Thank a protestant today...

[Peter_J]

LOL.

One must be careful what contemporary Christian one listens to, also. From a Lutheran perspective, we expect hymnody, and contemporary music, as well, to properly reflect doctrine. ISTM a certain percentage of contemporary Christian music is at least suspect in that regard.

Jon

Any examples in mind?

 

[Nicea325]

Contemporary music comes down to a matter of taste. Personally I don’t care for it. Whether it’s protestant, catholic, whatever. I prefer gregorian chant personally. It’s so much easier to get in a state of prayer. But like I said, that’s just me.

I can’t help but think of Hank Hill’s remark he made towards a protestant christian rock group. “You’re not making Christianity better, you’re making rock music worse”. Lol Again, all opinion. I’m not asking anyone to agree with me. Reading the thread made me think of that episode and I felt like sharing for a laugh

I agree too. I don’t care for it either. I rather listen to rock n’ roll than that other stuff.

 

[SaintFrancis333]

Some contemporary Christian music is really good, some is pretty bad, and much is in between. These days, I’d go so far as to say that the level of musicianship and songwriting (as an art form, setting aside subject matter) on some CCM surpasses that of much secular pop/rock/folk music. Granted, that’s not a very high standard to surpass.

I get two Christian radio stations that are predominately CCM, and I frequently hear Matt Maher or Audrey Assad (two Catholic CCM artists) on both stations. I much prefer singer/songwriter type music with thoughtful lyrics to hard rock, and Audrey is among the best of the current singer/songwriters IMO. I also really like Andrew Peterson, Fernando Ortega and of course Rich Mullins.

True enough. Music is always subjective in the end. Personally I can’t stand modern rock. I stay in the 50’s-80’s with the biggest emphasis being 80’s glam bands/hair bands. Plus a lot of Irish trad stuff and jpop (im all over the place)

 

[AbideWithMe]

True enough. Music is always subjective in the end. Personally I can’t stand modern rock. I stay in the 50’s-80’s with the biggest emphasis being 80’s glam bands/hair bands. Plus a lot of Irish trad stuff and jpop (in other words I’m all over the place)

So, your taste in music is rather catholic.

 

[Peter_J]

Any Hill fans here remember “Reborn to be wild”?

 

[AbideWithMe]

I agree too. I don’t care for it either. I rather listen to rock n’ roll than that other stuff.

Can you explain why, Nicea, regarding your last sentence? I’m just curious, because I don’t get it.

I love many genres of music. If I had to pick just one that I couldn’t do without, at this point in my life it would classical music. As much as I do like rock music, I can do without it. But, when I do listen to some rock music–which is most days–I choose CCM much more often than not.

The great majority of secular rock seems so empty to me. As a teenager I went to a heck of a lot of big rock concerts in Philadelphia; it was a huge part of my life. Music was, and is, really powerful to me, more so than any other of the arts. Since music is so profoundly moving to me, there’s no question to me but that I’m going to choose music with lyrics that reflect where my heart truly is–with Christ. Hence, I almost always choose Christian music if I’m going to listen to music with words.

What’s the attraction for you, Nicea, towards your stated preference for secular rock over Christian rock?

 

[JonNC]

Any examples in mind?

None that come to mind, since I don’t listen to it. But as an example, “I Come to the Garden Alone” isn’t a song one would hear in a Lutheran setting.

Jon

 

[peace2u2]

Contemporary Christian music has enhanced my love of the Catholic church in a way that I’m not sure otherwise could have happened. Sometimes the lyrics make the connection to Catholic doctrine and I often wonder why don’t they get it? For example, regarding the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist…

this song, Love Come to Life, reminds me of when I receive Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist and the effect this sacrament has on my heart - The Sacraments impart what they say they do - this spiritual food, the Body and Blood of Jesus has helped transform my heart -

I’ve been restless on the inside
Wondering about this heart of mine
I’ve been desperately trying to find
A way to prove that I’m still alive
Has the love I speak so loudly of quietly grown cold
Has my life been an empty voice?
What I say needs to be seen
I need to step out and make the choice
To let go of everything
Would you reignite this heart spark here in the dark?

Bring your love to life inside of me
Why don’t you break my heart til it moves my hands and feet
For the hopeless and the broken
For the ones that don’t know that you love them
Bring your love to life inside of me

A generation you’re calling out
Living everything that we sing about
A revelation right here and now
Of love beyond a shadow of a doubt
Love that’s greater than our own
Won’t remain unknown, when you

Love come to life, love come to life inside of me, bring your love to life inside of me…