RE: [Worship] Secular Music

[Alan Wong <awong@ma.ultranet.com>]

Hi Jonathon,
It's me again.

Jonathan Koh [SMTP:jonathankoh@pacific.net.sg] wrote on (Monday, June 29, 1998 8:20 AM):
> Anyway, i'm new to this list and since this list is focused on Christian
> worship music, i would like the thoughts of you Christians on what you think
> about listening to secular music. Thanks. Some questions :

> 1) Should Christians listen to secular music?

I think it depends on each person's situation.  Music has a powerful
effect on people, that is very personal.  As a musician and a Christian,
I'm glad that my faith allows me to maintain perspective on music, and
not idolize it (or any particular artist).  I'm able to see any
artist (secular or Christian) with a more appropriate lens (both
critical and appreciative).

From a musicologist standpoint, I know I've grown by digging through
the roots of pop music: jazz, early blues, bluegrass, classic-rock to
modern-rock, country, Texas swing, classical, New Orleans dixieland,
etc.   If I had confined myself to CCM (or any other "category"),
I think I would be less useful as a church musician, and it would
be MUCH harder for me to pick up different tunes in various styles.
Let's face it, one of the challenges in playing contemporary worship
music is that there is a VAST range of styles available, and musicians
are constantly learning new songs (and new styles).  We can go
anywhere from country ("New Every Morning"), to gospel ("We Will
Ride") to horn-driven R&B ("People Just Like Us") to soul ("Nothing
is As Wonderful") to ole-fashioned R&R (lots of Bob Fitts's songs).

> 2) Your thoughts on Christian artistes who go to the secular scenes.

If I ever was ever good enough to get signed by a record company
(that'll be the day - yeah, right :), I think I would prefer to work
for a secular label, because I don't want to write music that is
just for the "religious choir".  However, many of the so-called CCM
labels are owned by secular companies (e.g Word is owned by A&M).
Frankly, when I've surveyed the CCM scene, I've rarely found an artist
that is communicating with passion and zeal.  In the secular pop
scene, it's easier to find this.  Although I disagree with her lyrics,
I can appreciate someone like Sheryl Crow as an artist (the vibe,
the emotive abilities, the arrangements, etc.)

> 3) Should we be talking in terms of Christianizing music, or that all
> music - whether secular or "Christian" - is for the glory of God? It seems
> that many think that listening to Christian music is spiritual, while
> listening to secular music is not!

On one hand, I say God created music, so that in the end all music is
from God.  On the other hand, Satan has corrupted music for his purposes.
For example, I'd condemn songs likes "Sympathy for the Devil", "Stairway
to Heaven" (funny, Robert Plant hates singing this song), "Black Magic
Woman", and "Hotel California".

Hey, you know there is a certain kind of rock music that is ... well
just adolescent and cheesy (but fun for a short while).  AC-DC, Cream and
Metallica come to mind.  Seeing hard-rock that way allows me not
to take it too seriously.

*=========*=========*=========*=========*=========
Alan Wong              VCF MetroNorth: Melrose, MA
http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~awong/                      
"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ
and in Jesus Christ.  No Christian community is more
or less than this ... we belong to one another only
through and in Jesus Christ."
   -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, _Life Together_
*=========*=========*=========*=========*=========


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