Heretical CCM songs?

[slh3016]

My family has always enjoyed Contemporary Christian Music and it’s really the only music ever played in front of our kids. We live in the “hubbub” of CCM artists and know some personally through various family members.

But, as my family journeys to the Catholic Church, I, of course, have been learning more and more about the theology of the Church, and have come to see that some songs that we previously LOVED contain lyrics that are blatant heresy. Until now, I and my kids have happily sung them never knowing the difference. However, I am beginning to realize that what we feed our mind often becomes part of who we are and/or gets deeply embedded into our belief system.

With that in mind, I am wanting to know if there is a website or a place I can go that reviews CCM songs in light of Catholic teaching so that I can know when to change the channel in the car. Also, I am aware of a few Catholic CCM artists (Matt Maher mainly) but would like to know of other artists that we need to pay special attention to Thanks!!

And just for FYI, one current popular song that is giving me trouble is MercyMe’s “Greater” lyrics…the whole song is awesome until it gets to this point, where is clearly the OSAS theology coming out

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
Cause the cross already won the war

Thanks, in advance!

 

[agnes_therese]

And just for FYI, one current popular song that is giving me trouble is MercyMe’s “Greater” lyrics…the whole song is awesome until it gets to this point, where is clearly the OSAS theology coming out

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
Cause the cross already won the war

Thanks, in advance!

I would disagree with your interpretation. There ARE “days” when we “lose the battle” – when we sin, when we lose hope. But the song doesn’t say that we give up and say, “oh, well, I’m saved anyway.” I interpret it as saying “it doesn’t matter” as in, we’re not forever lost because we stumble, we pick ourselves up and try again.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I agree with Agnes Therese.

 

[Bonnie]

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
Cause the cross already won the war

Sounds Catholic to me! Christ has won the war, but we still have battles to fight.

 

[pnewton]

The problem with such a rating would be that it is hard for something to be heretical in an absolute sense. The larger problem would be the songs that might imply heresy, and implication is as much a problem with the listener as a song. If we took as an example some of the Marian writings of St. Louis deMontfort, it might imply heresy, like denying the omniscience of God, because of the type of literature it is and his love for the Virgin Mary. So if we compare a Protestant who offers the same love of the Grace of God, then it might seem he is in heresy, forgetting that music is the perfect vehicle for hyperbole.

 

[slh3016]

I would disagree with your interpretation. There ARE “days” when we “lose the battle” – when we sin, when we lose hope. But the song doesn’t say that we give up and say, “oh, well, I’m saved anyway.” I interpret it as saying “it doesn’t matter” as in, we’re not forever lost because we stumble, we pick ourselves up and try again.

My interpretation was that is was saying it was okay to sin and fail. Of course we all sin and fail constantly, but I know we all agree that it’s never okay to sin. That’s what I took the lyrics to mean, but your interpretation of it definitely makes me rethink mine…which is a great thing, because I actually REALLY like the rest of the song

 

[slh3016]

The problem with such a rating would be that it is hard for something to be heretical in an absolute sense. The larger problem would be the songs that might imply heresy, and implication is as much a problem with the listener as a song. If we took as an example some of the Marian writings of St. Louis deMontfort, it might imply heresy, like denying the omniscience of God, because of the type of literature it is and his love for the Virgin Mary. So if we compare a Protestant who offers the same love of the Grace of God, then it might seem he is in heresy, forgetting that music is the perfect vehicle for hyperbole.

Thanks, makes perfect sense!