"Christian" music

I was thinking about Christian music today. A friend of mine has said a number of times that she doesn't like a lot of Christian music because she finds it dull and boring. I have to say I can relate to that view as to be honest there's a lot of contemporary Christian songs, which if they were to have secular lyrics and I were to hear them on the radio, I'd probably change stations. Don't get me wrong, some of it I love and there are a number of songs, bands and worship leaders who I wish could actually get onto the radio as they're better than a lot of the bilge that gets onto playlists, but I have to say that for a significant amount of the "Christian" music that I'v heard, tt can be quite 'samey' musically with the melodies and chord patterns being fairly predictable.

The thing is...I have to say that what is known as "Christian" music often doesn't light a fire in me. I find music powerful - some songs (Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World, Killing in the Name by Rage, Immigrant Song by Led Zep) help me to release tension, others (Better Faster Stronger by Daft Punk, pretty much any Stevie Wonder groove) make me want to moooove; some songs (Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine) make me feel really emotional and reflective...music sways me. It pushes buttons I didn't even know were there.

One thing I know about God is that he's good...which means all the good stuff comes from him. So the music which touches a chord inside me...whether it has a "Christian" label or not...it's got to be from God. I don't think God restricts himself to one genre - he'll use whatever floats my boat...or what mood I'm in to get through to me.

And he'll use songs which have been written by people who perhaps aren't Christians to get through to me, to move me. I recently saw the lyrics to the Candi Staton classic "You've got the Love" and they really spoke to me - I think I was surprised as I've heard Florence and the Machine belting that song for weeks now on Radio 1 and never really considered the significance of the lyrics. I thought to myself - if those lyrics had been sung in a typical "church" style of music - would they have had the impact on me that they have done? I'm not sure they would have done because the love I have for the stylle of music I hear in church is not the same as the love I have for the work of Florence and the Machine! So I started to listen a bit more carefully to other songs...to start off with, The Cave by Mumford and Sons, There's a Place by Siobhan Donaghy (ex Sugababe but don't let that put you off - she's actually really good!)...and I started to apply what they were singing about to my faith...and some of it was quite hard hitting.

Some lines from "The Cave":

So tie me to a post and block my ears

I can see widows and orphans through my tears

I know my call despite my faults

And despite my growing fears....

So come out of your cave walking on your hands

And see the world hanging upside down

You can understand dependence

When you know the maker's hand

And from "There's a Place":

Take your time

Be it mine

'Cause I will be

All the strength you need

And I will show you a way

I don't mind

If you cry

I want to be

Holding your hand

And you can feel

You can lean

Don't turn away

All is lost

But if you try

You can see

There's a place for you

Where I will know

Your pain

Don't turn away

I loved these songs anyway before I started thinking more about the lyrics. But I guess thinking about it a bit more has re-enforced the fact that God will speak through anything and anyone...we can find him wherever we find beauty and goodness - and he can use the things which speak into our soul to get his message - and his love - through. I don't need to restrict myself to what I hear if I listen to a Hillsong or Kirk Franklin album, or when I go to a Christian festival, or when I shop at Wesley Owen...or when I go to church. My God is a whole lot bigger than that! I don't expect to be playing Mumford and Sons songs in church any time soon...and that's ok because quite frankly that style of music is a lot more niche full stop..but it's good to have my eyes opened to other ways of connecting with God...and to know that God can't be restricted to human labels - or in the case of music - genres!

So I'll finish with the Florence Song...a l praise song speaking from an honest heart to Jesus!

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"

But you've got the love I need To see me through

Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough

And things go wrong no matter what I do

Now and then it seems that life is just too much

But you've got the love I need to see me through

When food is gone you are my daily meal

When friends are gone I know my savior's love is real

Your love is real

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

Time after time I think "Oh Lord what's the use?"

Time after time I think it's just no good

Sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose

But you got the love I need to see me through

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"

But you've got the love I need to see me through

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love

You got the love