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Showing posts with label Christian Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Music. Show all posts

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Christian Music

Where to listen to Christian music online

Air1 Radio Online - Christian Rock/Alternative
KLove Radio Online - Christian Contemporary
WayFM - Christain Contemporary/Rock

Other Music Resources

Christian Guitar Tabs
Jesus Freak Hideout - Jesus, faith, music
Christian Music: God Honoring? - Article

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Body of Christ

Listen to song in the video embedded below. Then continue on to the Bible study below to gain some deeper understanding of it from the scriptures.

Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” This verse is telling us that ALL believers… all people who are saved by Jesus, are considered one body with each other, and are called the “Body of Christ.” In the next scripture we see how the word "members" means a body part.


1Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Let’s look at this verse this way: Can your foot kick a ball? Yes. Can your hand kick a ball? No. What about the hand, can it catch a ball? Yes. Can a foot catch a ball? No. We are members of Christ’s body… in other words we are one body part or another, but not all the body parts, and together with other believers we make up the whole entire body of Christ. Some people might be a foot, or a hand, or the heart, or the mouth, or the ears. Each body part has it’s own part to play. The feet walk, the hands do, the eyes see, the ears hear, the mouth speaks… you may not be as good at some things as other people are, but you will be good at something, and God will use you to do good things with the things you are good at. If you are good at comforting people, he might use you to do that. If you have a way with words, he might use you to spread the Gospel. If you have a talent in healing people, then he might use you to do that. So don’t worry if you’re not good at everything, you are a single body part of Christ, and what you aren’t good at, other body parts (other people) will be good at. It’s up to you to let God use you and what you’re good at for His will. In Romans 12:5 (above) we saw that we are all "members one of another." This would suggest that when we become part of Christ's body we also become part of other believer's bodies, and should then do our best to help them in whatever way we can with whatever talents or gifts we have. If we serve as their foot, then help them walk. If we serve as a hand, then help them do.


Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
Whatever we do we need to do it as if we are a part of Christ’s body… a hand, a foot, whatever, we need to do as Christ would do. Jesus would comfort people, heal people, help people, and give his time to people among other things, and we need to do these things too. We should never ever be ashamed of what we do in Christ, but be bold in Christ. Whatever we do that is right in God’s eyes gives glory to God, and ‘magnifies’ God… it builds him up and puts the spotlight on him. If people see you doing good things in the name of the Lord, the spotlight will get put onto Jesus so he can do His work. If you let him, Jesus will do His work through you, but you have to open up your heart to him, and be willing to let him use you to help others.


Ephesians 4:11-12
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Remember how we just talked about the foot doing what a foot does best, and a hand doing what a hand does best? This scripture is talking about the same thing. God makes some people feet, some people hands, some people mouths… he makes some people apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers, etc… all of it is for the work of the Ministry, and all of it is to edify Christ and the entire body of Christ. Even if you’re not doing the same thing as somebody else is doing, so long as you are doing God’s work, it will edify all believers… it will edify God. It will shine the spotlight on God and give God the glory. Remember, that you should be doing good things in God’s name. That means that if you go do some charity work for poor people, and they say thank you, you should shine the spotlight on God, and say, “This is what God wants me to do,” or, “I’m doing this for God because it’s what He would do,” or you could say anything like this that would give the glory to God. Even though you did the work, it was really God working through you, and therefore God should get the glory, not us.

To me, this song is asking us: If we as Christian's are the body of Christ, then why aren't we doing as Christ did, and continues to do? Why aren't we showing compassion, why aren't we spreading the Word of God, why aren't we helping others, even those who aren't Christians? Today an air of self-righteousness has come upon many Christians, making them believe they are better than everybody else, and should not spend their time helping others. Self-righteous Christians won't even sit by a poor person or be friends with an unsaved sinner. But Jesus loved the poor and spent his time with all manner of people, whether they believed or not. You can't spread the Word if you're not out among the unsaved.

-CBSB

Friday, December 14, 2007

Christian Music: God Honoring?

To me music is a very powerful thing.  Sometimes it makes me feel, think, and act. Music can deliver a powerful message to masses of people. What better way to preach the message or tell others of God's love in such a powerful way, than with a song that they can stick into their CD player, walk around listening to on their MP3 player or drive around listening to on the Radio? Even KLOVE radio boasts that people get saved by listening to certain songs on their station.  


Unfortunately today our definition of "Christian" music has begun to include songs that are not God honoring and in some cases are very worldly, and are instead just considered "nice" and without cuss words. Yes, it is good to give your kids something to listen to without cuss words, but that doesn't mean it should be classified as Christian. Being a Christian is more than just using nice or  appropriate language... it's about being saved by Grace, about loving and honoring God with all your heart and with all your actions.  One would think then that to be considered 'Christian' music, that the song should in some way reflect Christian values, biblical messages, Christian struggles, or something about God.

I'd like to give you a few examples of "Christian" music that is God honoring, and not God honoring.

First lets start with two God honoring songs below. Included is the lyrics and videos:

This song is taken from the WOW Hits 2008 CD. "Tears of the Saints" by Leeland. Listen to video below and see lyrics below video.

1)



Lyrics: There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In it’s state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!

And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

This song is obviously "God" honoring for numerous reasons: First it talks about reaching out your hands to help those in need, and not only in need of help physically, but also spiritually. It is a definite call to all of us to lead the "prodigal sons" of this world, back to Christ.


According to Jesusfreakhideout.com "Leeland Mooring says it was a Sunday afternoon during a quiet devotional time that he sensed what he calls a presence of God. “I was playing piano, just worshiping, and I asked in prayer, ‘God, just give me your heart for the lost.’” It was a hope to feel the longing God feels for people struggling to find their way. “And then I started crying—it was as if God gave me a little glimpse of his heart,” Leeland continues. “‘Tears of the Saints’ came out, and it’s about how for every person who is out there lost there is probably about five people praying for them.” More, the track illuminates the vision the band has for its ministry. “We want to see kids saved,” the songwriter affirms. “What’s awesome about this song live, is how it touches people,” bassist Jake Holtz adds. “The Lord is just blessing people. You can see change coming across their faces. It’s nothing we’re doing. God’s just working through us with this song.”I would say that this song is 'God honoring' or 'Christian' because it takes it's lyrics from principles out of the Bible and conveys a message from the Bible to believers and non-believers alike.  A non-Christian would listen to this CD and be able to distinguish it from a secular song right away.
2) Another Christian song that could be considered "God" honoring would be East to West by Casting Crowns.



Lyrics:

Here I am Lord and I’m drowning, in Your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me, I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight
I know you’ve cast my sin as far as the East is from the West
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Chorus:
Jesus can you show me just how far the east is from the west
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
And time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
from You leaving me this way

I know You’ve washed me white
Turn my darkness into life
I need Your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel
About the truth Your word reveals
I’m not holding on to You
But You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me

Jesus You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
In your arms of Your mercy I find rest
cause You know how far the east is from the west
from one scarred hand to the other

**---------------****------------------**
And now let's take a look at a few songs found on Christian CD's that are not very God honoring, if at all:

(This song can be found on the WOW hits 2008 CD) Hawk Nelson - The Show

1)

Everywhere i go its all being taken
pick me up a book about new sensations
take me to a place with no frustration
back it up before i lose my patience

Here we go lets take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn on your radio wo-oh
lets go take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn up your radio

Call me on the phone or two way pager
won't be coming home so see ya later
you can keep your cars and your jet black hummer
you won't see me again until next summer
Here we go lets take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn on your radio wo-oh
lets go take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn up your radio

Come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright
come on if your feeling, if your feeling alright

Yeh yeh yeh yeh

Here we go lets take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn on your radio wo-oh
lets go take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn up your radio
here we go lets take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn on your radio wo-oh
lets go take them to the show wo-oh
come on turn up your radio

Its a party
come on ya'll
do you feel good
oh oh feel good
clap your hands
its a party come on yeh yeh yeh yeh

Now, not that the above is a bad song, or that it speaks about bad things (although it does speak a lot about living to feel good (something sinners do rather than living to be fulfilled by God) it says nothing whatsoever about God, His message, or being a Christian. I can not see a single thing that makes this song a 'Christian' song, so I find myself asking, what is it doing on an all Christian CD?  Just because it's written by a group of Christians doesn't mean that the song itself is a Christian song.  If a non-Christian listened to this song, how would they know it was Christian?  They wouldn't, and if someone told them this was a Christian song, they might think, "Ok, so Christians believe it's good to go party all night and not come home..."


2) This is a song from the CD: Nothing is Sound by Switchfoot, a CD I bought in a Christian store in the Christian music section. "The Blues" by Switchfoot:

"The Blues"

Is this the New Year or just another night?
Is this the new fear or just another fright?
Is this the new tear or just another desperation?

Is this the finger or just another fist?
Is this the kingdom or just a hit n' miss?
A misdirection, most in all this desperation

Is this what they call freedom?
Is this what you call pain?
Is this what they call discontented fame?

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in, When the world caves in, When the world caves in

I'm singing this one like a broken piece of glass
From broken arms an' broken noses in the back
Is this the New Year or just another desperation?

You're pushing till you're shoving
You bend until you break
Till you stand on the broken fields where our fathers lay

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in, When the world caves in,When the world caves in
When the world caves in, When the world caves in, When the world caves in

There's nothing here worth saving,
Is no one here at all?
Is there any net left that could break our fall?

It'll be a day like this one
When the sky falls down and the hungry and poor and deserted are found
Are you discontented? Have you been pushing hard?
Have you been throwing down this broken house of cards?

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in, When the world caves in, When the world caves in

Is there nothing left now?
Nothing left to sing
Are there any left who hasn't kiss the enemy?
Is this the New Year or just another desperation?

Does justice never find you? Do the wicked never lose?
Is there any honest song to sing besides these blues?

And nothing is okay
Till the world caves in, Till the world caves in
Till the world caves in, Till the world caves in, Till the world caves in
Until the world caves in, Until the world caves in, Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in ,Until the world caves in Until the world caves in

Again, another nice song, but not very God honoring by our definition above, and yet it's still considered "Christian". This song says nothing about God, His Word, His Message, Christian values, or being Christian. What then makes this song Christian music?

These are just my thoughts on the subject. When I think about a non-believer picking up a Christian CD and not being able to hear any kind of Message about God and Salvation, it makes me sad to know that as "Christians" we have failed miserably. It's ok to have "family friendly" music out there, and I encourage it, but we shouldn't label all of that "nice" music, as Christian.

Monday, December 3, 2007

He Reigns by Newsboys

Well, here it is, the first music video from http://christianbiblestudyblog.blogspot.com. I hope you enjoy it. This has always been one of my favorite songs by the Newsboys. I find it inspiring, and I thought that YouTube was a good way to share the inspiration with others. Let me know what you think! (May take a few seconds to load once you click play).

You can also find this video on our new Bible Study Video page here. A new link has also been added to the top right of this page to get to that portion of our blog.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5



-CBSB

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