Christian Music

[lanman87]

I noticed on another thread that someone made a video of “Shout to the Lord” by Darlene Zschech.

Is it common for Catholics to listen to hymns and worship music that was written by non-Catholics? Or maybe listen to Contemporary Christian Music on the radio/Spotify?

Examples would be

Chris Tomlin

Matt Redman

Hillsong

and one of my favorites Big Daddy Weave

 

[Horton]

There is nothing wrong with listening to contemporary Christian music. While we use more traditional music for Mass, many of us listen to or use contemporary music outside of Mass. I have three stations saved on my car radio, one Catholic radio and two Christian music stations.

I also have several stations I listen to on Pandora that are either traditional music or contemporary. For me it’s a preference to listen to music that glorifies the Lord rather than whatever non Christian music glorifies.

 

[lanman87]

There is nothing wrong with listening to contemporary Christian music. While we use more traditional music for Mass, many of us listen to or use contemporary music outside of Mass. I have three stations saved on my car radio, one Catholic radio and two Christian music stations.

I also have several stations I listen to on Pandora that are either traditional music or contemporary. For me it’s a preference to listen to music that glorifies the Lord rather than whatever non Christian music glorifies.

Does it bother you that the vast majority of music on Christian music stations were written by Protestants?

 

[pianistclare]

If you want great CATHOLIC Christian pieces, try Ed Bolduc

 

[randomuser]

Does it bother you that the vast majority of music on Christian music stations were written by Protestants?

Agreed.

Most “CCM” song lyrics sing the praises of OSAS and sola scriptura. Since when is it ok for Catholics to like pro-OSAS & Protestant-oriented music? Honest question. OP is absolutely correct.

 

[Brassring]

One of the giants of contemporary Christian music in the '90s was Rich Mullins. While Mr. Mullins never received confirmation or the Eucharist, toward the end of his life (he died in an accident in his 30s) he did complete RCIA and attended Mass regularly (apparently, he was worried that if he was confirmed and it became common knowledge, protestants would stop buying his recordings and attending his concerts. It wouldn’t have harmed him that much, but he donated over ninety percent of his income to education and welfare programs on the native reservation where he lived and taught). According to the priest at his parish, Mr. Mullins did decide to be confirmed, but died before it happened.

His last recording, The Jesus Record, is what started me on my decade long path to the Church.

 

[Horton]

Does it bother you that the vast majority of music on Christian music stations were written by Protestants?

Not at all. I’m increadby secure in my faith & belief in the Catholic Chruch, so disagreement with some lyrics is not a problem.

We are all Christians. Would it surprise you that many hymns sung during Mass are the same as what was tradionally used in the Protestant church I grew up in?

 

[TC3033]

Agreed.

Most “CCM” song lyrics sing the praises of OSAS and sola scriptura. Since when is it ok for Catholics to like pro-OSAS & Protestant-oriented music? Honest question. OP is absolutely correct.

I brought this question up to my wife once.

She listens to CCM in the car and at home quite a bit, but what I found interesting/confusing…after Wed religion classes we eat dinner in the basement of the Church and they turn the CCM radio station on.

She just shrugged it off and said she didn’t really think anything of it because they play it at church.

 

[randomuser]

I brought this question up to my wife once.

She listens to CCM in the car and at home quite a bit, but what I found interesting/confusing…after Wed religion classes we eat dinner in the basement of the Church and they turn the CCM radio station on.

She just shrugged it off and said she didn’t really think anything of it because they play it at church.

Yeah, I mean there aren’t too many Catholics who would insist a ‘faith-based’ movie like ‘God’s Not Dead’ is inherently better than a ‘secular’ movie like “Guardians of The Galaxy,” yet the reverse inexplicably seems to be true for “CCM,” when in fact a lot of “secular” is in fact inherently better than “CCM.” Why is “God’s Not Dead” an inferior movie, but “CCM” isn’t also inferior? I cannot think of any recent “CCM” I would ever mention in the same breath as an Adele or a Vampire Weekend or a Death Cab For Cutie or even The Call (the ‘college radio’ equivalent of pre-Joshua Tree U2.) Has any “CCM” even been nominated for a regular-category Best Album or Best Record Grammy…ever?

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Ian,

Any thoughts on ***this ***sort of Christian music?

youtube.com/watch?v=cDhYGdK0KQg

I so much prefer this ^^^ over today’s stuff…BUT we have charismatic Masses with today’s stuff incorporated. Love that too.

Doesn’t bother me that protestants have cornered the market on today’s Christian music. It’s a huge part of their service since many lack the Eucharist. So it’s to be expected.

Pax

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to music, and I tend to flinch whenever anyone brings up CCM. I find most of it bland, sophomoric, and self-assured, with little instrumental or lyrical artistry.

 

[Brassring]

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to music, and I tend to flinch whenever anyone brings up CCM. I find most of it bland, sophomoric, and self-assured, with little instrumental or lyrical artistry.

Protestant music reflects protestant doctrine.

There may be people who claim I’m being uncharitable with that statement, but I spent more than a decade wandering in the dark hubris of Protestantism, seeking God, before I found Him in the one place I was told NEVER to look: The One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I love our protestant brothers and sisters, and I’ll pray for them forever. But, I’ll neither coddle nor pander to their theological delusions.

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

Protestant music reflects protestant doctrine.

There may be people who claim I’m being uncharitable with that statement, but I spent more than a decade wandering in the dark hubris of Protestantism, seeking God, before I found Him in the one place I was told NEVER to look: The One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I love our protestant brothers and sisters, and I’ll pray for them forever. But, I’ll neither coddle nor pander to their theological delusions.

'Kay…

 

[Joe_5859]

I noticed on another thread that someone made a video of “Shout to the Lord” by Darlene Zschech.

Is it common for Catholics to listen to hymns and worship music that was written by non-Catholics? Or maybe listen to Contemporary Christian Music on the radio/Spotify?

Examples would be

Chris Tomlin

Matt Redman

Hillsong

and one of my favorites Big Daddy Weave

I’m sure the opinions you receive here will run the gamut.

I’ve never been much of a fan of CCM myself. Not because it’s written mostly by Protestants but simply because I don’t care for the music.

But, I’ve know lots of Catholics who do listen to it. Some are oblivious to the Protestant elements of some of the songs. Some will tolerate those aspects figuring they are a better alternative to secular music. Others will simply be more selective about which songs and artists they listen to.

There are a growing number of Catholic artists. Some people I know stick mostly to them. But CCM is still pretty dominated by Protestants.

I do listen to some Christian bands. They are metal bands, though, not CCM. For the most part, the lyrics are generally applicable enough to most any Christian. But there are some exceptions. Those do bother me at times, and some songs I skip over. As with most things in life, there’s some bad mixed in with the good.

There are a number of traditional hymns written by Protestants that Catholics sing at Mass, sometimes. In general, the Catholic approach is to test everything and hold fast to what is good. If a song is good, then what does it matter if a Protestant wrote it?

 

[randomuser]

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to music, and I tend to flinch whenever anyone brings up CCM. I find most of it bland, sophomoric, and self-assured, with little instrumental or lyrical artistry.

And very little of it is memorable. The only reason I know about Point of Grace, for example, is because “A Life That’s Good” was covered on ‘Nashville.’ The only reason I know about Kirk Franklin is because of Kanye West’s Pablo album. Most of it is utterly forgettable and wouldn’t last 3 minutes on “secular” radio.

 

[LVCIVS_DEI]

I dont i just do not like that “praise” music.

It just gives me the creeps…

 

[lanman87]

Ian,

Any thoughts on ***this ***sort of Christian music?

youtube.com/watch?v=cDhYGdK0KQg

I so much prefer this ^^^ over today’s stuff…BUT we have charismatic Masses with today’s stuff incorporated. Love that too.

Doesn’t bother me that protestants have cornered the market on today’s Christian music. It’s a huge part of their service since many lack the Eucharist. So it’s to be expected.

Pax

It makes me think of a dark church with candles burning. Sort of a soft glow.

 

[lanman87]

Yeah, I mean there aren’t too many Catholics who would insist a ‘faith-based’ movie like ‘God’s Not Dead’ is inherently better than a ‘secular’ movie like “Guardians of The Galaxy,” yet the reverse inexplicably seems to be true for “CCM,” when in fact a lot of “secular” is in fact inherently better than “CCM.” Why is “God’s Not Dead” an inferior movie, but “CCM” isn’t also inferior? I cannot think of any recent “CCM” I would ever mention in the same breath as an Adele or a Vampire Weekend or a Death Cab For Cutie or even The Call (the ‘college radio’ equivalent of pre-Joshua Tree U2.) Has any “CCM” even been nominated for a regular-category Best Album or Best Record Grammy…ever?

The closest you can get is Amy Grant’s Heart in Motion album was nominated for Album of the Year by the Grammy’s in 1992. Of course, it is nominally a Christian Album.

Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown released in 2003 sold 2.6 Million copies and had a few 40 hits including Dare You to Move and This is Your Life and Meant to Live

And yes, I consider The Beautiful Letdown one of the best albums ever.

 

[pianistclare]

Professional Church musician here.

The bottom line is:
The Church doesn’t have the resources (for the most part, except in exceptionally wealthy parishes) to pull off either

1. great Christian music because you really need a band
2. great polyphony or chant because they don’t have a Schola, the resources , a qualified person to teach it, and an organ for those Masses that require a 200 voice choir.

Complaining isn’t going to change a thing.
A priest can only offer to his flock what

1. he prefers
2. he can afford
3. what he can accomplish with a paid person (usually for near nothing) or a volunteer.

So …

This notion of shopping around for a parish with music you LIKE is pointless… and doesn’t give the proper placement to the Eucharist anyway.
You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit, as they say in PreSchool.

 

[Miles_Christi7]

Only chants like e.g. ‘Gregorian’ is real Christian music.