Carrying the message

In 1965 a single record, entitled Eve of Destruction, began playing on radio stations. Sung by Barry McGuire, the song quickly rose in popularity. Composer P.F. Sloan's now famous line "You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin" led to passage of the 26th amendment, lowering the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Nearly 50 years later this remains a prime example of music carrying the message. What do I mean by this? How can music carry any message? God created music as a means for us to worship Him. While you can certainly worship God without music, there's something helpful about music that can usher us into God's Presence. Someone not given to remembering words by themselves will benefit through hearing those words, delivered through a musical messenger-a song the hearer sings and/or listens to.

My senior year of high school I was part of the school choir. Although not a Christian at the time, I've never forgotten two songs we sang in that public high school. One was based on Psalm 145:15,16; the other was "Alleluia", written by Randall Thompson. The first consists of two verses; the second has, until the ending "Amen", the singular word "Alleluia" Both songs carry messages: the former of God's provision; the latter of praise. Decades later, both messages remain with me due, in no small part, to the musical vehicle of each.

Music alone or music carrying a message, there's something almost undefinable about music that causes us to hear more than notes. Whether for worship, entertainment, or simply influence, music is certainly more than notes and sounds. Whether we disagree about what kind of music is appropriate for us, one thing is certain: Music, more often than not, is carrying the message.

What are we listening to? More importantly, what is the message-and are we hearing it?

Flannel Graph Music

No one invented music. God, who created music for His purposes, has enabled many to write vast numbers of compositions, varying in style, sound, and, arguably, substance. There is, it appears, something for everyone. But is there? Years ago, many a Sunday School teacher used flannel graphs as a means of illustration. Bible stories came to life using characters and scenes made from felt. Children's attention (admittedly many years ago) was kept by the teacher through both words and flannel graphs placed on the easel. Those days are pretty much gone.

The same is true for Christian music. The days of God's amazing grace never end; it is as much needed now (or more) than ever before. Songs of amazing grace-and other life topics-are in danger of a lesser audience. Not because grace isn't needed (by grace you are saved-Ephesians 2:8), but because the ones we're trying to reach are not going to, for the most part, respond to a style of music foreign to them.

I like (some) classical music. I appreciate the discipline required to perform with excellence. Having played the piano since being in kindergarten, I admire those who have a passion for this style of musical expression. Not all would share my view. Some were raised on jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, folk, and even contemporary Christian music. The 70's and 80's brought names like the Gaithers, Andrae Crouch, the Imperials, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Janie Grein, to name a few, into our lives. Their songs-and styles-gave rise to contemporary Christian music.

As much as I loved the music of many a yesterday, we have a new audience. They're hungry for God and long to know Him, in part, through hearing the Truth in the music they listen to. Not every musical style causes me to want to worship God (I don't need music to get into God's Presence to worship Him). But if this present generation of children, teenagers, and early twenties is going to be reached, the songs of old need a makeover-extreme in some cases. We see this with Amazing Grace and many of our Christmas songs. Same words; a more relevant style.

It's time to replace our "flannel graph" music with styles which relate to today's audience. Change need not be synonymous with compromise. The message of God's amazing grace (and the rest of the Bible) is timeless. So, too, is change, if the Church is going to stay relevant in reaching this generation for Christ.