Its a pleasant surprise to know that we have the same views regarding music.
This message I preached the other year, 17 November 2008 might interest you.

Kiril

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Why Does Christian Music Suck?

Can we Christians handle the truth? What is it with most of us Christians that give the wrong impression to the young generation? What is it with us Christians that turns off the young generation? What is the lasting impression we Christians give the young generation?

We Christians give the young generation the impression that holiness is to be out of synch with fashion and music. This is the pathetic stereotype that the young generation see most Christians.

Many years ago, I resisted the call to full time ministry. This was due to my impression that preachers must wear a certain type of attire and not deviate from that style. My idea of pastoral or ministerial fashion was checkered shirt partnered with a cheap black slacks that comes with a free belt. I used to think that pastors should only wear out of style clothes and ugly shoes. One story my pastor related was when he came from a preaching engagement from Singapore. My pastor was given a number of pairs of shoes that are so beautiful and stylish. One of the children of my pastor commented on those beautiful shoes stating “Dad! You’ve been delivered! You have been delivered from ugly preacher’s shoes!”

Its not really hard to know what the fashion was 10 to 15 years ago. All you have to do is go to church and see what the fashion was 10 to 15 years ago.

Some would reason out that what they are wearing is a classic.

Others would reason out that their style is better than today’s fashion.

A lot would reason out that GOD looks at the heart and not on outward appearance.

This dumb excuses turns off a lot of the younger generation.

The same is true with music. The older generation would claim that the music of their time is better than the music of today. When I was a teenager I would often hear that from the older generation. Now that I’m 38 years old, I would hear that same statement being said by people my age to the younger generation. To be honest, I find that so stupid. Every generation would claim that the music of their time is better than today.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (The Message)

Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?”
Wise folks don’t ask questions like that.

We see that same unwise attitude in church. This attitude has made church music geared towards the older generation. The younger on the other hand is marginalized. The older generation marginalizes the younger generation because of their music. The older generation perceives the music of the younger generation as shameful and noisy thus unfit for church. This has resulted the young generation to think that Christian music totally sucks.

When we remove our religious glasses and see what scriptures says about the music of the younger generation, we would be in for a surprise. GOD looks at the music of he younger generation with favor,

Psalm 66:1 (Amplified Bible)

MAKE A joyful noise unto God, all the earth;

Psalm 81:1 (Amplified Bible)

SING ALOUD to God our Strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

Psalm 95:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

1O COME, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!
2Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

Psalm 98:4-6 (Amplified Bible)
4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody.
6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Psalm 100:1 (Amplified Bible)
MAKE A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

This shows that the noisy music of the younger generation is scriptural than the so called solemn music. Noisy music is more fit for church.

I myself have experienced first hand of christian music that totally sucks;

When I was 11 years old my grandmother would drag me to church on a Saturday for a Catholic charismatic service in Sta. Cruz Church. This was in the early 80′s. Music in that service consisted of old women singing like donkeys. I always wondered why would Christian music be so downright horrible.

In the first church I attended in the late 90′s when I was newly born again is another thing. During the praise and worship of the church service there was this church elder who sang in a shaky operatic voice. All I could say was…YUCK!!!

In the bible school I was working 4 years ago is also one bad experience. The school director (who is a year and a half older than me) always played this Christian cd that sounded soooooooooo country that a fellow worker would do a line dancing act. I would just shake my head and snicker. MAN!!! I felt sooooo old at that time because of that lousy cd being played.

Psalm 33:3 (Amplified Bible)

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.

Psalm 40:3 (Amplified Bible)

And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.

Psalm 96:1 (Amplified Bible)

O SING to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 98:1 (Amplified Bible)

O SING to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.

Psalm 144:9 (Amplified Bible)

I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp, an instrument of ten strings, will I offer praises to You.

Psalm 149:1 (Amplified Bible)

PRAISE THE Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, praise Him in the assembly of His saints!

Isaiah 42:10 (Amplified Bible)

Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, the islands and coastal regions and the inhabitants of them [sing a song such as has never been heard in the heathen world]!

Revelation 5:9 (Amplified Bible)

And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Scripture show that GOD likes noisy and new Christian music.

About 5 or 6 years ago the wife of my pastor stated in the pulpit “WOW! This is such a rock and roll church, all it needs is a mosh pit.” This statement led me to explore other genres in Christian music and found out that there is such thing as Christian Hardcore and Christian Heavy Metal. There are also a lot more genres available in Christian music.

DOES CHRISTIAN MUSIC HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN GENRE FOR IT TO BE HOLY?

IS GENRE THE BASIS OF HOLINESS?

IS LISTENING TO HORRIBLE MUSIC A SIGN OF HOLINESS?

Christians have been loosing the young generation due to unwise imposition of genre limitation in church. Good Christian songs have lost their appeal to the younger generation because of its sissified and dorkified melody.

FOR TO LONG WE HAVE MADE CHRISTIAN MUSIC UNAPPEALING TO THE YOUNG GENERATION.

FOR TO LONG WE HAVE BEEN QUICK TO BRAND THE MUSICAL GENRE THAT APPEALS TO THE YOUNG GENERATION AS DEMONIC.

FOR TO LONG WE HAVE MADE CHRISTIAN MUSIC THAT REALLY SUCK.

Since the LORD Jesus Christ wants us to be fishers of men then let us use an a diverse choice of effective baits. Fishermen have different kinds of bait when they go fishing. They do not limit themselves to one type of bait like the worm they use newer and better bait. Just like the fishermen let us use different kinds of bait or rather different and newer genres of music to catch the younger generation.

Do we Christian realize that there are more of the younger generation that we can catch than the older generation? Let us show the younger generation that Christian music is diverse and exciting and not something that totally sucks. That way we can win the younger generation to Christ.

“Imagine you’re a bird–A thing with wings that sings the praises of his love. / Imagine you’re a-flying–you say you can’t ’cause you’re scared, I know what’s on that mind.”

The clips sound great, either way. Keep it up!

I like the fact that it had a whole chapter on “perfectionism” too since I tend to struggle with that and it really can get in the way of creativity…