Looking for good Christian music

[Cow Poke]

And this one, cause I know these people - they are amazing!!! They'll sing this in THREE languages!

[Zymologist]

Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had Father Abraham....

Yeah, just keep it up, buster.

[One Bad Pig]

Yeah, just keep it up, buster.

Hey now, that one's actually catchy. I'll take that over 90% of the P&W market (low bar, I know).

[Cow Poke]

Hey now, that one's actually catchy. I'll take that over 90% of the P&W market (low bar, I know).

One of my least favorite P&W is that one where the deer is panting for water.

[Zymologist]

One of my least favorite P&W is that one where the deer is panting for water.

I find all too many P&W that just make me cringe, or eyeroll hard. Blech

[Cow Poke]

I find all too many P&W that just make me cringe, or eyeroll hard. Blech

A pastor friend of mine refers to them as "Jesus is my girlfriend" songs.

[Zymologist]

A friend of mine sent me a bunch of links similar to that Psalm 53 chant.

[Faber]

I find all too many P&W that just make me cringe, or eyeroll hard. Blech

I've seen two extremes over the years.

One contemporary musician back in the 1990s, whose music I really like, announced at a concert that he made sure that all his music mention the name "Jesus" in the lyrics. And I thought to myself, well, that eliminates Amazing Grace.

A former church I was a member of, which no longer exists, was gradually losing its membership. Here was a church that at one time wouldn't allow an outside group to use the facilities because it had a woman pastor. But after losing a lot of members and attendance became small in a giant auditorium, the elders wanted to change its name, eliminate the word "Baptist" and make it attractive for any outside groups to come in. At the same time, it eliminated Sunday School, quit using hymnals, and limited its music to a praise & worship band. The new pastor was preaching a series on relationships out of the Letter to Ephesians. Eventually I realized that there was no mention of Jesus, no gospel message, in either the sermons, the scripture or the praise & worship music. That's when my family and I left and found a much better church.

One evening after that, I was listening to a Christian radio station. It played one entire half hour of music, I think from a single CD. Great words of praise for the entire half hour, nothing I questioned, but not one word that would suggest it was Christian, or even any phrase in a New Testament or Old Testament context. Absolutely nothing to which a unitarian or an agnostic would object.

Bottom line, don't be overly critical. There are a lot of great Christian hymns that wouldn't pass our standard test, but are still great. But when somebody offers a steady diet of praise & worship music that says absolutely nothing, I begin to wonder the sincerity of the musician's faith.

I've seen people use it just to get into a state of excitement. One person I saw seemed to be trying to get herself into a hypnotic trance with it.

At least the church we're attending has a healthy mix. Sure, there are some songs that don't mention Jesus or have a reference to any New Testament scripture, and some songs I really don't care for. But we still sing old fashioned songs from the hymnal, and the pastor preaches a clear gospel message out of the Scriptures.

[Cow Poke]

...Here was a church that at one time wouldn't allow an outside group to use the facilities because it had a woman pastor. But after losing a lot of members and attendance became small in a giant auditorium, the elders wanted to change its name, eliminate the word "Baptist"....

Wait... A Baptist Church with a woman pastor?

[One Bad Pig]

Wait... A Baptist Church with a woman pastor?

As far as I can parse it, I think the [Baptist] church would not allow the outside group [with a woman pastor] to use the facilities.

[Cow Poke]

As far as I can parse it, I think the [Baptist] church would not allow the outside group [with a woman pastor] to use the facilities.

Oh, THAT makes sense! Thanks. (Not that I agree with it)

[Zymologist]

If I won't get banned for posting Christmas music in October, my college did a decent rendition of "Mary Did You Know" here.

[One Bad Pig]

If I won't get banned for posting Christmas music in October, my college did a decent rendition of "Mary Did You Know" here.

As long as RTT doesn't catch you, you're good.

[Cow Poke]

If I won't get banned for posting Christmas music in October, my college did a decent rendition of "Mary Did You Know" here.

Every once in a while, throughout the year, I'll have us sing a "Christmas Carol" just to point out that December (and the 25th in particular) are not the only times we celebrate His birth.

[Zymologist]

Every once in a while, throughout the year, I'll have us sing a "Christmas Carol" just to point out that December (and the 25th in particular) are not the only times we celebrate His birth.

I don't mind Christmas music any time of year (preferably good Christmas music), but I know that some people...not so much.