Your thoughts!: Has Contemporary Gospel Music Gone too Far?

Mar05

by Duane on March 5th, 2006 at 1:05 am

This is one of those issues I have wanted to tackle for sometime, but for one reason or another decided to put it off–until now.

While going through the channels this past Saturday, I came across Soul Train (a show that I have not watched since the days of Don Cornelius). What made me stop was that for a minute I thought I heard the music of Kirk Franklin…

…Wait a minute! It was! It was the song “Looking for you”.

The song itself is okay in my opinion. But when you merge it with what I saw, I began to wonder about some things.

I managed to capture the tail end of the segment. The quality of the video and audio isn’t the greatest , but you will at least get the general idea. [Link to video--Need Windows Media Player]

Now I know this was Soul Train, so I do not hold them to any type of “standard”. But when I think about Gospel music today versus yesteryear, I just don’t get the same conviction. Like for example, anytime I hear the song “Just as I am”, I feel like going off somewhere and asking the Lord to forgive me of any sin in my life. When I hear Andre Crouch’s song “Tell Them”, I feel compelled to share my faith with others. But when I hear most contemporary Christian music today, I dunno, it just seems like an imitation of what has been in the clubs for years.

A while ago, I remember seeing a Christian rap video (the guy’s name escapes me right now), but the song was basically about “partying in Jesus”. What stuck out to me was that all the people at his party were light-skinned girls wearing clothes that you would find at a club (need I say more?).

So what are YOUR thoughts on this?

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http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

Here is the root of it.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ”

Most of that junk is not of God. It violate bible Principal.

I It is of the world

II The principal of separation for the world.

” Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

If the world can dance to it and move to it than it is not of God
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

2 Corinthians 6: 14-17
http://darkstarspoutsoff.typepad.com DarkStar

You gotta go where people are at.

People bring with them what they were raised on. Kirk Franklin was raised on funk, disco, and rap. It shows now.

So, if you get saved, all of a sudden your musical roots are forgotten and you start writing music that based on…

uhhh….

old hymns?

Funk is based on blues which is somewhat based on old church music.
http://www.blackinformant.com Duane

Nothing wrong with “going where the people are”, but at some point folks have to know what HOLINESS is all about.

The church has been “going where the people are” for a while now. So tell me, where is the tangeble evidence of this “infiltration”?

Some examples:

#Why are there less men in the church? Better yet, why are there less men who want to be involved in any type of ministry (beyond the church walls)?

#Teen pregnancy in the church alone?

#The rate of divorce amongst Christians is on par with those outside the church?

So, if you get saved, all of a sudden your musical roots are forgotten and you start writing music that based onÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

uhhhÃ¢â‚¬Â¦.

old hymns?

Nope. Not suggesting that move. Nothing wrong with the roots, just leave the lifestyle behind. I’ve know quite a few people in the christian music industry and I can tell you, there is very little difference.

Hymns may be old to you, but they certainly represent a time when the church had a greater impact on society. A serious study into church history will reveal this.

I’m not just talking about music in my response here. I’m addressing ALL forms of what the church at large refers to as “going where the fish are”. Some of it is good WITH RESULTS, others produce nothing but a place on the top ten.
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen

preaching is what them saved.

Duane that is right on
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

“So, if you get saved, all of a sudden your musical roots are forgotten and you start writing music that based onÃ¢â‚¬Â¦”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

If any one is looking for Good bible beliveing look here www,coeba.org
Saudia

It is funny to me how we forget. There was a time with the singers of old were said to be too radical. The times are changing. You have some the biggest churchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a stones throw away from the hood and the gangsters are not allowed in. I was taught that God will meet you were you are and that grace ad faith will carry you through. If Kirk Franklin can get them in the pews on Sunday then the preacher needs to do his job and show them the way to salvation.
http://www.blackinformant.com Duane

I was taught that God will meet you were you are and that grace ad faith will carry you through.

He sure will, BUT God can’t do nuttin’ if a person still maintains the same lifestyle (which is what I am addressing here).

If Kirk Franklin can get them in the pews on Sunday…

Is he? Most church growth these days is the result of church transfer–not new converts.
Saudia

Which means that pastors, reverands, bishops and the like need to step down out of the pulpit and meet the people where they are.
http://www.blackinformant.com Duane

No argument from me. As long as “coming where the people are” means that a person does not take on the ungodly lifestyle(as defined in the Bible) of the person or people he/she is trying to reach, I’m in total agreement.
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

God never told sinners to go to church he told the churh to go into the world

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

I was taught that God will meet you were you are and that grace ad faith will carry you through.

No were in the bible you find God will meet you were you are. show me!

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God.Romans 3:11
http://blackontheright.blogspot.com/ Eugene Fisher

This so funny other than the bad words.
LM

PEACE:

THIS GUY went too far:

http://www.afro-preachah.com/

“sexychurch music”???

LM
http://www.afro-preachah.com Afro

thanks!!!
http://www.bethelcwom.org Barry Reaves

Okay Okay Okay, Instead of getting in a debate about who is right and who is wrong lets look at the basic truth of the matter All have sin and fall short of the glory of God now I see more main stream artist on secular shows all the time but Its them who will stand before God and answer not us so I think if anything if that music is played some where in where not christians are then amen mabey the truth will convict them but its not for us to judge but to do everything in power to share the good news with all !!!
kiimy

We are called to go into the world not bring the worldliness into the church. Our youthgroup brought grindcore into our church. Exposing our kids to things they have never witnessed. In the name of outreach. Ezk. 22:6 ” they have put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither have they showed difference between unclean and the clean and i am profaned among them”. By allowing the CCM in we have opended a flood gate with so called “christian groups” with names like Demonic Dismemberment. We have gone too far when we have groups that have mosh pits and we making God into our own image and no longer fearing Him. This music provides a type of validation and excuse for our lifestyles.
Profesor

Remember, Godis the same…yeserday, today and forever more! His word doesn’t change.
Sarah

I’m not sure that all of the new contemporary christian music is bad, but I know that most of it is garbage that belongs in the world and not the church. Let’s just visualize this for a minute. Suppose a Goth girl gets saved and she wants to coninue dressing in the same style and begins listening to come christian metal band. How noticible is her change to others? What if over time the music just makes her crave “the real stuff”? That has been my experience with christian rock, it doesn’t make me feel closer to God or want to worship God. It just seems to make me crave plain old rock!

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