humor.
Even Leonard Ravenhill gets modern worship and I have a feeling he would slap you around a bit theologically, even though he is a traditional hymn kind of guy, just for being so mean-spirited. There is a difference between being a comic and being a jerk.
I don't know what saddens me worse; your lack or sense of humor, or the fact that maybe you haven't yet had an experience in whatever flavor of worship you might like to the point that you are so profoundly impacted that all the stylistic and technical aspects are moot.
Besides, you haven't heard what worship can be like until you have seen a Nigerian all-drum worship band. Maybe I was just having one of those "olive-oily" moments you criticize, but I sure sensed God smiling at it, and I don't think he really cared how simplistic it was.
One of the things that I have noticed about Door articles is that we think they are funny unless they satirize something we do. I don't always agree with the points made, but they do make me think and consider why I do what I do. This was one of those articles.
I remember a friend saying that he went to a contemporary service where they sang "We bring a sacrifice of praise" about twenty times. He went to the bathroom and came back and they were still singing it. The way the mind works is that you stare at something long enough and the optical receptors shut down - the left side of the brain disengages. The same thing happens when you sing the same stuff over and over again. You go into a right brain trance and feel a euphoria that is not really that different from chanting a mantra or having a stroke in the left part of your brain (See Dr. Jill Taylor's book, "My Stroke of Insight").
There are many beautiful and meaningful contemporary hymns, but there are a good number of meaningless ones, too. That is true of traditional hymns too. The structured, liturgical worship of the past had it's problems and has been the brunt of much deserved satire. Similarly, contemporary worship had earned every word written in this very clever and funny piece.
I read it, I agreed with it, I thought it was an average critique and poorly concieved humor. Anyone for smashing LCD projectors with me after hours tonight?
Do you have any scientific reference for the statement you made above: "You go into a right brain trance and feel a euphoria that is not really that different from chanting a mantra"?
Obviously Dr. Jill's stroke lead her to believe in New Age techniques to "disengage" the rational left hemisphere of the brain and allow the right, "feeling" side to dominate. The question is, is this what our creator God wants from our worship? It seems to me prayer and worship are to activate the mind and open it to communication from God, not to shut it down. Hypnotisim, drumming, dances, Eastern medication, Yoga and chanting are designed to shut down the frontal lobe and rational thought. Moral decision making, that which sets us apart from animals, is rational and informed, based on active decision making,not feeling orientated.
I am looking for scientific information not just personal opinions.
Thanks for introducing me to Dr. Jill, it was a most interesting viewing.
Hypnotism, et al, all designed to shut down 'the frontal lobe' of the brain?
It is you who needs to render some scientific information, rather than simply your opinions. The practices you decry, whether or not they are agreeable, are hardly 'designed' to shut down anything. Repetitive activities (which might include the singing of multiple choruses) do tend to create a change in ones conscious mind, but this speaks more to the conscious mind than it does to any ulterior design motive.
And I dare you to prove that moral decision making is necessarily rational and and informed. From what I can see, it is simply acculturated. If it happens to be on the right track, then all the better.
What you said Steve.
I've squirmed under the gaze of door satire before. And two of my favorite things to sing in church (or anywhere, come to it) are Be Thou My Vision and In Christ Alone (an old and a new, in case anyone missed it).
The correct cliche is "tongue-in-cheek," not tongue and cheek.
You can put your tongue right here.
You pervert!!!!!!
UncleKenny,
Lest you forgot, or didn't realize, The Door is a Christian "satire" site (emphasis on "SATIRE".
If it puts you in a bad mood, I suggest you miss visiting this website entirely.
134 posts about worship is probably too many. Are we really called by God to have our worship primarily be in song? Many have assumed that we are but where is that in the Bible? Sure, it is good to sing praises to God, but is it ever the sum total of our worship of God? It seems like we have a culture determined to use singing as a way to know God, but you can't worship that which you don't know in truth. Just another way to assuage our guilt brought on by the notion that we can prioritize God as #1 on our life-lists...when we should find God to be all and in all.
Huh huh hhuhuhhh
You said soggy nuts.
Oh, Uncle Kenny. Like, what's wrong with you, dude? A worship service where the music was all written before 1918 is like, dude, the only way to worship. All that hypnotic repetition is like, you know, kind of pagan, doncher think? Puts the mind in a state where you get all 'olive oily' and receptive and lose yourself in one of those almost trance-like states and listening to God...but wait! That's only for Old Testament prophets! Can't have moderns getting all receptive and suchlike. And raising your hand? Jeez (no disrespect intended) but that sounds like one a them Godless rock concerts with all those hands waving in the air. Can't have that in church. Might cause God to lose his focus or something. Might wave in The Debbil.
Dale. Dude. Get a sense of humor that you are aware of. You do indeed fall a bit flat with this one.
Funny that you mention "trance-like." I was a good little evangelical boy for most of my life; one night I went to a rave (and of course, one of the genres of music is called "trance"...which is what got me on this tangent) and then went to my church's early service and then went to the Friends meeting. The contrast between the three helped me cultivate an appreciation for finding the spiritual in shutting up for a while. Eventually, I dropped the evangelical church and just went Quaker. I've locked horns with a few family members who've been aghast at the idea of not having professional ministers or exuberant hands-in-the-air worship and having tolerance or even *gasp* acceptance of "immoral" (i.e. gay) people. I simply found that for me the best way to listen to God is to (pun intended) shut the hell up.
Maybe that's 'cuz I do a bunch of talking...I don't know.
Loved this article! Funny and oh so true! I can't stand the elevator music that passes for "worship" and miss the days when songs actually meant something! Give me some Larry Norman, Keith Green or Bob Dylan please! There's a whole bunch of "religious" fellow musicians I want to annoy - hope you won't mind if I lead them to this page!
The best worship service I was ever involved in was in downtown Managua, Nicaragua at about midnight, they had been going at it for a few hours and I only understood about half of what was said. That one service has stuck with me for years. It didn't matter what style the music was. It moved me like nothing since. Although, U2 at Notre Dame came close.
I love playing modern worship 'cause it is so easy. Guitar solos and bass runs are fun with no worries about grabbing a fist full of the wrong strings, but I can't stand listening to the stuff. If I'm not on stage playing it, I would rather not have to hear it. Probably for the same reasons I like playing it.
Great article, Dale. Looks like I'm not the only one to impute motives around here, Kenny. What was the phrase you used earlier, "no need for the adult diapers"?
Well, I did say my Grape Nuts were a bit soggy, budda. I could also be sleep deprived. SOS week in Cincy is fun, but I am getting old.
Dear Uncle Kenny,
So far, we have figured out that you are to old to keep up with the kids. Also, your Grape Nuts are soggy because, while you were asleep, the campers pissed in them.
Consider yourself "called" to another mission.
HEY, Nice to see you again, Lilly. When did they let you out:)
I just got out of the Gadarine Cemetery.
I found out that I am allergic to pork.
I am so glad that the DOOR is Kosher.
Lilly,
I suppose my new calling could be to help you with your grammar and spelling. After we tackle that, we could spend some time working on your manners.
Just a thought. . .
Amen Dale! Thats how "Word Of Faith" churches do it. Sing the same verses over and over for at least an hour! The "WOF" churches have a reason for doing this. They think if you sing long enough,loud enough,and intensely enough,God gets "impressed" and manifests His presence! Of course their reasoning is nonsense! A lot of contemporary songs are the "Jesus is my boyfriend" type garbage. Their are some good ones don't get me wrong. But most are as theologically deep as a mud puddle!
Amen indeed, Dale! Good stuff! Very, very funny! My dad refers to contemporary "praise and worship" songs as "7-11 choruses"--the same 7 words repeated 11 times. ("I could sing of Your love forever..."--perfect example) I agree, budda, that they're fun to play on guitar because they're relatively easy. The traditional hymns change chords too doggone much! Actually, I like some of the contemporary stuff, and there are a few traditional hymns I don't like.
I remember about 25 years ago, even before the "praise and worship" choruses got so popular, being in a Christian bookstore, looking for background tapes for traditional hymns. The girl working there, a girl who had grown up in church and was about 18 years old, didn't know what a hymn was. Honest-to-God! And there is now a whole generation of Christians growing up not knowing what a hymn is. That, to me, is a terrible shame!
7-11 now thats funny. Funny but true! Shout To The Lord is another song we used to sing over and over and over and over,well 'nuff said!
20 years ago I joked that the worship leader wrote the songs right before going on stage.
All he had to do was close his eyes. Flip open a bible and point his finger anywhere on the open page.
What ever words were at his finger tip were the next worship song by just repeating them over and over again twenty times.
Try yourself. You might be the next big musical sensation.
Off topic, I know. But to all N.T. Wright fans, big T.V. appearance tonight, 11:30 ET / 10:30 CT.
Should be interesting. Thought you might wanna know.
Grace and Peace,
Raffi Shahinian
Parables of a Prodigal World
*growl* I missed it. Now I'm gonna have to fight to catch the re-run of that episode.
Nevermind...I just found a link to the interview, hopefully my computer doesn't choke bandwidth-wise.
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