Majestic or Merely Mediocre? A Look at the Musical Quality of Contemporary Christian Music

By Mollie Ziegler

Music, whether it’s in the form of hymns, classical sonatas, hip-hop jams, or rock n’ roll anthems, is a beautiful gift from God. Tempo and rhythm, pitch, melody and harmony, and the pattern and repetition of songs combine to inspire creative thoughts, heal emotional wounds, and expose listeners to other cultures.

Some songs are better than others, and some bands more skilled than others. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in music theory to know that the Beatles are better than Britney Spears. Similarly, you don’t have to be a musical expert to know that much of Contemporary Christian Music sounds boring and lifeless compared to its secular counterparts.

The reason why so much modern Christian music sounds so awful is because too many Christian musicians think the message contained in the song is more important than the musical quality. Some Christian musicians think they’re more holy by writing songs that name-drop Jesus than by simply making great music. And even if their lyrics weren’t theologically vague or false most of the time, they would still be wrong to think a mediocre song is holy just because it has a moral message.

Our Lutheran forefathers dealt with this problem before. In Martin Luther’s time, the Roman Catholic Church taught it was nobler to leave the secular world and hide away in a monastery than to be a student, farmer, or shopkeeper. But Luther said that we serve God and our neighbors by doing our work and hobbies to the best of our abilities.

“[T]he works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they may be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks, but that all works are measured before God by faith alone,” Luther said.

God gives each of us different abilities, responsibilities, and interests. These combine to form our vocation. Some people are students , some are not. Some are artists, some are not. Some are math whizzes, some are not. Whatever your vocation, you should do your work to the best of your ability. And that’s how you serve God.

Not everyone has the piano skills of Alicia Keys, the lyrical flow of Kanye West, or the vocal range of Kelly Clarkson. Many contemporary Christian songwriters and musicians seem to think their musical shortcomings don’t matter. They believe they can save a bad song by slapping an “I Heart Jesus” sticker on it. The Contemporary Christian Music industry knows that pious Christians – seeking to avoid the evil lyrics and culture of some secular music – will purchase Christian tunes no matter what.

What’s worse, rather than utilizing God’s gift of creativity –which would enable Christian musicians to develop new sounds, new rhythms, and new expressions – most contemporary Christian artists ape secular sounds that have already been developed. They mimic the same popular trends, creating disposable and boring music. Certainly this is not the best way to showcase the everlasting and vibrant message of the Gospel of Christ!

Christians with musical vocations should not produce cookie-cutter, artless music that ties vague, moral messages to the latest flash-in-the-pan musical trends. And Christians shouldn’t reward such mediocrity. Instead, musicians should craft a body of music that intrigues the listener through originality, passion, and artful descriptions of moral themes.

God sends the gift of rain on the just and unjust, according to St. Matthew. Similarly, musical creativity – a gift from God – can be found among Christians and non-Christians. It’s up to you – the listener – to discern what is valuable to listen to as a Christian. It is also just as important for you to determine which songs and lyrics are harmful or worthless.

There’s a world of music out there waiting to be discovered and rediscovered. It’s your vocation to find quality music and enjoy it. And for those budding Christian musicians out there, we’re counting on you to create amazing music that challenges and inspires the world – not copies it.

Mollie Ziegler is a member of the Higher Things board of directors. She lives in Washington, D.C. and attends Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. You can contact her at mollieziegler@gmail.com.