Soothing Ourselves To Death

Chuck Colson nails this one. Why is it that some Lutheran congregations believe that "Shine, Jesus Shine" is better than "Salvation Unto Us Has Come"? And why is it that anyone would dare to suggest we can separate style from substance? And why is it that some of "us" just don't understand that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. If it walks like a non-denominational church and quacks like one, it is! Oh, by the way, this piece blasts Christian radio, well-deserved of course, but...if you want to listen to Christian radio as it should be done, tune in from 3:00-5:00 Monday through Friday for "Issues, etc." -- the three hour daily Lutheran talk show. There is nothing else out there remotely like it, and more's the pity. You can also download their shows and listen at your convenience.

Soothing Ourselves to Death
Should we give people what they want or what they need?
by Charles Colson with Anne Morse | posted 04/05/2006 10:00 a.m.

When church music directors lead congregations in singing contemporary Christian music, I often listen stoically with teeth clenched. But one Sunday morning, I cracked. We'd been led through endless repetitions of a meaningless ditty called "Draw Me Close to You," which has zero theological content and could just as easily be sung in any nightclub. When I thought it was finally and mercifully over, the music leader beamed. "Let's sing that again, shall we?" he asked. "No!" I shouted, loudly enough to send heads all around me spinning while my wife, Patty, cringed.

I admit I prefer traditional hymns, but even so, I'm convinced that much of the music being written for the church today reflects an unfortunate trend—slipping across the line from worship to entertainment. Evangelicals are in danger of amusing ourselves to death, to borrow the title of the classic Neil Postman book.

This trend is evident not just in theater-like churches where musicians—with their guitars and bongo drums—often perform at ear-splitting levels. It's also true of Christian radio, historically an important source of serious preaching and teaching. Several stations recently—many acting on the advice of a leading consulting firm—have dropped serious programming in favor of all-music formats. For example, a major station in Baltimore has dropped four talk shows in order to add music. Family Life Radio, a first-class broadcaster, has adopted a new program split of 88 percent music "to appeal to the 35- to 50-year-old demographic." A respected broadcaster recently dropped Focus on the Family on the grounds that it had become too involved in "moral issues." Does anyone really believe the Bible is indifferent to moral questions—or that modern Christians should be?

One station cancelled my four-minute BreakPoint commentary saying that four minutes is the equivalent of one song. Horrors! Besides, the station manager allowed, BreakPoint is too serious and not contemporary enough. When another major station, this one in Cincinnati, replaced BreakPoint with music, I called the station manager, arguing that believers need to think Christianly about major worldview issues. The young woman on the other end of the phone admonished me: "But we don't want to do anything that will upset our listeners." Younger women, she said, want "something to help them cope with life."

This view was confirmed by a Christian homemaker interviewed for a tv special on evangelicalism. She is so busy, she explained, taking care of the kids, family activities, Bible study, cooking, etc., that she doesn't even read the newspaper or care what is happening in the world around her. Church for her is getting her spirits lifted.

Admittedly, modern life does create enormous stress. But can't the church offer comfort and help people confront the culture?

The decision by influential Christian broadcasters and music companies to avoid moral controversies could result in the church withdrawing from the culture as it tragically did a century ago. What is the job of Christian radio, after all? To give people what they want, or—as with any ministry—to give them what they need? Music is important in the life of the church and can inspire us to focus on Christ. But it cannot take the place of solid teaching.

The great strength of radio, as with books, has been to present in-depth teaching and moral discussion that engages Christians cognitively. This is something Americans find increasingly difficult. According to a recent study, the average college graduate's proficient literacy in English has declined from 40 percent in 1992 to 31 percent today. The study defines proficient literacy as the ability to read lengthy, complex texts and draw complicated inferences. Think about it: One out of three college graduates cannot read a book or absorb a serious sermon.

But the gospel above all else is revealed propositional truth—truth that speaks to all of life. Yes, the gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet if you want to study doctrine and worldview, you need the capacity to think. You need the capacity to engage ideas cognitively.

Doctrine and biblical teaching are not—as some "emerging church" advocates believe—dry, dusty, abstract notions. This truth has to be carried into the heart and applied. But there is no escaping that it is truth that must be learned.

Sure, skits and catchy music are good tools for drawing people in, and good Christian music on the radio can inspire us. But these things aren't an end in and of themselves; they should engage us in learning and applying truth.

When Postman published his book two decades ago, he feared television would impair our capacity to think. He was right. Can we learn from this—or are we destined to follow suit, the church blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance?

Comments

[Rev. Al B]

His anecdote has a familar theme. When it comes to Liturgy and Hymns, people will get bored, but when it comes to contemporary worship people tend to reach if you'll pardon the expression; a break-point. Maybe we need to steer Mr. Colson to the society for a moratorium on Marty Haugen ;) Welcome to the club Chuch, welcome to the club!

[Duncan Sprague]

This really is a shame but isn't something to be surprised at with mainstream evangelicalism currently focusing more on numbers and outreach without grounding themselves in Christ on the Cross. It is just interesting to see what happens to the church when a proper framework of doctrine and practice is not lived out in the church. It is nice to see a leader sounding the alarm, but I have a feeling that it will be falling upon deaf ears just like when he called in to talk with the radio stations.

[Dave Peterkin]

I wish I had the courage to respond as Charles did to the worship leader's question. As with some churches the one I go to has a "traditional" service at 8.45, a "conteporary/intergenerational" service at 10.30 and a "youth" service at 6pm. I prefer to go to the early service, seeing as what I refer to as the "Hillsongification" of the "contemporary" service has almost gotten to much for me. Unfortunately I have a job that I cannot get up early enough to make the early service and stay awake.

I'm not sure how much of the Hillsong gear has gotten over to the USA, but it is the Assembly of God stuff where I think emotion is the most important thing. It's all about closing your eyes, putting your hands up and swaying as you repeat the same line over and over. Every now and then there is a song that I've been quite enjoying that takes a turn all of a sudden when the band starts playing the same line 16 times over (4 sets of 4 lines) and that song is forever ruined for me.

I could rant on about this but I better stop.

[Yooper Rick]

You guys remind me of Christian against dancing, Jesus must be laughing on his throne. No matter what the tempo or what the beat, All Praise, All Glory is given to the Lord. To deny praise to Christ because you don't like the tune makes me wonder, Arn't ya'll being a we bit Pharisaical ?

From Third day a Christian rock group, My Hope is You
To you oh Lord, I lift my soul. In You oh God I place my trust. Do not let me be to shame.

Nor let my enemies triumph over me. My hope is You.Show me the ways. Guide me in truth.

In all my days. My hope is You. I am oh Lord filled with your Love.You are oh God my salvation.

Guard my Life and rescue me. My broken Spirit shouts. My mended heart cries out.

From Third day a Christian rock group, King of Glory

Is this King of glory that pursues me with his love.And haunts me with each hearing of his softly spoken words My conscience, a reminder of the forgiveness that I need Who is this King of glory who offers it to me.Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace. Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries. My spirit ever longing in his grace in which to stand Who is this King of glory, Son of God and Son of man. His name is Jesus, precious Jesus The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart.The King of glory. Who is this King of glory, with strength and majesty. And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings.The Lord of earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things. Who is this King of glory, He’s every thing to me. The Lord of earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things. He is the King of glory, He’s every thing to me.

Remember we don't worship Luther, We worship God!

[Lisa]

I agree with Mr. Colson. And I'd further like to say that every time I hear a worship leader say, "Let's sing it to the Lord this time", I want to smack him. Who does he presume that I was singing to before? (Well, maybe I did stop singing it to the Lord after the 11th time.)