Thought Question: A History of Christian Rock

Interesting article from Christianity Today on Christian rock music. Here’s the line that caught my eye —

Really, my concept of “Christian music,” which begins in about 1980 and ends in 2000 (around the time I got bored with it), is nothing but a snapshot. It ignores decades of gospel, country, blues, and folk music, not to mention centuries of classical and early music. These are musical traditions in which it was unusual not to sing about God. The conventional line about Christianity and (rock) music being a contradiction in terms is about as inaccurate as a positive review of a Creed album. It’s music without God that is, historically, an anomaly.

What do you think?

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
This entry was posted in Thought Questions, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

9 Responses to Thought Question: A History of Christian Rock

  1. Price says:

    My guess is that a thorough review of musical lyrics would reveal that men and women of every era who loved the Lord (as t hey understood that) have included songs about Him in the musical genre of the era. And I'm sure there was styles that were preferred over others during the whole of the period reviewed… I like what the writer of Psalms 98 says… "O Sing to the Lord a NEW song."

  2. For many centuries, published materials were supposed to lift people up to a better state of life. Things written that didn't do so were not published or, if published, were banned.

    Hence, we see many of the stories by Mark Twain banned from libraries. Some of Twain's characters skipped school, misbehaved, and tricked their friends into doing their work for them. Such was not uplifting.

    Therefore, it is not a surprise that songs about God were published and preserved while other songs – well, not so much.

  3. Alabama John says:

    Other cultures here in North America not specifically mentioned in the Bible worshiped and prayed to God in many of their songs. music, and dances way before the NT was written.

  4. jpmccarty says:

    The congregation I attend (where, rumor has it, the deed forbids instrumental music anywhere on the property), has its share of folks who believe that any lyric mentioning God is automatically sinful if accompanied by any sort of instrument, which therefore eliminates an enormous amount of humanity's musical output. Then of course, the phrase "Christian rock" is denounced because "rock" is obviously such an unChristian thing. Instead the kids listen to mainstream radio with it's decidedly secular messages. Just as long as they don't mention God…

    Sigh.

  5. jpmccarty says:

    The congregation I attend (where, rumor has it, the deed forbids instrumental music anywhere on the property), has its share of folks who believe that any lyric mentioning God is automatically sinful if accompanied by any sort of instrument, which therefore eliminates an enormous amount of humanity's musical output. Then of course, the phrase "Christian rock" is denounced because "rock" is obviously such an unChristian thing. Instead the kids listen to mainstream radio with its decidedly secular messages. Just as long as they don't mention God…

    Sigh.

  6. aBasnar says:

    It’s music without God that is, historically, an anomaly.

    That's simply not true. And – again – it is not only about the words. Contemporary music – through the radio and recording technologies – is completely different than anything else the world has seen musically since the sons of Jubal invented the flute (see Gen 4:21 – BTW Jubal was the son of a man who did NOT put God in his song).

    Music today is far more marketed and thus follows the basic instinct of the flesh. And there it is not about words only, but about beat and provocation. The fewest here in Austria know what Katy Perry is singing about, but still she is listened to by the crowds. It's this kind of music that conveys the message.

    Before – let's say the 1950ies (or maybe the late 1920ies) – music was only for special occasions, it was folk music, sung at home; dance music for e.g. village celebrations; classical music for the nobility in the opera houses and concert halls, and church music. Everyon knew what was what because these were distincltly different kinds of music.

    You can try to make a case that Rock music developed from Blues, Spirituals and Folk music; but that does not explain away that it became a class of its own. And while Spirituals were Christian songs in a folk-style (Aftro American or Blue Grass), you can't say this in general for Blues, nor for Folk Music. There is folk music with allusions to biblical texts or even with good Christian lyrics, but these are in the minority. The majority is about … the basic instincts (drunkenness, unlawful and/or romantic love, heroism …)

    Now, Rock Music being a class in itself has a history of itself, a mindset that gave it birth and that still is the message. You cannot separate the message from the style and "Christianize" it – this would be the same as meeting in an Ale House for worship. I mean ,"technically" you could do it, but it is simply not fitting.

    So, again: At least the quote you presented is completely wrong.

    Alexander

  7. JMF says:

    I second Guy's request.

    I, personally, take issue with iMonk's hard line on this matter…who am I to say that your idea for a song wasn't from God?

    It is very easy for me to see, however, how the COC ended up with a doctrine of the HS only being active through the Word. That prevents tough questions such as the one Guy proposes.

  8. Jay Guin says:

    Guy and JMF,You raise a good question. I’ll see what I can cook up.

  9. aBasnar says:

    Now I've read both articles completely – the one from Christianity today and the one from i-Monk. What surprized me was that i-Monk is a trumpet with a clear sound whereas the other one wrote something of similar length, but it remained somewhat unclear why and for what purpose this was written. At least to me. Propbably that's "symptomatic" – because those advocating a blend of worldly culture and worship cannot be sharp in their diserning, they feel at home in the shades of grey and are unable or unwilling to call anything black or white.

    Interestingly, those who give no clear sound gather a large following – which should be expected from the trumpet with the clear sound which obey fewer and fewer. But I think there is a reason: Our generation does not seek freedom in truth (the truth shall set you free – and truth defined by the word), but (as I call it) "freedom in ambiguities". These are the shades of grey that leave so much room for my individual preferences and ways (!) of life. Judge for yourself to which of the both possible ways this fits better: The broad way or the narrow path …

    Alexander

Comments are closed.