Contemporary
Gospel Music
Ok
so what is gospel music to begin with? Well am glad you asked. The
definition of gospel is good news. So if this is gospel music, then
what is this good news music we so love to talk about. Am sure a lot
of people would agree with me that music has the power to transform
you from that lonely state and those estranged feelings to that
vibrant self you love. But what is it then about gospel music that
makes it special. Tell you what, before we can even delve into all
that good stuff, I would first want submit to you that I am a firm
believer in the power of words, and a big component of music is
words. That’s why it matters to me what those lyrics are saying to
me.
Anyhow,
we’re in this age of contemporary gospel music. And to say the
least, it’s overtaken a lot of us. I look at contemporary music as
a tool that God has placed in our hands, hearts, and souls to reach a
generation for such a time as this. Now, right from the get go, I
would love to underscore that I am not neglecting the…”speak to
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making music in our hearts to the Lord…” (Ephesians 5:19), that
is an integral part of our Christian existence no doubt!!! All am
trying to say is that God asked Moses to part the Red Sea using his
rod, and yet the same God told Joshua to use the Ark of the Covenant
to cross over Jordan, but in both instances, the Israelites crossed
on dry land and God was glorified.
With
that said, I am not suggesting that you turn off your spiritual
antennas and fail to “test the spirits, whether they are of
God…because by this you will know the Spirit of God: every spirit
that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not
of God” (1 John 4:1). Lord knows am glad that He has simplified His
word so it’s not rocket science. You may ask, so now that we have
established the obvious, what next?
The
dictionary defines contemporary as existing, occurring, or living at
the same time; belonging to the same time; of the present time or
modern. We are living in a time when there are so many vices that the
youth find themselves engaged in, but what bothers me is that no one
even seems to care. We all want to have that thing that draws people
to us, and as the Church of Christ, we want to know how God will use
us to minister to the youth. We want to give them something that is
clearly a breath of fresh air as new converts, something that won’t
bore them to death, but should at the same time altogether minister
to their spirits. The question on a lot of “young Christians’”
minds is…so where do I draw the line and what distinguishes
Spirit-filled songs from something that’s just gonna make me pop
and lock. I do not claim to know it all but I guess we can try to
figure it out together.
I
remember growing up in a Christian family and trekking to Church
every Sunday morning, mid-week Bible studies, choir rehearsal, name
it I was there. But when I went to high school I got myself a
boyfriend and started the whole “dedication” ritual, you know…no
baby I want you to listen to this song, bla bla bla…and before I
knew it, I was listening to stuff other than my “dedications”,
and now I had my own play list. Slowly but surely, I was drifting
from the gospel music I once loved and embraced, and it got harder by
the day to sing in the choir with the same conviction I once had. Ok
I know what you thinking, more like…dude what’s this got to do
with contemporary gospel music? Well the point I am trying to make is
like the Bible says “all things are permissible, but not all things
are beneficial, all things are lawful for me, but I will not be
brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). I am telling
you this story because all of us have what seems to be a valid excuse
for listening to whatever it is we listening to, or doing whatever it
is we are doing. But the question we should be asking ourselves
is…how beneficial is it to us and under what subjection and slavery
are we placing ourselves?
With
that said, I cannot begin to count how many people I have talked to
that have told me that they don’t see anything wrong in listening
to whatever they are listening to because they cannot seem to tell
the difference between the so called worldly music and contemporary
gospel music. To be truthfully honest, a part of me doesn’t blame
them at all. There have been a number of occasions when I have tuned
into Christian radio stations and wondered if I had pushed the wrong
button because some songs just leave a lot of questions in my mind
too. It’s like am going like…”well, when are going to get to
the actual gospel in this song, or is this just another feel good
song?” so guess what? The only thing you and I can do is to make
sure that the Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of us can confirm
and testify to the lyrics of that song. It doesn’t sound so
straight forward I suppose, but the simplest way to put it is…”that
which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit” (John 3: 6). And since we have the same Spirit of
God in us, the spirit should bear witness to itself (Romans 8: 16).
I
love me some good music, and am sure a lot of people do too. I love
when I can tap to some music without even thinking about it and when
my fingers snap with the beat. lol, and aint nothing wrong with
having a good time in the Lord. But careful with it, it may sound
good, and look good, and it sure can even seem to be “representing”
but if it aint got Jesus in it, baby its shoddy and it aint gospel.
If
this is too radical, then my work here is done. We are living in the
end times. Therefore we need some radical authenticity in the Church.
Remember, the devil “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8) but I refuse to fall prey to his
skims and am sure you can stand on God’s word too and reclaim
everything the devil has stolen from you. If we are going to be
effective in our ministries and leading this world to Christ, we are
going to have to stand on the uncompromised Word of God. I like how
Tye Tribbett puts it…”be black or be white, no more shades of
gray, be separated, be holy, no matter what you do don’t bow, and
even if you stand alone, stand anyhow”. You know why this is
important? I’ll tell you why…because “the earnest expectation
of the creation eagerly waits for the manifestation of the sons of
God” (Romans 8: 19). This simply means that the world is waiting
for us to quit giving excuses and start living lives that are worthy
of the calling of Jesus Christ. We need to have that thing that will
draw them to Christ, in our everyday lives, in our speech, in our
conduct, and more so in our music. We are only but vessels, and God
would like to use us to leave an indelible mark on this world.
Therefore, “preach the word! In season, and out of season” (1
Timothy 4: 2) that includes our music too. So yes, contemporary
gospel music is in the in-thing, and yes, it can be Holy Ghost filled
while you dance to it. We are the generation that will change this
world by the power that is living on the inside of us. And having
done all to stand, stand therefore…” (Ephesians 6: 13-14). by Mercy Ngosa.
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