Sword & Trowel 2015: Issue 1
lowest common denominator, most of whom have been brainwashed by secular pop music all their lives. Chris Tomlin plays in almost exactly the same way, rejoicing in his medioc- rity behind a façade of humility. Local churches often try to mimic
CCM artists with half a band in a small congregation, without any of the technological gloss that their musical heroes have at their dis- posal. The result of this is usually extremely embarrassing for members of the church and off-putting to the unbeliever. Reformed worshippers certainly value simplicity in their worship, but they are not holding up their musicians as superstars and claiming their compositions to be sig-
nifi cant works of art. It might also be worth considering that even the most able CCM artists and their work are usually viewed with utter disdain by secular artists, perhaps in part due to its message, but more often due to its poor musical quality. Frank Breeden, president of the Gospel Music Association, defends the use of popular music styles by claiming that ‘there really is no such thing as a Christian B-fl at. Music in itself is an amoral vehicle.’ This may sound plausible on the surface, but no one is simply sounding a B-fl at and foolishly claiming that indi- vidual pitches are good or evil, so the argument is a straw man. Without re- course to vague notions of the power
THE ROPEHOLDER FROM AN ITEM IN THE FIRST ‘SWORD & TROWEL’, 1865
‘I
’LL GO DOWN if father will hold the rope,’ was the offer of a Highland lad, when a traveller wanted him to reach the eggs of a wild bird which had built on a rocky ledge. The boy felt that there would be no danger if the rope was in his father’s hand, for he had a powerful arm, and a loving heart, and would not leave his own child to perish. Timid believers are afraid to begin to work for Christ. To teach in the Sun- day School, to commence a Tract District, to visit the cottagers, to preach on the green, any of these seem to them to be too arduous and diffi - cult. Suppose they were to look up to their Heavenly Father, and rely upon his promised aid, might they not venture? It cannot need much courage to rely upon Almighty strength. Go, dear friend, to thy work, and thy Father will hold the rope.
A Musician’s Perspective on Contemporary Christian Music page 19
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