Personally I am not a big fan of the ‘Christian music’ scene and even less of Christian concerts. I’m not saying that there is de facto anything wrong with them – I’m just not keen – unless you count Bach as Christian music…! However there are some great Christian musicians out there who are using their gifts for the glory of God (not least in the St Petes praise bands!). In Scotland we don’t have a big Christian music scene, so it could hardly be called Big Business! I actually don’t know a great deal about Christian music – Lecrae and Rend Collective are about my limits. But there are exceptions – I love the Simon Kennedy band and their real R ‘n’ B songs and sound. Sons of Korah are to my mind streets ahead of most secular bands. And I really enjoy the New Scottish. Who they? In their own words…
“New Scottish Arts is an arts outreach & education ministry. Our purpose is to serve the Christian community in Scotland by enabling Christians to share their faith through the creative arts, by facilitating vibrant outreach events and projects that will impact on local communities and the whole of Scotland.”
New Scottish Hymns come from that stable. They have already produced an excellent album – from which we in St Peters use several of their songs.
And now they have just given us another one – We Shall all be Changed.
The track listing is:
Wake Up My Soul – Ps 103
Union with Christ –
We shall all be changed –
Faithful to Forgive –
Through the Prophets (Christ is Here) –
Advent Song –
O Saviour of Sinners –
May the God of Peace –
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed –
Of the Father’s Love Begotten –
The songs are clear, biblical, musical and singable. The style is a mix of Scottish folk with a bit of funk and country. The album is well produced and whilst some of the songs stand out more than others (I can think of at least three that we will use in congregational praise), I suspect that some of the others will grow on me. I would highly commend this album and encourage you to encourage this ‘young’ believers by going to one of their launch events. You can get the details here – http://newscottishhymns.com/events/ We are certainly looking forward to having them in St Peters this Friday…
How much did I enjoy the album? I bought it on Itunes – which is about the highest praise I can give any album….now on to the new Bob Dylan!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Perhaps not that helpful to say to you’re not a big fan of the Christian music scene and then say you don’t know much about it. As a Christian leader it would surely be helpful to encourage this kind of Christian expression. Indeed, as a parent I would be happier for my children to find edifying art to engage with rather than what is usually on the airwaves.
The underlying question is – what is Christian music? I think a lot of people equate it with church music e.g. the Stuart Townsend and the Gettys. There’s actually loads of stuff out there depending on your taste.
Why don’t you check out the abolition of man by thrice – the music might not be up your street but the content is fantastic – and these are artists completely engaging with the secular culture.
Let’s support and encourage them rather than always referring to Christian music in a seemingly negative way.
Check out restless by Audrey Assad ( a reflection on Augustine) and maybe Sandra McCracken’s new album of Psalms (I know you like them!)
Did you read the rest of the article?
Yes, you’re right – they’re good! Thanks – unlike you, I listen to an awful lot of Christian music, all kinds of genres (Rend Collective is one of our family favourites), and it’s always nice to find something new and inspiring.
It would be interesting to know why you’re not a fan of the Christian music scene…I find this a lot in Christian circles.
Maybe you could write about it sometime?
As a Christian parent I’d like my kids to be exposed to edifying art although not necessarily exclusively. I think it would be helpful if Christians, and especially those in leadership, spoke more positively about it.
Lecrae is a good guy but is really just the tip of the iceberg. You could check out ‘the abolition of man’ by thrice (maybe not up your street but in that genre fantastic), restless by Audrey Assad (you’ll recognise the chorus from Augustine) or maybe Sandra McCracken’s new Psalms album (I know you like your Psalms).
There’s a wealth of great stuff out there and we need Christians to feel they can engage more with it – because it’s not all just Hillsongs and Stuart Townend (although these aren’t necessarily bad either).
Basically I generally just don’t like the music…and I find the idea of a seperate Christian music scene with charts, awards, shows etc as daft as a separate Christian food/building or sport scene! Love Sandra McCracken….
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
“The songs are clear, biblical, musical and singable.” as opposed to confused, theologically illiterate, sentimental, tuneless and forgettable which seems to characterise most modern “Christian” songs these days. Many are so sugary they could have been written by James Blunt.
I got into trouble a while ago by reminding a group at church that the Lord Jesus is not our boyfriend!
But perhaps I am just a grumpy old man.
You might be – but that has nothing to do with your taste in, or theology, of music!
Just listened to the recommended Thrice track but couln’t get passed the noise to the lyrics. In fact could’t get beyond 30 secs or so.
Perhaps my taste in music is not so “catholic” as I thought.
At the other end of the spectrum I’ve been disengaged from worship by unaccompanied singing of the psalms. It’s not the words but the “tune.” A heresy in some circles I know.
“Performance” is the word that that probably puts me off all christian genres, whereas “worshipful” draws me in. Having said that, I’m far too old to dance as as exhuberantly King David danced that so upset his wife.