Christian music - both for teaching and for worship

I am a firm believer that it is not only what you read that molds your theological worldview - I think TV, music, and even how we use social media affect us in some way or another. Media is continually projecting a worldview on to its viewers, and we as Christians must be wise to the ploys of Satan in attacking us on this front. In the title, I refer to Christian music - I'd like to caveat this with the opinion that just as I do not think all "Christian" books are worth reading and all "Christian" movies worth watching, I do not think that all music under the guise of the label "Christian" should be listened to. We want our understanding of God to be shaped by a biblical framework, thereby putting us in a place where we can worship him in the manner he has prescribed.

That being said, we want our music to not only invoke worship (the conventional reason we’d purchase a CD at Lifeway), but also to teach us something about our God. What happened in the Scriptures, from the creation of the world, the calling of the patriarchs, the covenant relationship with Israel, the cursings and blessings, the prophets, the incarnation, death, and resurrection of our Lord, and the apostolic writings were all written down for our encouragement and instruction, that we might have hope.

Take Andrew Peterson for example. In his song, “Fool With a Fancy Guitar,” he sings:

But if it’s true that you gathered my sin in Your hand

And You cast it as far as the east from the west

If it’s true that You put on the flesh of a man

And You walked in my shoes through the shadow of death

If it’s true that You dwell in the halls of my heart

Then I’m not just a fool with a fancy guitar

No, I’m a priest and prince in the Kingdom of God

Peterson references some deep, theological topics in very little time – he touches on the depravity of man, the mercy of God, the atonement and penal substitution, the incarnation, the indwelling of the Spirit, and the priesthood of all believers. Andrew has taught us much and moved our hearts to worship the God who has done all of these things.

Again, Matt Papa in his song, “You Can Do Anything” sings:

I believe that in the beginning

You spoke into the darkness and created light

I believe that You started history and

With a few words You created everything good

I believe that You saved Your people

When Pharoah’s army was coming after them

I believe You parted the sea and

With a mighty hand, led Your people to the promised land

Papa’s song sounds much like what so many other psalms in the Old Testament sounded like – as they recounted all the great deeds the Lord had done in ages past. Should our worship of God come across any different?

Going a bit further down this path of Christian music, some like Bob Kauflin would say that songs should have a certain tone, rhythm, meter, etc., as fitted for the topic being sung about. Still others like John Piper would say that word choice and literary style are significant, in that words have the power to draw you in and evoke certain emotions. Again, others like Michael Horton and R.C. Sproul would say that just as God is transcendent and graciously becomes immanent to his people in the church service, we should have a sense of transcendence and beauty incorporated into our songs of praise.

For example, look at Jars of Clay’s “Hymn,” a wonderful blend of carefully nuanced lyrics, modern musical appeal, and a sense of transcendent, poetic beauty.

Oh Refuge of my hardened heart

Oh fast pursuing Lover come

As angels dance around Your throne

My life by captured fare Your own

Not silhouette of trodden faith

Nor death shall not my steps be guide

I’ll pirouette upon my grave

For in Your path I’ll run and hide

Oh gaze of love so melt my pride

That I may in Your house but kneel

And in my brokenness to cry

Spring worship unto Thee.

To give you an idea of some artists that I like to listen to from different genres that have the potential to elevate their lyrical and musical talents to edify and encourage their audiences, I have compiled a short list below:

Contemporary:

• Caedmon’s Call - the band that seemed to have started it all, one would benefit much from their many albums that are both theologically and missionally-driven.
• Matt Papa - here is an interview with Papa about what it looks like to equip worship leaders, who is also attending Southeastern Seminary.
• Jars of Clay - these guys have experienced a number of transformations throughout the years, but all-in-all, I have continued to enjoy the voice of Dan Haseltine and the God to whom he sings.

Modern hymn:

• Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend - while the Gettys and Townend are musicians in their own right, they have collaborated on a number of occasions to produce some wonderful modern hymns for the church.

Folk:

• Bebo Norman - there is no one more deeply personal in his lyrics on one hand and on the other, as sincere and reverent in his approach to God than Bebo. I have enjoyed everything he's put out.
• Andrew Peterson - I heard about him from listening to Caedmon's Call. His lyrical approach is very winsome, and he does a wonderful job of incorporating Scripture, particularly from the Old Testament narrative, into his songs.

Rap:

• Lecrae - pastor Thabiti Anyabwile on "holy hip hop", Lecrae, and Reformed rappers
• Trip Lee - article about Trip Lee and other rappers within the Reformed Resurgence movement

Punk-Ska:

• O.C. Supertones - probing the inner-spiritual warfare of his Christian life, his praise of God, and addressing the carnal culture around him are all chronicled in the Supertones' songs. Lead singer Matt Morginsky is a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary.
• Five Iron Frenzy - a band with a cultic following, FIF has been a force to be reckoned with for three decades (reuniting for another record in 2013). Reese Roper combines poetic talent with insightful knowledge into the Scriptures to confront many of the problems he sees in both the church and society.