Faith is more than music
By Mike Haynes
I don’t
listen to Christian music.
It isn’t
that I don’t appreciate the radio stations and bands and singers of all music
styles that present the message of Jesus in song. It just doesn’t keep my
attention. And I’m not bored easily.
A lot of
the contemporary Christian music that I hear sounds the same: kind of whiney
with no real tune. The words are meaningful, but they just go up and down the
musical scale and up and down again. It’s similar to the modern country music
that I try to avoid.
Spiritual
music does inspire people. I’ve experienced Christian inspiration, often in
conjunction with music. I suppose I just feel like I’m convinced of the truth
and majesty of God and don’t need regular reminders coming through my car
speakers or my smartphone.
That’s a
little cynical, like occasional thoughts that I don’t need to hear sermons
because the pastor is “preaching to the choir.” Listening to the gospel from
the pulpit never should get old, but I’ll admit I sometimes get complacent and
think I’ve heard it all before.
I should
get past that attitude about hearing sermons, but I don’t feel so guilty about
not putting my radio on K-Love. I love the message, but I get more inspiration
from reading. The Bible first, and writers such as C.S. Lewis, Philip Yancey, Joy
Jordan-Lake. Christianity Today magazine. I know more about Christian writers
than about Third Day or TobyMac. (I had to Google “Christian musicians” to
recall those names.)
I do like
selected praise music, having gotten involved in the Walk to Emmaus in the
1990s. Some of that inspiration I mentioned has come from songs such as David
Ruis’ “We Will Dance” and “Shine, Jesus, Shine,” written, surprisingly, by
1960s British rocker Cliff Richard.
Kathy and I
both love to hear “He Reigns” by Newsboys, “Revelation Song” by Phillips, Craig
and Dean and “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe. But day to day, I’m listening to
news and talk radio, the satellite ’60s station or classic rock on the Eagle.
In worship,
I like a mix. We shouldn’t jettison old hymns such as “Blessed Assurance” by
blind Fanny Crosby, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by Methodist Charles
Wesley or, of course, “Amazing Grace,” but some loud guitars and drums are OK,
too. Throw in Bill Gaither’s “He Touched Me” and a little “I’ll Fly Away.”
In the car,
though, I’m more likely to get a Beatles or Bon Jovi fix.
So when
Sunday school classmates get excited about seeing Casting Crowns at the civic
center next month, I’ll quietly be glad for them – and thankful for my Paul
McCartney tickets.
* * *
Mike Haynes teaches journalism at Amarillo
College. He can be reached at AC, the Amarillo Globe-News or haynescolumn@hotmail.com. Go to www.haynescolumn.blogspot.com for other recent columns.
