Volume 1.5

“LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD.”

COLOSSIANS 3:16

One of the alarming signs of the times is the invasion by the world and popular music field into the realm of religious and sacred music. Recording companies have begun to “package” devotional songs - adapting them to the swing - beat and syncopation of the bar-room. One “big time” producer claims that secularizing sacred music is “the greatest new groove since rock and roll.” As a result of this type of music of recording music, Gospel music is now being sung in night clubs, taverns and dance halls across the land. All of this is a symptom of deterioration – of the breakdown between sacred and secular.

Even more serious than the use of Gospel music by the world, however, is the growing evil of using worldly music in our evangelical circles! Gospel music is designed to teach the Gospel (See Colossians 3:16). The jazzing of sacred music by gospel comedians is nauseating and regrettable. Why don’t we stick to the “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” of Ephesians 5:19? I know I shall be accused of being old-fashioned, moth-eaten, archaic sourpuss, but we still believe that the Gospel should be presented in song, as well as sermon, in a reverent and dignified way in harmony with the majesty and seriousness of its message.

If the music in our churches has no real message in it, why sing it? We cannot stop the world from using and debauching Gospel music; but we can stop the world’s music from being used in Christian churches.