I can understand the local and volunteer aspect, but what of those who make a rock star career of it and see themselves as celebrity playing to the choir, an already captive audience guilted into supporting them?
I think we need to make a distinction between sacred music for use in church and music produced by Christians for Christians (or a general audience even).
There are musicians and bands who are Christians and produce music I enjoy because I find it aesthetically pleasing and interesting, but would never want it as part of the Divine Service as it simply doesn't belong there.
The Christian produced music I do enjoy I enjoy for many of the same reasons I enjoy "secular" music--because it is aesthetically pleasing and interesting. Not because it is "Christian".
I also hold sacred music to a much higher standard to, let's call it "listening music", based on the principle of Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi--the law of prayer is the law of belief. Sacred music serves a deep theological purpose in the Service as part of the overall Christian leitourgia, what we are doing together as God's people assembled to receive God's Word and Sacrament.
A major flaw occurs when we start to think that "Christian music" is somehow a kind of holy substitute for "normal music" and that we are supposed to be in some kind of weird cloistered subculture with our Christian-branded music, clothes, and various paraphernalia.
So to that end do I have a problem with rock music produced by Christians? Of course not. But then I like various kinds of rock music, among many other musical genres.
But I don't think it has any more place as use as sacred music in church than I do "secular" popular styles of music.
Having said that I don't have a problem with Christian-produced rock music--in principle--I do think there are plenty of valid criticisms to be had about CCM and its industry as a whole, and with the kind of ethos is promotes; e.g. the cloistered "Christian" subculture I mentioned above. I also think other valid criticisms are that frequently the music simply isn't that good, and the substance can also be deeply lacking if not just plain bad--especially if used theologically. But that's something that needs to be critiqued and analyzed on a case-by-case basis. I think the sharpest points of this critique go to so-called "praise and worship" music, which tends to be theologically shallow, emotionally manipulative, and driven by consumerist tendencies, but billed as sacred music anyway.
-CryptoLutheran
What about black gospel music? Usually a lot of talented voices there also.But I don't think it has any more place as use as sacred music in church than I do "secular" popular styles of music.
It sounds possible you might be overlapping some to me based on your short post (guessing). There are 3 groups in this thread that may be pleasant for you possibly, one or even 2--All Sons And Daughters has a bluegrass sound sometimes, and Shane and Shane has some very fine lyrics.In short, and to simply answer the OP directly, I can tolerate very little of it. I find the overwhelmingly vast majority of it to be sappy and disengenuous, as well as derivative and musically shallow.
I love music and listen to music often. Most of the music I listen to would be considered "folk music" of one kind or another. I particularly love Red Dirt and Blue Grass. A great deal of the music produced in those genre have a folk Christian element to them, so I am by no means opposed to listening to "Christian music" generally speaking. I just hate bad music.
Do you think Contempory worship music with worship bands has any place in the church?
Even Christian radio such as UCB 2 & 1 and Premier play this noisy Christian contempory music so I don't listen to Christian radio..i stick with Angel Vintage or Classic FM,both on dab or online.Surely not EVERYONE likes this so called modern contempory Christian worship music...maybe they use it to attract the young people.
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