Contemporary Christian music …

Christian Century, March 8, 2003 by Sharon Rankins-Burd

AS A MINISTER of music serving a church in upstate New York, I agree that much of today's contemporary Christian music is not theologically "deep" (see Mark Allan Powell's "Jesus climbs the charts," Dec. 18-31). However, I'm not sure it needs to be. For the purposes of driving around in my car, I much prefer hearing about God's love on the Christian station to what's being offered by most of the commercial stations. Furthermore, when my seven-year-old daughter is in the car I'm thrilled to hear her singing along to Rich Mullins's "Awesome God" or Jaci Velazquez's "God So Loved." She likes to wake to the radio, and I can trust what she will hear on a Christian station first thing in the morning. I cannot say the same for the rock stations in our area.

Christians do not need to enjoy the same music. There are a great number of people who would never share my enthusiasm for contemporary Christian music, because it simply doesn't appeal to them. It cannot and should not serve as our only source of theology. But if it appeals to my daughter, who is young in her faith, then it likely has appeal to others who may still be young in their faith, adults included. Or it may simply be the better option when choosing a radio station. After all, if we are called to set ourselves apart from the world, then choosing not to listen to commerical radio and secular music would seem a logical choice to make. I for one am glad there are some Christians choosing to make contemporary albums, and radio stations and concert halls willing to give wings to their voices.

Sharon Rankins-Burd
West Winfield, N.Y.