<If you haven't read Part 1, please go and do so now! >
2. Catering to fleshly feelings: The Draw of “New & Improved”
The biggest issue that has been rolling around in my brain lately is Contemporary Praise Music and the Christian Music Industry. As a huge music nerd and lover myself, I have always been dissatisfied with “Christian” music, as well as a little bored with old hymns. It wasn’t until I was on YouTube one day when a creator by the name of Josh Keefe had made a video that spoke directly to my wrestling heart about Contemporary Christian Music.
As a Christian growing up with Contemporary Christian Music himself, Josh thought that the best music in the world should be created by Christians inspired by the Creator Himself, but that simply wasn’t and isn’t happening within the Music Industry. He said,
When I look at Christian music, I don’t see a ministry, I see an industry. I don’t see creativity, I see conformity. No one is taking risks within the Christian Music Industry. The songs are meant for kids aged six to twelve, but not dealing with real issues that adults and teens face and struggle with. Companies see these things as controversial. Lyrics that repeat over and over and over are not creative ways to praise. It’s simply lazy song-writing.
I can’t help but agree with Josh. (He also linked a list of artists and songs by lesser-known but present day Christian Artists in the description box if you are interested in checking them out.)
But then, there is also the question of old hymns.
What about the old hymns? You may be asking yourself. They have deeply rooted words that the contemporary music is lacking. Conversely the variety of instruments are lacking in old hymns as opposed to contemporary. Personally, I believe there should be a new wave of Christian music. It should utilize the strengths of vocalists, songwriters who stay true to scripture, and instrumentalists’ abilities - all to the glory of God. Not to the glory of an Industry - which has fallen down to the knees of a sales scheme.
Not all, but some churches have become a mega church sales scheme. Buy-our-merch-buy-a-sticker-here’s-a-water-bottle-want-a-t-shirt? This new and improved church does create a sense of pride and belonging... but at what cost? As an outsider looking in to these sort of churches, it seems to be appealing - but something feels off. To me this is another commercial, another sales ploy, another consumerist tactic that comes off as shallow and no different from any brand trying to sell their stuff on a TV commercial. Sure it may help pay for things within the church and that money may be used to help people in need. But at what cost?
By doing this, we are showing outsiders that we as Christians are no different from the secular media. We are called to be set apart from the world. Because of this we will be undoubtedly rejected by the world and the culture. Hebrews 10:10 (GW), Matthew 10:22 (NIV) and Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV) speak this clearly.
We have been set apart as holy because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do by sacrificing his body once and for all.
Hebrews 10:10 (GW)
You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:22 (NIV)
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV)
We are not called to blend in with the popular culture or what is most economically or socially beneficial. We are not called to keep our riches but rather give what we have to the poor. Take Matthew 19:16-30 (ESV) for example, which is the story of The Rich Young Man.
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Church isn’t a place for consumerism. Young people get enough of it from commercials on TV and ads on social media. When young people come to church, they are searching. They are empty. They want to be filled with something, and they may not know what. They want answers, and if we tell them that the answers lie in buying more merch to make themselves feel better instead of showing them to the foot of the cross where Jesus is naked, bloody and writhing in pain, then that is doing a HUGE disservice. These are people lives. These are people's souls. It’s wrong to encourage young people to sell themselves to being cool, and not showing them the way to accept the free gift of God’s grace.
Comments