Why do churches give into CCM

foo-oswald · Jun 6, 2005

iamtheproblem said:
I'm not saying emotions are bad or that you can't sing with emotion when worshipping, I'm only saying that singing songs that require a specific emotion might not be suitable for a worship experience. This is an issue that cannot be contained by one simple answer, at least as far as I can see.

Yes, the psalms are passionate. I guess I also have a beef that the only ones we choose to sing are the "happy" ones and songs along that line. There must be a time for the others. I have yet to come to an understanding about the role of such songs in worship. Like I said, these questions cannot be contained by a simple answer.

I have yet to truly come to an understanding of song in worship at all, but something tells me that alot of what I'm experiencing is not what song was meant for.

After catching up on all the posts I missed this weekend, I've had this thought spring up within me:

The reason churches don't like to sing songs that are anything less than "joyful-smiley-faced-clap-clappy-happy" pie-in-the-sky stuff is because the agenda of most churches is to grow attendence, thereby growing the budget. Making everyone feel all warm and fuzzy is the only way to keep them all coming back Sunday after Sunday.

I'm not saying this is incontrovertable fact; I'm just stating that this is a possibility based on my experiences growing up in churches I used to go to...

boilerblues · Jun 6, 2005

We don't just sing the happy-happy-joy-joy songs at church. My favorite is David Crowder's "The Heights/Cry Mercy" and we sing "My Hope" all the time.

Rich48 · Jun 8, 2005

invisiblefootprints said:
Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure I didn't need to say that). I don't listen to much CCM because I live in a rural area & the only Christian Music radio station I can get plays Southern Gospel. I have a 13 year old daughter that is very sensitive to songs that deal with death...whether it be hers, mine or Christ's...it is very upsetting to her. I think a lot of "old traditional hymns" deal with death & afterlife, where possibly CCM deals more with living & life. My husband & his singing partner sing Southern Gospel & she refuses to go listen to them sing if they are going to sing anything dealing with death. They have to sing the "happier isn't is wonderful to be alive & let's enjoy life" songs rather than the "it's going to be wonderful when the world ends & we all die" songs(that's how the young children see it).

If your daughter feels more comfortable with ccm, and wants to listen to it more, and since there is no radio near you, have you tried online radio? Here are a few links to some that you might want to try:

Klove. Good music, but they tend to repeat songs often.
http://klove.com/

The River. This is a staion out of Columbus, Ohio. Much less repeats, and a wider selection of music.
http://www.1049theriver.com/

WAY-FM. Like Klove, but again, less repeats and more variety. There are several links to online streaming, but here is one of them (listen on line link is near the top on the left hand side):
http://waym.wayfm.com/

Rich

Rich48 · Jun 8, 2005

iamtheproblem said:
(snipped)
What is worship? Where is the Biblical basis of worship? What is the history of worship? **Is there a difference between praise and worship?** Is there a reason the entire weekly gathering together of a church is called a worship service and not a praise and worship service? (assuming it's called so wherever you are).

These are CRUCIAL issues, and yet how many have taken the time to investigate them!?

In everyone's defense, I hadn't until college made me in my Introduction to Christian Life class.

I don't really have time to elaborate on these questions, but a book i recommend reading is Worship Old and New by Robert E. Webber. This is a great introduction to the core of worship.

Here also is a great thought to ponder: Should any part of worship be dependent upon emotion? Since song is a very popular type of worship, should we be singing songs that depend upon emotion? i.e. (from I Could Sing of Your Love Forever) "I'm happy to be in the truth, and I will daily lift my hands, for I will always sing of when your love came down" How many of us could truthfully sing that song? I can't even sing the happy part every Sunday! Are then we to be lying to God as a community? (the lyrics are exaggerated here, but lots of lyrics are lyrics of "emotion" and not as much "truth.")

answers, please.

Worship is, according to the dictionary:

"reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence"

Now, the problem comes in with that very first word: reverence. There are many that feel that no music other than a traditional hymn, done in a traditional way, can be reverent. As an example, here is Tennessee Ernie Ford singing the old hymn, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus":

http://mit.midco.net/deepow3/ziplo-friendinJesus.html

Here is another majestic old hymn-one of the oldest still used today, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

http://singyourpraises.tripod.com/mighty.html

Yet, as majestic and beautil this rendition is, there are some that will object to it, simply because is uses drums and cymbals.

The problem with the "nothing other than a traditional will do" is this: "What is God's cut-off date of acceptance?" Many do not realize that one of the most popular hymns, "How Great Thou Art" is new enough to still be under copyright! I had an online discussion with someone who said that the music of Bill and Gloria Gaither was not proper for church use-and the only reason he had was that is was new. I am sorry, but that position is unreasonable. I can not see how anyone can find something wrong with a song such as this:

http://home.att.net/~sheryl4/SPIRITUAL/BELIEVE/believe.html

Rich

Rich48 · Jun 8, 2005

Another problem in discussing Christian music is that the lines between the different music genres are often clouded. Is the song a hymn or a praise and worship chorus, or is it ccm? Where would you put this one?

http://www.beesonbuzz.com/CometoJesus.htm

Rich

Hockley · Jun 8, 2005

Hey Rich - Good stuff.

Rich48 · Jun 8, 2005

Hockley said:
Hey Rich - Good stuff.

Thank you!

Rich

Airdude · Jun 9, 2005

We need to be careful about deciding what music honors God. I have unfortunately seen many people leave the church and their faith altogether over this issue. Who are we to determine what kinds of music God may appreciate?

Hockley · Jun 9, 2005

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. God knows the heart regardless of the musical flavour.

Hockley · Jun 9, 2005

Why do churches give in to CCM. "Give in?" Maybe: Why churches should embrace CCM.

Hockley · Jun 9, 2005

Hey Rich, Check out the conversation You are entitled to think so. Good Luck.
(don't know if that link will work) so the discussion is at The best way to destroy faith. Thanks.

Why do churches give into CCM

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