Bob Hayton: "for me, the music of 100+ years ago was just as sentimental and emotionally driven as today's CCM"

You nailed it.

Thanks, Shaynus. Although I cringe when I see my typo in the title here! Should be **today’s**!

Maybe you could expand on the point that not all CCM is equal. I like stuff (and use in church) like SGM and Indelible Grace, but much of “todays” stuff on the radio makes me cringe because of the fluff and lack of content. I also find much of what’s on the radio to be unsingable by congregations. What kind of music wouldn’t you use and why?

Certain music is performance or entertainment appropriate. I like a lot of Casting Crowns’ music, but not much of it is designed for a corporate body of people to sing — there are too many “I”s in it, it’s a first person song.

Some CCM is not specific enough in the lyrics about Christ and the cross and the grave, it is more emotional or situational. I think in the 80s/early 90s there was less content in the songs, they weren’t as overtly cross-focused, etc. Tomlin’s lyrics and others like him, have added more depth to the songs. Just like not every song written before 1900 and in a hymn book is played today, so not every song sung on the radio is truly a great song worth singing. Some songs too are more feel good songs than actually having a clear content-driven message.

That’s what I’m thinking, and I’m probably not saying everything that is coming to mind on this point, but hopefully it helps.

Bob,
I appreciate your thoughts on music in your post! I really was interested to read your thoughts on the need for more psalm singing and laments. It reminded me of Michael Card’s recent album “The Hidden Face of God.” I was able to be in a service where he shared his thoughts on how Christians seemed to have neglected that part of our relationship with a loving God. It really made me think.

The simple common sense approach should recognize that the CCM v. Traditional are false categories with regard to God honoring music. Much of the music today appeals to the wrong emotions and sentiment and is presented with wrong appeal. Some traditional is also not fully God honoring. Most all CCM is not God honoring. In all, we must censure out trite lyrics, inappropriate music, wrong presentation, and bad theology. It is a bringing together of biblical principles and common sense and applying it to each individual piece of music and presentation. There are few transferable principles that apply to all. There are not easy answers. It’s like pornography recognition. You don’t have to be an expert to know it when you encounter it. If you have some knowledge of the God of scripture and His attributes and works, then you may know God dishonoring music when you hear it and be blessed by that which does really honor God. If instruments are allowed they should be out of sight in the back. The entertainment special music scenario should be eliminated or done from the back. Emphasis should be on assembly worship with singing. Choirs should be in robes to shield inappropriate dress and not allowed individual motions. Choirs are best if also in the back.

In other words, stop the entertainment bus and let us get off and do real people together worship. The entertainment bus appears to stop at many different kinds of churches. I have come to like best that which is group singing accapella without the intrusion of the wooden and brass brethren and the round loud devil bangers. In most spiritual music less is more. Does not God ask us to be silent and know that He is God? Oh for more silence in churches.

[Bob T.] I have come to like best that which is group singing accapella without the intrusion of the wooden and brass brethren and the round loud devil bangers. In most spiritual music less is more. Does not God ask us to be silent and know that He is God? Oh for more silence in churches.

Ps 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Ps 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
Ps 150:4-5 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Common errors that are often made in bringing OT practices into our NT worship are:

1. Confusing Jewish celebration with worship.

2. Neglecting the fact that we have gone from a stone Temple to a Temple of Flesh focused upon the incarnate Christ.

3. Overlooking the fact that we no longer have a Levitical priesthood and Human high priest but a Royal Priesthood of all believers and a Divine Heavenly high Priest.

5. Not realizing that we have an example of Heavenly worship in the book of Revelation.

Certainly musical instruments are not forbidden for NT worship. I just wish these wooden and Brass brethren would shut up once in a while and be less prominent so the human brethren can be heard.

Some church music is like running your lawn mower. All that noise just to cut the grass?

4. Forgetting point 4.

Sorry couldn’t resist Bob. If I had a point 4, it would be that we are to be speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. If we can’t hear each other (either for organs or drums) we’re not doing that.

[Bob T.] Common errors that are often made in bringing OT practices into our NT worship are:

1. Confusing Jewish celebration with worship.

2. Neglecting the fact that we have gone from a stone Temple to a Temple of Flesh focused upon the incarnate Christ.

3. Overlooking the fact that we no longer have a Levitical priesthood and Human high priest but a Royal Priesthood of all believers and a Divine Heavenly high Priest.

5. Not realizing that we have an example of Heavenly worship in the book of Revelation.

Certainly musical instruments are not forbidden for NT worship. I just wish these wooden and Brass brethren would shut up once in a while and be less prominent so the human brethren can be heard.

Some church music is like running your lawn mower. All that noise just to cut the grass?