I once had a seminary professor who described the vast majority of contemporary Christian music as “la la la fluff”. It’s lots of smiles, joyful praise, beautiful strains of melody, uplifted hands, etc., etc. Of course, music is meant to be uplifting and inspiring. The power of music stirs within the deepest crevices of our souls. Even the most simple melodies can lift us into a near-heaven euphoria.
(I’m convinced there are several earthly things which give us the greatest foretaste of heaven to come: stirring music, savory food, and being loved by another human being. I’m going to be partial here and say that Mozart and Bach, Indian and barbecue, and a child’s hug and kiss bring the veil between heaven and us to its very thinest membrane.)
So it’s no wonder that most Christian music aims to be beautiful, to stir us towards joy, a passionate love of God, and the peace of his embrace. It’s happy music- lush, melodious, and beautiful. The problem, however, is that in some seasons of life, this kind of music sounds all too bland, sappy, and shallow.
Life is not an unbroken chorus of harmonious melodies. There are dissonant times- more often than we care to admit- in which the journey of faith is jagged and broken. We live with grief, anger, depression, confusion, betrayal… the darker things. Indeed they are painful to talk about, much less sing about in Christianity, but they exist. And we ignore this darker side to our peril.
The book of Psalms stand as a constant reminder that worshipping God is not always a pretty affair. One third of all the psalms are lament psalms. These psalms of lament push us to bring our darker, doubting, confused selves into worship, too. It’s not nice. In fact, this kind of worship is rough and ragged and seemingly impolite among mixed company who would rather us focus merely on the good, lovely things, meanwhile ignoring those parts of ourselves not yet healed and reconciled to God, to others, and to ourselves.
Again, we simply cannot turn a blind eye to our darkness with any kind of integrity.
Take, for example, one of the more ugly, disturbing Psalms. It’s Psalm 137:
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars
we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
my highest joy.7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!”
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.
Very good post. I agree with your view that most contemporary Christian songs are upbeat and positive and we tend to sing those songs in church. But, there are songs that artists are creating that paints a much different picture. Some of the songs may not be played by the radio stations or sung in church services. “Praise You In The Storm” by Casting Crowns was the first song that popped in my head, that is different than most other songs and it does get considerable radio play. There are other songs by Casting Crowns, Third Day and Matthew West that are similar, too, among other artists. During their concerts, when they talk about the song and the background story, the song’s purpose then strikes a loud chord in me from that point forward, every time I hear it. I feel that we need to talk about these types of life examples and perhaps sing these songs in church, also. It may touch someone else the same way these songs touch us.
Hey Stan- It’s great to hear from you brother! I agree with you very much that groups like Casting Crowns and Third Day don’t ignore the darker side and certainly sing about it. I think about Casting Crowns’ “If We Are the Body” or “Does Anybody Hear Her”. There’s certainly more of that kind of music with themes that acknowledge struggle and brokenness. I guess what I’d like to see more of (and what I’m creating) are songs that are edgier that deal head on with the kind of emotions we see expressed in scriptures like Psalm 13, Psalm 137, and Psalm 88. There are times in which all we have are doubts, questions, fears, anger, etc. We wrestle in prayer with God about it, but we’re not at the place of fully trusting or reconciling our pain and fears to God. I’ve been there and I’ve pastored many people who have been there, too. What would it be like to worship God like these psalms do, expressing this brokenness? It’s not comfortable or nice, but it is a huge step closer to full faith, healing, and wholeness.
I appreciate this article. as a musician I am at present writing praise and worship songs that reflect some of these “forbidden” themes. God does value our raw honesty and authenticity about the jagged edges of real life. Please pray for my music as it comes together thank you.
Most Christian radio stations are not formatted to play the Blues, even Gospel Blues. However, what would you call the Book of Lamentations by the Prophet Jeremiah if not the Blues? David (sad Psalms), Paul, and even Jesus “Despaired unto Death”. So why can’t Christian stations air songs that address this very real part of a Christian’s life? I wrote a song to a Christian lady contemplating suicide entitled: “You Are Worth it All” which edified her and prevented this tragedy? What is wrong with air this on the radio?
Kindest regards in Christ, the God of ALL Comfort!
James Sundquist
Eaglemasterworksproductions.com