Christian Music

A few months ago, I read a Newsweek (or was it Time?) review of Chris Tomlin. The magazine admired his ability to make popular songs, not by selling records, but rather writing songs that are sung by millions every Sunday morning across the USA. However, it reminded me that often there is something deeper. It mentioned how one of his songs (which I happen to like and has been sung by every church I've attended since its inception) could to compare with the likes of classical Christian music of previous centuries. It's a bit like saying Metallica can't compare with Wagner, but it made its point.

Uwe Siemon-Netto, in the below article from the journal First Things shows us how Bach has been an effective tool of worship and ministry, particularly for those who perform his work.

http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2628&var_recherche=Bach

We may be excited when Chris Tomlin is interviewed in a national magazine, or when Mercy Me is played on "secular" radio, or even when a Christian like Sufjan Stevens is considered artistic and avaunt garde. However, in a Christian culture where to sing "Come Thou Found of Every Blessing" a Capella (and this is one of my favorite ways to worship) is considered "singing the classics," perhaps it would do us some good to educate ourselves about Bach and Handel, among many others.