Hopefully you made it through part two. I know it was kind of hard to get through. Sorry! I am hoping to make today's post more enjoyable to get through. :)
If you need to catch up, click on the Christan rock label on my sidebar.




First, in order to understand that one of the main arguments against Christian rock or CCM comes from "rhythm" you must understand the three main components of music.


For my music students in home-school co-op I put it like this:
In order to make a lovely song, you need the right ingredients. You must follow the recipe:
Ingredient #1 is melody. Melody is simply one tone or note one after the other in a pattern.
Ingredient #2 is rhythm. Rhythm is sounds or silences that make up the timing behind the melody.
Ingredient #3 is harmony. Harmony is adding several more sounds to the melody in order that it takes on a fuller, broader sound.
There are 3 more ingredients, but these are the most important to what we are discussing right now.


I illustrate this by playing "Jesus Loves Me" on the piano. The first time I am demonstrating the melody. I play the notes one after the other with no rests, or holding notes.
JesuslovesmethisIknowfortheBibletellsmesolittleonestoHimbelongtheyareweakbutHeisstrong
The melody.


Then I add the rhythm and sing and play it normally.
Jesus loves me this I know (pause) for the Bible tells me so (pause) little ones to Him belong (pause) they are weak but He is strong (pause) yesssss Jesus loves meeeeeeee....etc.
The rhythm.


Then I play all the notes in the hymnal. The chords, the fill-ins etc. And it sounds the way you sing it in church.
The harmony.


These three things are essential for good songs of any kind. Otherwise you just don't have a song.


The Bible clearly mentions melody, but not how some would tell you.

Isaiah 23:16

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.  (5059) nagan-to play a stringed instrument,  Jermusician;

Isaiah 51:3

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (2172) zimra-singing, song

Amos 5:23

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. (2172) same as last

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (5567) psallo-to sing hymns, sing songs of praise.

Here is a quote from a anti-Christian rock website...  http://www.av1611.org/cqguide.html

But "what saith the Lord"? Does the Bible give us any indication to the type of music we should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and earth, who created music and sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His Word — did He forget to tell us what is Christian music?
Not hardly. Thank God — He has given us instructions for our music. Thank God — we can BURY "once and for all" the ridiculous LIE that — "the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture."

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet MELODY, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Isaiah 23:16
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; jothe d gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of MELODY. Isaiah 51:3
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making MELODY in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:18-19

The Lord God refers to music as — MELODY! According to God — the emphasis of Christian music is the MELODY — not the BEAT! How is it, that the CCM world keeps "parroting" — "the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture"? Is it because they can NOT read 5^th grade English? Or is it — they do NOT care what God says! I've shown many CCMers Ephesians 5:19, and nearly all coolly, reply, "Aw, It don't really mean that". In other words — "I don't care what God says — I'm gonna rock 'n' roll"!
I'm reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he described some people, much like the CCMers, who "having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?"

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neitherUNDERSTAND? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? Mark 8:17-18

So far we've seen:

1. MELODY is the main theme of music.
2. Rock music emphasizes the BEAT.
3. God defines music as MELODY. (unquote)

Well I am sorry, but God does not define music as the melody if you look into the Hebrew and Greek. If it is based on those verses he and I mentioned, then God "defines" music as singing or playing songs of praise and hymns.

Before this, he talks about part of what is wrong with rocky rhythm is that it has to do with body movement and a physical response.

If you are musical at all you know that any music can bring out a body movement and physical response. How many classical songs make me want to jump up and grab my husband in a waltz? Or even just sway along to a hymn? March to patriotic songs?
You have probably seen the rocking violinist or pianist...
Body movements and physical responses are a part of music. They don't have to be there, but they can be there for any type of music.

He claims that body movement are fleshly and carnal. But what about the dancing seen in the Old Testament?

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod (3769) karar- to dance

Psalm 150:4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! (4234) mahol- circle dancing, round-dancing

Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (7540) raqad-to skip, dance; to leap about, dance;

Jeremiah 31:4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. (4234) same as above

Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow (4234) same as above

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that all dancing is holy and for the Lord. 

In the New Testament that is shown clearly when a young woman danced for Herod and it was clearly a vulgar, inappropriate dance and resulted in the be-heading of John the Baptist.

What I am saying is that music evokes feeling and movement. Music is physical. 

Just because something appeals to the flesh doesn't make it sinful. Chocolate appeals to my flesh...I love it, I want it. Now in and of itself, chocolate isn't sinful. Eating chocolate isn't sinful, but when I eat too much. When I eat unhealthy amounts or it becomes a priority over God and my family...that is sinful.

I hope you don't find this crude, but let's talk sex for a minute. Obviously sex appeals to us physically. God created sex and wants us to enjoy it so it isn't a sin in itself. Outside of marriage in any form sex is a sin.

It is the same with music. Music of many types appeals to my flesh: CCM, Classical pieces, Irish music, Big Band music, lullabies, etc. It doesn't make them wrong or sinful.

However- if they are not in line with:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

and

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

then they would be sinful. ;)

If I needed to worship with music that my flesh didn't find appealing, I would be stuck worshiping with screamo, rap and R&B. No thanks. 

Somehow I don't think God is more pleased with us when we are unhappy. No, our purpose and His purpose is not for us to be happy-not even close, but our God is a God of joy and He gives us that joy in every circumstance-especially when we are praising Him.

I Chronicles 15: 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Nehemiah 12:43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.

Psalm 33:1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Psalm 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
        my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Psalm 92:4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Psalm 95:1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

                 let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

If you are just joining us, you may want to start with the introduction over here: http://heldbythefather.blogspot.com/2010/05/christian-rock-glorifying-or-devils.html

Let's look today at some of the most common verses that teach what to sing:

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.


Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


I always start off by looking up the key words in my Strong's Concordance for the KJV.


Psalms is #5568-psalmos-psalm, hymn of praise
Hymns is #5215-hymnos-hymn, song of praise
Spiritual is #4152-pneumatikos-spiritual, pertaining to the Spirit
Songs is #5603-ode-song 


Somehow, that wasn't as helpful as I was hoping it would be...lol! But maybe my problem is that I am making this much more difficult than it needs to be. In two places, I am told to sing hymns of praise and songs that are spiritual. Sing them in public and private.  And BE THANKFUL.


Hmmmmm...


Next, I usually check to see what John MacArthur says. I have his study Bible and I love to get his opinion on things. 

2 Chronicles 5:11And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place]: (for all the priests [that were] present were sanctified, [and] did not [then] wait by course:

12 Also the Levites [which were] the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, [being] arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

¹³It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;

¹⁴So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

That was quite the worship going on at the temple dedication! 

Pay attention to how the inspired author closes book  Five (and the rest of the book) of Psalms (and these type of praises with instruments are very common when you are reading psalms...)

Psalm 150

¹Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

²Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

³Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

⁴Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

⁵Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

⁶Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Here is what the 1828 Webster's Dictionary says about these instruments:

cymbals: 

       1. A musical instrument used by the ancients, hollow and made of brass, somewhat like a               kettle-drum; but the precise form is not ascertained.

2. A mean instrument used by gypsies and vagrants, made of a steel wire, in a triangular form, on which are passed fie rings, which are touched and shifter along the triangle with an iron rod held in the left hand, while it is supported in the right by a ring, to give it free motion.

psalteries:PSAL'TERY, n. [Gr.] An instrument of music used by the Hebrews,the form of which is not now known. That which is now used is a flat instrument in form of a trapezium or triangle truncated at the top, strung with thirteen chords of wire, mounted on two bridges at the sides, and struck with a plectrum or crooked stick.

harps: H`ARP, n.

1. An instrument of music of the stringed kind, of a triangular figure, held upright and commonly touched with the fingers.

trumpets: TRUMP'ET, n.

1. A wind instrument of music, used chiefly in war and military exercises. It is very useful also at sea, in speaking with ships. There is a speaking trumpet, and a hearing trumpet. They both consist of long tubular bodies, nearly in the form of a parabolic conoid, with wide mouths.

2. In the military style, a trumpeter.

timbrel: n. [L. tympanum.] An instrument of music; a kind of drum, tabor or tabret,which has been in use from the highest antiquity.

 organs: 

n. [L. organum; Gr.]

3. The largest and most harmonious of wind instruments of music, consisting of pipes which are filled with wind, and stops touched by the fingers. It is blown by a bellows.

Here is what Strong's says about these instruments: On some of these I forgot to include the Hebrew words themselves, but you get the idea...

cymbals: 

Cymbals were always translated from this word: (Hebrew) 4700-pair of cymbals

EXCEPT

Psalm 150 -(Hebrew) 6767-swarm of locusts or cricket; whirring, buzzing; (fishing) spear; cymbals translated cymbals 3x, locust 1x, and shadowing spears, 1x.

Notice that the "loud cymbals" and "high sounding" cymbals are taken from the same word as the whirring or buzzing of locusts and crickets.

psalteries:

always translated from (5035) nebel: (wine) skin; water jar, jug, pot )of clay); lyre, harp (stringed instrument.

except for in the book of Daniel where it comes from (6460) pesanterin: harp (triangular stringed instrument)

instruments of ten strings: (Hebrew) 6218-group of ten instruments; instrument with ten strings

harp was very self explanatory, but was also translated lyre, lute, zither

lyre- from Daniel 3-5443- triangular instrument with four strings

trump/trumpet-

many times in the Old Testament, trump or trumpet comes from this word: (Hebrew 7782) -

        sopar: trumpet, ram's horn

in Hosea  and many other references it comes from this word: (2689)- hasosera: trumpet, a metal instrument used for signaling and music

Other times include:

Exodus 19:13-(3104) yobel: ram's horn; (Year of) Jubilee

Numbers 29:1- (8643) ferua: trumpet blast, battle cry

Ezekial 7:14-(8619)- taqoa: trumpet, for battle signals

Matthew 6:2-(4537)- salpizo: to sound a trumpet, announce with a trumpet

I Corinthians 15: 15 and52, Matthew 24:31, I Thess 4:16- (4536)salpinx: trumpet

timbrel/s:

(8596) everywhere but Psalm 68:25 which is (8608)

8596- top-tambourine, timbrel; setting, jewelry; some sources uncertain in meaning.

8606-tapap- to tap (play) a tambourine; to beat (the breast)

organ/s: 

always translated from (5748)

5748- ugab-flute

Though not in this passage, there are references to a dulcimer in the book of Daniel.

(5481) sumponya: musical instrument; sources vary widely; a wind instrument: pipe, bagpipe, double flute; a stringed instrument: dulcimer; a percussion instrument:drum, cymbal

I think it is safe to say that praising God included a vast array of instruments, musicians and at times, a lot of volume. There was dancing involved many times and the people lifted up their voices to God in praise and thanksgiving.

We cannot be sure of what instruments they played, but based on this research, it sounds like harps, guitars, bass, drums, cymbals, wind instruments. It doesn't sound like God is too picky when it comes to the instruments themselves that are acceptable for worship.

So is it the rhythm itself?

Coming soon: Rock Rhythm-is it sinful?

What the anti-rock guys have right.

Plus more!

Christian rock...oxymoron? Worship? Worse than listening to secular rock because it puts God in something as sinful as rock music???
This may sound familiar or completely foreign to you. Which is it?

I don't know about many of you, but for most of my childhood I went to a church and Christian school and then Christian college where very well-meaning people (that I love) would bash, give lectures on, and teach against any kind of Christian music that had a "rock type" rhythm to it.

My parents didn't necessarily agree, so they would listen to Keith Green and others and didn't mind my love for Point of Grace or Steven Curtis Chapman. In our home, I listened to everything from Oldies to Hymns, to CCM, to Michael Jackson. My mom was a HUGE fan of the Osmonds and so I know most of their music too, as well as a whole bunch of random trivia about the Osmonds! lol

But in our home we did have music standards. Nothing much more than pop was tolerated. Heavy metal was strictly reserved for Dad's pre-Christian life and rap Christian or secular was unacceptable.

We had friends with strict musical standards and friends with no musical standards. It was all a matter of church, family and "conviction."

Well from 6th grade and up, I felt guilty about my Christian-but-not-church-approved music. I was conflicted, believing what I had been taught at church and school, but knowing I was being edified by what I listened to at home. You just can't mesh the two together.
This continued through college and the beginning of my married life. My husband's family has a very eclectic music style, with his mom preferring hymns and country music and his dad preferring more of an "old rock" type thing. (Sorry Dad, I called your music "old" ;)  If I remember correctly, they could listen to most any style they wanted as long as the lyrics were clean. Some styles they couldn't listen to in the house but still.... lol

The church here that I married into was the most contemporary I had ever seen-at least in the Baptist realm.
We do a variety of hymns and new songs, Gospel music and "Praise and Worship." While I enjoyed it personally, I was of the opinion that anything too rocky or "pop-y" as I say shouldn't be used in the church building. If you use it for personal worship than that is one thing, but not in the church. Chase would question my reasoning, and I didn't really have an answer for him, that is just what I felt comfortable with.

Then, we started a praise band.
Right.
With drums.
In the church building.
And I was recruited to sing in it.
I complied because I love to sing, and I was supporting the church leadership in their belief it was absolutely fine...but it was not with a clear conscience in my own heart.

Later we added a keyboard to the mix and I played that as well and had a blast. I love to sing and play for our song service. It is one of my favorite ministries.

But I still didn't have a reason for why it was either glorifying or sinful...I was just conflicted.
I thought over some of the things I had been taught:

"Satan (then called Lucifer) was the "musical director" in heaven before he sinned. Wouldn't it make sense that he use music to pull us away from God because he is especially musically gifted?"


"Rock music or music with a beat appeals to the flesh."


"When the children of Egypt were dancing and worshiping the golden calf, to Moses and Joshua, it sounded like the sound of war. It was music and it was sinful."


"The Bible says to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. That is it." 


"The charismatics use Christian rock to hype up the audience and make it an 'experience'."


"When we listen to Christian rock, it sounds the same to the world. We are supposed to be in the world but not of it. A new creation. We should look different than the unsaved man out there."


"Rock and roll is about sex. The very origin of it's name tells you that. Why make a godly version of something that is about lust and sex?"


"There are so many 'Christian' artists that are not Christ like in behavior or reputation. Just look at Amy Grant."


" Look at these secular artists and albums, do you see all the Satanic symbolism???"


"If you do the houseplant test, the houseplant thrives on classical music and dies when it is forced to listen to rock. What is it doing to you?"

Anyway, these are just a fraction of the things we heard repeatedly (although surprisingly not in college. I don't think we were ever told "why not." Just "don't".) But I found it interesting that many fellow students and friends like and listen to Christian rock or even secular rock but they won't attend or work in a church that uses Christian rock. How can we be so double-minded?

Time went on and for the first time ever, I went to a concert. Not just any concert, mind you, but Spirit West Coast. It was more like 20 concerts over a weekend! It was so much fun. We saw Barlow Girl, Stellar Kart, Newsboys, Third Day, Kutless, Aaron Shust and others. My husband saw more concerts, but I hung out at the Pop-y stage! ;) I was really enjoying myself.
I had never been to a concert before. My dad had the idea that even at a Point of Grace concert there would be a lot of blatant, crowd-wide drug use. ;)
I thought it was really neat how these bands and groups really conducted themselves in a Christian manner. They didn't perform like secular artists I had seen. They gave all the glory to God and shared what God was doing in their lives. They shared verses and Barlow Girl told of their stand not to date and not to dress immodestly. All of the songs held biblical truth with a couple fun ones thrown in too. My view was starting to change. And then it happened, the Aaron Shust concert. I had wanted to go to this one even though I had only heard one of his songs before. It was a song that I had heard in a church in Phx the night Joni Eareckson Tada spoke. The song spoke volumes to me because I was just coming out of counseling and finding out the God of the Bible Himself-not what I always thought He was. Anyways, the lyrics were really simple but the meaning was not.

"I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed what God has planned.
 I only know at His right hand,
Stands One Who is my Savior.

I take Him at His Word and deed.
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior.

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange so once did I
Before I knew my Savior.

My Savior loves
My Savior lives
My Savior is always there for me
My God He was
My God He is
My God He is always going to be...."

The song goes on and is good. But this became one of my favorite songs and when I saw the songwriter was doing a concert, I begged Chase to take me down there.
The concert started and he sang some really great songs I had never heard. And then he started the intro to "My Savior My God" and the crowd cheered. That is the song we were all there for. We all sang it together. Outside in Del Mar California, thousands of voices sang it together. And then, the band went silent and we kept singing..."My Savior loves, my Savior lives, my Savior is always there for me, my God He was, my God He is, my God is always going to be..." the most worshipful time in my life was right then. I closed my eyes and felt the closet thing to heaven I had ever known. And I wondered, maybe God can be glorified with "rock" music. Maybe that is acceptable enough to be in heaven. Maybe then it is even acceptable to be played in church.

I have a feeling that the "no rock" ers would criticize my song saying it is self-absorbed. It is all about what God can do for you. And that is true. It is one of my more favorite "self-absorbed" songs out there. But that doesn't make the lyrics false. And more than ever our post modern, emergent culture needs to know that there is a God and Savior, we are to take Him at His Word and deed, and we do need Him. And even if it is self-absorbed, much of Psalms strikes me the same way. It glorified God but there was much of it that was also very worried about the Psalmist, his enemies etc.

Anyway, I started worrying less about what was acceptable in church and considered what is acceptable for me. I decided that for the first time ever, I would do research on the subject for myself. I would study both sides and know once and for all that I was either wrong in my stand that rock music was ok, or that I was right....Over the next while, I will share with you what I found. I will go over the statements above that I had been taught and talk about whether or not I agree with them.

What are your thoughts so far? What were you taught? Do you live by your convictions?

I welcome discussion, but please do it nicely and with love-whichever side of the fence you sit on.