I'm a worship leader and a Christian songwriter. I self release my own CD's (sporadically) and I love to write of my faith and experiences. I was a songwriter before I became a Christian, and it is interesting to come into a new genre and learn what the particular issues are.
I've seen blogs and articles about the shallowness of Christian music, the issue of "on the fence" writing (is this a love song to Jesus or the writer's girlfriend, I can't tell), and bad theology. Music that is formulaic (BTW, music is formulaic, otherwise you have John Cage), too rock n roll, too pop, too rap, too loud, etc. But the issue that I find most interesting is the division between songwriting as a personal testament of the believers journey and songwriting for the saints to use in worship.
I recently read an article by (I assume) a non believer railing against the "shallowness" and "lightness" of contemporary christian music. He hated the constant themes of grace and redemption, of the joy in the awesome glory of God. He wanted earthly experiences, he wanted to see pain and doubt and despair in the Christian experience, of which there is plenty. But as a non believer how can he understand the perspective we as believers now have because of Christ? We are no longer in the darkness. Do we want to sing about where we came from, or do we want to sing praise to the one who has delivered us?
There are many different kinds of music in church, gospel, southern gospel, praise and worship, and there are many different kinds of music in a believer's life. Southern gospel songs have many personal testimonies in them, "I Saw the Light" being an obvious example. But church music is Church Music and is for the body of Christ to sing together in praise of our redeemer and creator. And there is pain to be found in hymns and contemporary songs. Once you know the story behind the writing of "It Is Well With My Soul", the hymn will chill you and uplift you at the same time. But it is not a dark song. It is a song about God's redemption shining into the darkness of our lives so that we no longer have to stumble as though we were blind.
So the question remains, do I as a Christian writer write from the perspective of I, You or He? Do I have to choose one or the other? Do you want to know of the pain of my former life without Christ? Do you want to hear the stories of all the mistakes I made along the way? Do you want me to tell you what you are doing wrong, judge the sinner in you? Or am I writing only for the edification of the flock? Do I only write out my praises to God in song, making that joyful noise?
The best songwriting can do all three. I do not always accomplish this and not every song needs to. But it is the whole story of the Gospel, right? If I am honest, I will confess my sin, if I am loving, I will tell you the truth. And if I am in the spirit, I will give Glory to Him.
Music has the power to express the truth of the gospel in a thousand creative ways, and it can also meet people where they are in their life. It is an expression of God's creativity through His image bearers. It can touch us emotionally and intellectually. It can give great joy and bring about deep empathy. What an amazing thing God has created. So sing the Good News and let all Creation hear!
Michael Owen Bowling is a Christian Singer/Songwriter from Virginia and you can download two tracks free from his new CD "The Only One" here.
I've seen blogs and articles about the shallowness of Christian music, the issue of "on the fence" writing (is this a love song to Jesus or the writer's girlfriend, I can't tell), and bad theology. Music that is formulaic (BTW, music is formulaic, otherwise you have John Cage), too rock n roll, too pop, too rap, too loud, etc. But the issue that I find most interesting is the division between songwriting as a personal testament of the believers journey and songwriting for the saints to use in worship.
I recently read an article by (I assume) a non believer railing against the "shallowness" and "lightness" of contemporary christian music. He hated the constant themes of grace and redemption, of the joy in the awesome glory of God. He wanted earthly experiences, he wanted to see pain and doubt and despair in the Christian experience, of which there is plenty. But as a non believer how can he understand the perspective we as believers now have because of Christ? We are no longer in the darkness. Do we want to sing about where we came from, or do we want to sing praise to the one who has delivered us?
There are many different kinds of music in church, gospel, southern gospel, praise and worship, and there are many different kinds of music in a believer's life. Southern gospel songs have many personal testimonies in them, "I Saw the Light" being an obvious example. But church music is Church Music and is for the body of Christ to sing together in praise of our redeemer and creator. And there is pain to be found in hymns and contemporary songs. Once you know the story behind the writing of "It Is Well With My Soul", the hymn will chill you and uplift you at the same time. But it is not a dark song. It is a song about God's redemption shining into the darkness of our lives so that we no longer have to stumble as though we were blind.
So the question remains, do I as a Christian writer write from the perspective of I, You or He? Do I have to choose one or the other? Do you want to know of the pain of my former life without Christ? Do you want to hear the stories of all the mistakes I made along the way? Do you want me to tell you what you are doing wrong, judge the sinner in you? Or am I writing only for the edification of the flock? Do I only write out my praises to God in song, making that joyful noise?
The best songwriting can do all three. I do not always accomplish this and not every song needs to. But it is the whole story of the Gospel, right? If I am honest, I will confess my sin, if I am loving, I will tell you the truth. And if I am in the spirit, I will give Glory to Him.
Music has the power to express the truth of the gospel in a thousand creative ways, and it can also meet people where they are in their life. It is an expression of God's creativity through His image bearers. It can touch us emotionally and intellectually. It can give great joy and bring about deep empathy. What an amazing thing God has created. So sing the Good News and let all Creation hear!
Michael Owen Bowling is a Christian Singer/Songwriter from Virginia and you can download two tracks free from his new CD "The Only One" here.
