How Should We View Those Who Love Christian Rock Music?

How Should We View Those Who Love Christian Rock Music?

Hello John:
I believe music for New Testament Christians is to be vocal only. (I've heard the Church of Christ believes this also). My belief is, either be in the world and listen to worldly styles of music or come out of the world and obey what the Word says to do in regards to worship (singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs).

I've been around some legalistic Christians (legalistic not about music, but about other things) and I don't want to be like them. But what is to be our attitude to those who love Christian rock and other worldly styles of music, and don't see anything wrong with it? (or who accuse people who want to be obedient to what is clearly stated in the Word about music as being legalistic?)

I don't think it's a silly question, so I hope you can help me with this.

-Nancy

Dear Nancy:
Be assured that your question is not silly. The contemporary Christian music movement has millions of fans. The Christian rock genera is a subset of this movement.

It is true that we of the Church of Christ do not use instrumental music in our worship to God. Our reasons for this conviction are based on Scripture. We reason that since the New Testament of Christ teaches us to sing and make melody in our hearts (Eph. 5:19), but says nothing about us worshiping with instruments of music, we should be satisfied to sing our praises to God. To add instrumental accompaniment to our worship we would view as adding to God's word (Rev. 22:18-19). Historically we know that the Christians in the apostolic age did not use instruments in their worship. In fact it was more than 500 years before the first instrument was introduced into any church. It created such a stir that another 500 years elapsed before the use of instruments was accepted. The church of 1,000 A.D. had abandoned the biblical pattern in almost every aspect of its faith and worship.

As to how we should treat those who love Christian rock music:

First, we should love them and wish them well (Matt. 22:39).

Second, we should attempt to teach them that God has in the New Testament of Christ provided us all things that pertain to life and godliness (II Pet. 1:2-3) hence it is there that we must search to find how we should worship Him, not in the popular fads of the day.

Third, we should remind ourselves of the distinction between what we offer to God in worship and what we might enjoy in our privates lives. Most human beings like some sort of music. Not all music is religious in nature. Secular music can be wholesome, bad or neutral. We should make a distinction in religious songs offered in worship to God and the same songs sung in non-worship settings. For example, I often sing hymns when I shower, or when I am driving down the road or working. Such is not worship. Some listen to "Christian music on their radio" or view a concert of such on their television. In such a setting, it is entertainment rather than worship.

If we speak of Christian worship, I would insist that we must worship as God directs, hence with vocal singing. As to what a fellow-Christian or friend might choose to listen to for his entertainment, I grant him the same liberty that I would want for myself (Matt. 7:12). I don't care for contemporary Christian music. I dislike any form of rock or hiphop music. My preference is popular music and lite- classical. So long as a person's personal preferences do not lead him to or involve him in sin, we must respect his right to pursue them.

Sincerely,

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