Category: Music

They are Wrong, We are Right: Worship Wars and Music

~ fundyreformed ~ 2 Comments

Dan Edelen of Cerulean Sanctum has a great post on music, “Calling a Truce in the Worship Wars”. He has noticed and blogged about the fact that in the worship wars, most are content to condemn everyone else’s music. They are right and the whole world is wrong. But should this be our attitude?

He begins his post as follows:

“Over the last year, one topic has arisen on more blogs than any other: proper worship. The tenor of these posts is typically aimed at how to do worship right, with the writer explaining why his/her token method of worship is THE ONLY KIND THAT WORSHIPS GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. Like so many aspects of the Faith, we’ve turned worship into a tangle of pointing fingers. Rarely do we claim any higher ground than to contend that our higher ground is loftier than someone else’s.”

He goes on to compare the arguments on both sides of the worship war concerning hymns versus modern praise songs. This section is well worth looking at, as he points out some inconsistencies in reasoning–particularly in those who would jump to ban modern worship songs.

He then concludes with these remarks:

“The focus is not on externals, yet so often this is all we can note when we hold our own ways of worshiping up as the only way, while deriding those who worship in ways we don’t understand….Our worship wars are based on cultural trappings more than anything, and that’s too bad because that’s a very narrow slice of reality that we bring to worship. The true worshiper of God is content in all worship environments that are driven by the Holy Spirit. Such a worshiper is equally at home with an a cappella choir, an amplified worship band, a pulse-pounding black gospel group, a classical quartet, or any other musical expression that is fueled by the Holy Spirit….Worshipers with hearts focused on God, worshiping by the Spirit, can sing (and dance) to any kind of music and God will be pleased with their offering….Why do we strain so hard to define what is appropriate? We want to honor God. We want to do the right thing. But the right thing is focusing more on God and less on our methods.”

I encourage you to check out the whole article. It is well worth a short read.

(HT: The Best of the God Blogs)

We need to be very careful not to have a Michal-attitude concerning the music and worship of others. (Mathew Sims of Under Sovereign Grace pointed out this attitude here.)

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

“Lifesong” by Casting Crowns

~ Bob Hayton ~ 4 Comments

On Feb. 8 Casting Crowns won a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for their second album Lifesong. Winning a Grammy means you are both good and popular. Casting Crowns is definitely popular. Their first album went Platinum (i.e. sold a million copies) within 16 months of its release–making it one of the fastest selling Christian Albums in recent history.

Casting Crowns also happens to be one of my favorite groups. And their popularity actually speaks volumes about Christian Contemporary Music as a whole. Why? Because their songs are not mere Christian fluff dressed up in a popular music style. Their songs convey a deep and thoughtful message that is meant to challenge, provoke, and elicit heart-felt worship. And their songs are really popular for just that reason. In other words, a significant number of CCM fans really care about the message of their songs.

Kim Jones (of ChristianMusic About.com) calls Casting Crowns’ success “a God thing”. She sums up a review of Lifesong as follows:

“Bottom line – my hat goes off to Casting Crowns for a job well done, once again. This is one band that doesn’t soft-pedal their message, even if it is one that people enjoying a “comfort-zone” may not want to hear. It’s apparent to me that their incredible popularity isn’t just due to their obvious talent. It’s what I like to call a “God thing.” Think about it … most people don’t want the errors of their ways pointed out to them, yet Casting Crowns does just that. But people flock to see them and hear their music. I believe that’s because God is opening hearts to see the ugly truths about ourselves so that the seeds that Casting Crowns plants have a place to grow.”
[Read the whole article]

With the announcement of their Grammy Award (winning over the likes of Jars of Clay, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and Michael W. Smith), I felt it would be a good opportunity to highlight some of my favorite songs from their Grammy-winning second album.

Lifesong The title song is a prayer that our life would praise you not just our lips. “Let my Lifesong sing to you”. I blogged about this song in an earlier post, where you can check out the lyrics.

Praise You in This Storm This is a great song which speaks to the problems of unanswered prayer. The solution is “I’ll praise you in this storm…for You are who You are no matter where I am…though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm.”

Stained Glass Masquerade This song speaks to the typical church-experience: everyone puts on their best clothes and best face to come to church, and no one reveals their deep struggles and problems. We are content to just let church be church and not have our real needs addressed–that would be too risky. But the song says it best:

“…’Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong. I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong. So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay. If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too. So with a painted grin, I play the part again, so everyone will see me the way that I see them. Are we happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain?…But would it set me free if I dared to let you see the truth behind the person that you imagine me to be? Would your arms be open or would you walk away? Would the love of Jesus be enough to make you stay?”

Love Them Like Jesus I cried at least the first 10 times I heard this song. It paints two painful situations, which are all too common in this world: a woman losing her husband with a family still to raise, and a couple losing the baby they had hoped for. How do you face such situations? How do you help people in such situations? The song says “Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions, just know that He loves them and stay by their side. Love them like Jesus”. What moves me about this song is how Jesus can offer hope in any troubling situation. And we can offer the hope Jesus has to those who are hurting. It is a lovely song with music that matches the message of the words.

Set Me Free This song, too, wrenches tears from me most of the time when I hear it. It is extremely powerful and moving. The music is harsher to reflect the message. It is the story of the maniac of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes)–the man who had a legion of demons in him. The song reflects the hopelessness of the man’s situation, and has him crying “Set me free of the chains holding me! Is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free!” The intensity builds through the song, “Who is this man that comes my way? The dark ones shriek, they scream His name. Is this the One they say will set the captives free? Jesus, rescue me! Set me free….” And the climax continues with “As the God man passes by, He looks straight through my eyes, and darkness cannot hide.” Jesus now speaks, “Do you want to be free? Lift your chains I hold the key. All power on Heav’n and Earth belong to me! You are free. You are free…” The song speaks of the greatness of our salvation by highlighting first our great need. All of us were as hopeless as the demoniac without Christ. And then it highlights the glorious power of Christ to set us free. I picture the image of a chained man lifting his chains and crying out “set me free”. But I see the hope that floods his soul as Christ passes by and says “lift your chains, I hold the key!” What a great Savior we have!

There are several other good songs on the CD, but these are my favorites. I encourage you to check out the CD. You can get the whole lyrics to these songs through a simple online search. A biography of the group is available here. And a review of their first album is available here.

I Will Glory in My Redeemer by Steve & Vikki Cook

~ fundyreformed ~ 5 Comments

I recommend many modern hymns & contemporary songs for corporate worship. While the old hymns are certainly grand, the new songs God is giving to the church, are worthy of respect too.

~~~~~~

This song is very stirring. It directs one’s heart to Christ. He is our Righteousness and He secures our right standing with God! He is also the one we long to forever behold.

I hope this song makes you lift up your heart in worship to our Savior Jesus Christ. Discovering this song, has done that for me.

I will glory in My Redeemer

Words and Music by Steve and Vikki Cook

I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

CCLI Song # 3337435,   © 2001 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

Song Resources:

Guitar chord sheet & musical score: Available free, here.
MP3 preview clip: Available here or here.
Listen to the MP3 for free: At rhapsody.com.
MP3 purchase links: Here and here.
Author Discography: Steve & Vikki
CD purchase links:
Songs for the Cross Centered Life (first sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
No Greater Love (second sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
Before the Throne – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
Bonus: CD Trailer for Songs for the Cross Centered Life

Before the Throne of God Above

~ fundyreformed ~ 18 Comments

Before the Throne of God Above, click to expand

This has to be my favorite song. It reflects a deep-hearted trust in Jesus as my Righteousness and only, yet sure, Hope of Heaven! Every time my church sings this song, I am filled both with joyful confidence in Christ as well as a humble recognition of my unworthiness and sin. This song points the soul to Christ with such clarity and force that few songs truly compare with it, in my opinion. What greater reason do we need to fully treasure and cling to Christ than the glorious truths contained in this song?

The song was originally written by Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft in 1863. But the song has recently been publicized by Vikki Cook, who wrote an alternate melody for it. Vikki’s husband is Sovereign Grace Ministries’ producer and director of music publishing, Steve Cook.

You can find sheet music for this song here. You can also listen to a musical clip of the first verse from Upward: The Bob Kauflin Hymns Project (produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries) by clicking here.

I hope the message of this song blesses you as much as it blesses me.

In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

~ fundyreformed ~ 29 Comments

I recommend many modern hymns & contemporary songs for corporate worship. While the old hymns are certainly grand, the new songs God is giving to the church, are worthy of respect too.

~~~~~~

I’ve begun highlighting different worship songs we sing at Bethlehem Baptist Church each week, here on my blog. This Sunday, the song right before the message was one of my favorites, “In Christ Alone.” Please read the powerful lyrics.

In Christ Alone

by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

IN CHRIST ALONE my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied —
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine —
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

CCLI Song # 3350395,  © 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

I would put this song right up there against any hymn, I mean any. It is a modern hymn extraordinaire. I hope meditating on this song will be a blessing to you.

Song Resources:
Story behind the Song: Here and here, and here
Sheet Music: Hymnal style, Piano style, Free simple score
Song Book: In Christ Alone Songbook (includes Across the Lands, O Church Arise, The Power of the Cross, and more)
Listen to the MP3 for free: At rhapsody.com, or try another rendition
MP3 purchase links: Here (via Amazon.com) and here (from Getty Music).
Authors’ Websites: GettyMusic.com & StuartTownend.co.uk
CD purchase links:
In Christ Alone (first sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Getty Music