Monday Morning Manna: CONsidering Church Music – Again

Monday Morning Manna: CONsidering Church Music – Again

Let me begin by saying, I love church music – traditional, contemporary, country, liturgical, contemplative, inspirational, to God, about God, etc. If it honors God, and inspires the singers to worship, I’m for it. However, I continue to be amazed with those who absolutely think they cannot worship unless it is with contemporary music. The prefix “con” is used with certain words to intensify their meaning. Thus CONtemporary CONfirms that the music is temporary, especially when it is CONstructed for a CONgregation. Who of us that grew up in church, remember some contemporary song learned at a youth camp, or a conference in another town, or in the church of a friend. After a few years the song ceased to be sung – while good, it was temporary. Who, other than a few Baptists my age will remember singing, “Oh, what He’s done for me. I never shall forget what He’s done for me. He lifted my burden and gave me a song, that’s what he’s done for me,” or “I place my life in the hands of God. Those hands so scarred now outstretched for me. Where ever it may be, over land, over sea, May thy will sublime, O Thou God divine, be mine.” So CONtinue to enjoy the contemporary music of today. It may disappear, and you will only be able to enjoy it again, at Senior Adult gatherings. I realize that this idea does not CONsole the CONtemporary crowd, and the CONsequences may be severe as they respond to these words, but I’m trying to be CONgenial in my approach. I’m neither pro, nor CON, desiring that whatever we sing, allows the Holy Spirit to CONverge on us in worship. I’m CONvinced the Holy Spirit loves any type of church music that honors God, and inspires the singers to worship.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.