If it is
How important is music in worship…?
What is, and is not, allowable?
With a large contingency, if not a majority, of evangelical churches turning to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) in worship services, I cannot help but ask these questions. It appears that the reply given by many CCM proponents, to challenges to such within worship, would be that the music (itself) is neutral. And all styles can be sanctified and utilized to the… Glory of God.
In all honesty, I myself believed this at one time.
However, I began to ponder this and began to think, that to take this position would be to isolate this thing (music) which is created by fallen sinful human beings, and naively declare it untouched by the curse that came upon all creation. Can we really say music is neutral, and original sin has not touched it at all? Not merely the lyrics that the music is set to… but the music itself? Is it not possible that there are certain genres of music that are inherently worldly and profane (profane meaning common and unholy)? To call music “neutral” would appear to take a Pelagian view, in which the devastating and total effects of original sin, touching upon every aspect of man’s being is to be denied.
Should we be taking a genre of worldly music (Rock/Pop/Rap), which originated and is still associated with rebellion, and introduce it into the worship service, thinking God will surely accept it because we have sanitized, baptized, and sanctified it?
If we take this idea of music is neutral and it can all be used in worship, how consistent can we be?
I present the following for your consideration and would ask if this would be acceptable next Sunday in worship? If it is not acceptable, then for what reason would you give for it being unacceptable... if music is neutral?
How important is music in worship…?
What is, and is not, allowable?
With a large contingency, if not a majority, of evangelical churches turning to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) in worship services, I cannot help but ask these questions. It appears that the reply given by many CCM proponents, to challenges to such within worship, would be that the music (itself) is neutral. And all styles can be sanctified and utilized to the… Glory of God.
In all honesty, I myself believed this at one time.
However, I began to ponder this and began to think, that to take this position would be to isolate this thing (music) which is created by fallen sinful human beings, and naively declare it untouched by the curse that came upon all creation. Can we really say music is neutral, and original sin has not touched it at all? Not merely the lyrics that the music is set to… but the music itself? Is it not possible that there are certain genres of music that are inherently worldly and profane (profane meaning common and unholy)? To call music “neutral” would appear to take a Pelagian view, in which the devastating and total effects of original sin, touching upon every aspect of man’s being is to be denied.
Should we be taking a genre of worldly music (Rock/Pop/Rap), which originated and is still associated with rebellion, and introduce it into the worship service, thinking God will surely accept it because we have sanitized, baptized, and sanctified it?
If we take this idea of music is neutral and it can all be used in worship, how consistent can we be?
I present the following for your consideration and would ask if this would be acceptable next Sunday in worship? If it is not acceptable, then for what reason would you give for it being unacceptable... if music is neutral?