I recently read the above quotation in an article written by famous author and pastor Rick Warren.  I thought it was fairly interesting.  I’ve grown up all my life reading or listening to the works of Frank Garlock, Tim Fisher and Mac Lynch - The fundamental trio when it comes to the area of music and morality.  I wonder if they can’t go on tour together, like the Three Tenors or something…  Throw in Ron Hamilton and you have the ultimate quartet group in fundamental history!  Imagine the record sales!  Move over Casting Crowns and Petra!  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yes, the Warren quote…

This quote interested me because for the first time I am reading this first hand.  In other words, I didn’t pick up this quote from a Garlock book or hear it in an over-zealous fundamental, pulpit-pounding session.  Here it is, he said it.

What did he say?  According to his article, popular music of the day must be used to reach the lost.  This is a part of his purpose-driven mentality – a seeker sensitive church.  But I think it says more than that.  He said that we as Christians need to take something (here-music) and use it to communicate our values.  By this statement, I would assume that Mr. Warren considers this tool (music) to be an outside, a-moral entity.  It would be like saying, we need to use radio to reach the lost.  Or, we need to use books and pamphlets to reach the lost. 

But let us not be mistaken here.  He does not simply say we need to use music to reach the lost.  So, in this sense, the debate about whether music in general is moral or amoral does not apply here.  He is speaking of a particular form a music.  That form is contemporary.  What does contemporary mean?  In this sense, according to Mr. Webster, it would mean, “Marked by characteristics of the present period.” 

I choose that definition because of the context in which Warren speaks.  He wants to use the music of this age to reach this age.  In a sense, he wants to use their own music against them.  Back to the quote – he wants to take contemporary music to communicate godly values.  In other words, this form of communication does not already communicate godly values.  Notice, he did not say he wanted to use CHRISTIAN contemporary music (CCM) to communicate.  He wants to use music marked by characteristics of this present period.  In Biblical terms we would simply call that the world’s music. 

Also notice, this music does communicate – the very musical notes themselves.  He admits that.  By promoting the use of contemporary music, I am sure even Mr. Warren would not condone the lyrics of contemporary music to be played in his church service.  After all, he wants to use this form of music to communicate a gospel message.  So he is music that is marked (known for, associated with) by characteristics of the world.  The world uses this music to communicate messages of immorality, ungodliness and debauchery.  This music then would be marked by those ideas. 

Of course this music (not lyrics) communicates a message.  That is why rock artists and others use it.  It fits with their messages.  Warren, later in the article, confirms it.  When advising on how to determine which music is best for your church, he asserts this is one of the questions to be asked, “How does the tune make me feel?”  How should music typically used to promote sin make me feel? 

This tainted music now, according to Warren, is to be Christianized and used in worship to a holy God?    Have we completely lost any concept of that word holiness?  Pure, without spot, clean – these synonyms do not seem to fit the world’s message or the music characterized by it.  Four times in Scripture we are told to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (I Chron 16:29, II Chron 20:21, Ps 29:2, Ps 96:6).  Using the world’s music in this fashion does not seem to fit this qualification.  Worldly music dressed in Christian words is still worldly music at its core.  Nothing has changed.  By the way, this is the very definition of CCM.  Warren did not need to use that term (CCM), he was defining that term.

Before we are saved, we are the wretched enemies of God according to Romans 5.  We can make it sound nice to say we are “seeker-sensitive,” but this philosophy is more accurately giving aid and comfort to God’s enemies!  Why is our worship of Holy God dictated and formed by the very people who oppose God?  This is not the God of Isaiah 6.

Yet, after salvation, a great change is brought about.  All of our sin is wiped away and cleansed in the precious blood of Christ.  We are new creatures.  Replacing our sin is the very righteousness of Christ Himself.  It has been placed on our account.  One day, in a glorified state, we will be brought before the Lord as a glorious church not having spot nor wrinkle. 

In the meanwhile, we who have been sanctified (made clean) are constantly commanded to “put off the old man.”  We are told that we are dead to sin and should not live any longer therein.  We are told to separate ourselves and touch not the unclean thing.  We are even told not to love the world or anything in it.

As regenerated Christians, this idea of worshipping with worldly music should be abhorrent.  It goes against our very “new” nature.  God spared no expense in making His children pure and spotless.  How dare we suggest that worldly music, coming from a culture He died to save us from and commands us to leave, be used in worship. 

Later in this article Warren writes, “In Psalm 40:3 (NCV) David says, ‘He put a NEW song in my mouth ... Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord.’ Notice the clear connection between music and evangelism: ‘Then they will trust the Lord.’”  First of all, what is leading these people to trust in the Lord?  To agree with Warren and the context of his statement, I would have to assume David is telling us of a person listening to great music and then coming to conversion.  Yet, this is not what the text pictures for us.  are they coming to the Lord because of something they heard, or something they saw?  The text says, “…Many shall see it…”  That is the KJV rendering.  Yet even in the NCV Warren quoted, the many are seeing not hearing.  What they are seeing is the power of a transformed life.  They are seeing former inhabitant of the miry clay, standing up on a rock.  He is now praising the Lord in word and song.  That is an incredible sight.

Yet, for moment, let us assume then that it is the song itself, not just the testimony that brings others to Christ.  Still, it is the changed life that brings a NEW song.  A new song is just that, new.  It is not like the old song.  In other words, to be new, it was not something the “many” were accustomed with. Again, Mr. Warren suggests we use contemporary (worldly) music to reach the lost with the gospel.  This verse says quite the opposite. 

Mr. Warren further suggests, getting back to our original quotation, that unless worldly music is used, “Satan will have an unchallenged access to an entire generation.”  I would take issue with that statement.  Let us always remember that God is sovereign over all.  The only power Satan has is that which is allowed by God.  The power of Christ comes through the obedience to Christ.  He has given us all authority, let us not think we are in a fierce struggle and desperate for any measures to win.  Instead, we put on the whole armor of God.  With His weapons we fight, not with the enemy’s sword.  We move ahead knowing the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. 

We wish not to lower ourselves to the level of our enemy, instead we are to lift up the fallen and point them to the One who is high and lifted up.  We are to show them the stark contrast between a world filled with deceitful uncertainty and a Holy, Righteous God in whom there is no shadow of turning.  I cannot see how worldly music can speak of a transcendent, supernatural God.  

The battleground for Christian music, as Tim Fisher refers to it as, is not simply a fundamentalist mantra.  Nor is it an argument over style and preference.  We worship a holy God.  How are we to come before a holy God?  Psalm 24 shows us the answer.  Verses 3-4 say, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”  Do the words clean and pure describe contemporary, worldly music?  I do not believe so.  Yet, vanity and deceit certainly seem descriptive of such music.  We worship the Lord on His terms, not our own.  God’s standard is holiness.  God’s standard has always been holiness.  How can we bring Him anything less?

Rick Warren’s Article may be found here: