Pop or not to pop
Posted on December 4th, 2007 by kyrie
Where have all the classic Christian songs gone? This is a question that is like a tuning fork in my mind that always hum whenever I hear pop-culture Christian music being played or sung. Lately, gospel songs are so light or may I say shallow in meaning. Although I have nothing against it and to be fair the melodies are good. But that’s all that there is to these songs; the melody. Meaning wise, it lacks the depth and passion compared to the powerful songs of yesteryears. Songs compose by today’s pop-culture musicians seems to be cursorily made even those from popular groups like that from Hill songs.
I have yet to listen a pop-culture Christian music that has the same burning passion like the songs：What a friend we have in Jesus；And can it be; I need thee every hour; Blessed Assurance; and a whole lot more. Even the very old ones like; The Old Rugged Cross；How great thou Art; Onward Christian soldiers; All the way my savior leads me; have meanings that can melt even the hardest of hearts. Of course we can say that music is preferential and largely dependent of the generation. But still I believe that the art of making meaningful Christian music is slowly fading away. In my opinion today’s gospel music is more commercially driven than being a product of the heart. The classic Christian hymns are largely based from the scripture and blended with the experiences of the composer. Take the example of the classic hymn “Rock of Ages”, an overwhelming song from long ago. Do I have to mention the heart-crunching “Amazing Grace”? The classics reveal not just the jubilation of a changed heart but also manifest the challenges of following Christ. In comparison, today’s gospel music often only dwells on the lighter side of the Christian faith. There is nothing wrong with it but somehow it just lack the passion and or the solemnity that had once been the fundamentals of Christian hymns.
Indeed, a song reflects the culture of the generation that made it. I hope that the lack of profoundness of these pop-culture gospel songs does not reflect our relationship with God. Hopefully these cursorily made songs do not represent this generation’s superficial relationship with Christ. Ours is a time where being a Christian is as easy as taking a bath whereas before they were persecuted. It seems we want everything today to be fast and easy, including the powerful Christian hymns that have been lost in translation.
“Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. (Peter Marshall)
