The question, “style or substance,” also seems to indicate that the words are the only part of the song that carries a message. Music is a more powerful language than that of speech. Music is the language of the emotions, and we all know that there are good and bad emotions. One rock musician noted that “the words make very little difference.” The music is what gives the message. Are the words important? Yes, absolutely. However, the music itself portrays a totally opposite message to that of the words in most CCM music. But really, the words are of very little significance. When compared to the music, the words effect us very little.

The lack of depth or outright heresy in so much of today’s popular “Christian” songs is deeply disappointing.

I think Dr. MacArthur’s comments are helpful. The lyrical content is very important, and believers need to use discernment about that. I don’t believe Dr. MacArthur was endorsing all styles, he just mentioned that style was not the biggest problem. Obviously, some styles need to be considered carefully. (See Alan’s post above.)

Can anyone tell me about Steve Camp? How is he? Where is he? Last I heard he and his wife had divorced, and at one time he was a pastor at Dr. MacArthur’s church.
BoDean

Kidding, I’m a CCM fan, but believe that any church that throws out the spirit of Colossians 3:14 (teaching and admonishing one another) by eliminating theologically rich singing is making a tragic mistake.

In Christ
Dean

Here in the United Kingdom we are undergoing a time of severe Spirtitual famine and the true Church is desolate in many places. But as I have experienced “both sides” of the devide and have been able to enjoy fellowship in a country Chapel where about 6-8 faithful (Mostly elderly) believers meet for the LORD’s Day and Hymns are from the Grace Hymns booklet (Evangelical Press)accompanied with a small organ; another fellowship of about 40-50 (Main service; evening about 15) where CCM and a few Hymns are sung in a “contemporary accompanyment” AND a fellowship of about 50 where Hymns are sung from the Reformed Hymns Book (Metropolitan Tabernacle) with a small organ.
I have also visited a Evangelical Brethren assemby on occasion where about 20 people meet and sing Hymns and have been at the Metropolitan tabernacle at their School of Theology when te Church building was full and their Hymns where used.

I have found that the BEST worship has been with the smaller assemlies of the LORD’s people and in particular with the elderly and even at the burial services of our brethren. This leads me to a strange conclusion; that it is the heart and the truth that deliver worship when the two are combined. The one cannot be without the other as an act of Freewill Sacrifice and True Worship.
This type of worship seems to be mostly lost between the contempraries of my generation (30′-50′).

I believe that the heart has to be willing and ready to give ALL glory to the LORD Himself for His grace and mercy on a sinful person and people; before True Worship (Any type) will be done rightly.
To be sure the LORD our Father is the GIVER of such a heart and mind; without which we canot please Him.

It is my conviction that UNTILL all people become convicted of their personal sins and grace has been given and applied to them by the Spirit of truth ALONE; and then appropriated by them through Faith ALONE; ALL WORSHIP STYLES AND FORMS will be unacceptable to God, because the LORD seeks the heart of a man and not the work in of themselves.

Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation OF MY HEART Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Mark 12:30 (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”

Let us pray for the Church and it’s people to have a real true love for the LORD and to do His will freely from the heart, so that we desire to be conformed to the Image of His Son as the firstborn among many.

Sola Gratia!

Actually, I think this is somewhat of an illusion. Yes, I believe the hymns we sing today ARE better than most of the contemporary music, but I don’t believe that music written hundreds of years ago is better than today’s music. A majority of the old music is just as bad as the new music, it’s just that time and discernment has deleted it from history. Only the good stuff is left. The bad old music just isn’t around anymore.

A majority of contemporary music is bad, but a little bit of it is very good. Two hundred years from now all of our garbage will have disappeared, and our era will be looked at just like we look at previous eras. The best of each era survives. I was “raised” on traditional hymns, but have come to like the best of the new as well. We shouldn’t refuse contemporary music; only the bad stuff.

Doug Sachs,
I am encouraged by your sensitivity to the methods used to worship God, yet you seem to be going down the path of determining other people’s motives. A path none of us should travel.
Walk carefully,
Jeff