Why Christians [Should] Have the Best Music

I’ll make a confession: I do not listen to “Christian” radio.

There, I said it.

It’s not that I’m against it in principle. I think it’s nice for middle aged soccer moms to listen to music that is “uplifting”, “family-friendly”, and repetitive.

So why do I not listen to it? Well, mainly for the same reasons. Most of the Christian radio stations I’ve listened to have a list of ten songs on repeat that sound the same. Christian radio can be predictable and bland. “If you’ve heard one song, you’ve heard them all”.

However, I firmly believe that Christians should have the best music available. Music is not inherently Satanic or wrong or anything Christians should shy away from. There are plenty of reasons why Christians should have great music.

The Bible’s Writers Were Music Lovers

People write music about what they love. Money. Fame. Sex. Life.

The people who wrote the Bible loved God. The Book of Psalms is an entire book of songs dedicated to God.

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”

Psalm 150:1-6

In the New Testament, the early church leader Paul told Christians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

It’s clear that throughout the Bible people who follow God ought to love music.

Luther, Wesley...Yes, All Those Important Dead Guys Loved Music

Martin Luther, the German monk who inspired the Reformation, wrote, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”

Ed Stetzer writes that in the 1700s, “Isaac Watts gave a great boost to the controversial idea of a congregation singing "man-made" hymns, which he created by freely paraphrasing Scripture. Charles Wesley paraphrased the Prayer Book, and versified Christian doctrine and experience. Wesley's songs were said to have had at least a great as influence as his sermons” (Christianity Today).

Charles Spurgeon, though against instruments in church, wrote, “Sing unto Him. This is the sweetest and best music. No instrument like the human voice."

Jonathan Edwards said, “The best, most beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music.”

How to Have Better “Christian” Music

This leads us back to the dilemma of Contemporary Christian Music on the radio. Christians should have the best music, but it is not possible for popular CCM songs to appeal to everybody (in the same way that not every person will like "rock" music). If, like me, you do not always have the radio on, here are two tips to enjoy Christian music better.

1. Don’t Listen If You Don’t Like It

If you don’t like Third Day or Chris Tomlin, then don’t listen to their music. It’s as simple as that. Some Christians try to swallow music that tastes like cough medicine to them. Cough medicine may be good for you body, but forcing your ears to hear what does not sound pleasant to you is bad for your soul. With life in general, you have to take out the bad before you can receive the good.

2. Hang Out With Musicians

This is practical for a couple of reasons:

You can discover new songs. Some of my favorite Christian songs were first heard when my musical friends performed them. The songs may or may not have been on popular radio.

Live music can often sound better than recorded. Music performed in front of you can be real and raw. Again, with number 1 above, the key is to hang out with friends whose music you like.



A Final Word: God Is In Music

A couple of nights ago, I was at Wheaton College with a group of church friends for a concert. It was late and I admittedly yawned more than once at the slow folk music. But I was reminded of the power music can have upon people when one of the musicians, John Mark Mcmillan, finished his last song with his band. The band walked off stage, the lights dimmed, and the crowd was almost ready to go home.

Then, John’s dark figure walked across the stage and down into the pit of concertgoers. Sitting near the back of the auditorium, I could only hear a faint whisper, as the rest of the crowd strained to hear what was going on. The whisper soon became louder, and then a full chorus sung by all:

Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.

In that dark room shone the light of God’s presence as His children sung His praises. The Holy Spirit was tangibly visiting us. God can make His presence known through any means. In that moment He chose music.

And that is why Christians have the best music.




Additional Resources:

Stetzer, Ed. "Church Music Conflicts." Christianity Today, 28 May 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2016. <http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/may/church-music-conflicts.html>.


"14 Inspiring Christian Quotes about Music | ChristianQuotes.info." ChristianQuotes.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2016. <http://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/14-inspiring-christian-quotes-about-music/>.