The Contemporary Christian Music Debate: Worldly Compromise or Agent of Renewal? [Paperback]

Steve Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2007

What’s the best worship style for my ministry? Traditional hymns? Country? Rock? Rap? Discover insights from the bible, missions, psychology, and the entertaining history of our hymns. Go beyond emotional appeals to 'the way we’ve always done it' and 'what the praise team likes.' Josh McDowell: 'A well-documented, biblically based, and culturally relevant insight into the debate on contemporary Christian music. For every mom, dad, and pastor, this book is a must.' College president Robertson McQuilkin: '…addresses a church-splitting and generation-splitting issue with thorough scholarship and irenic spirit. He persuades with a gentle approach that respects opposing viewpoints, and he charts practical ways for local churches to incorporate newer forms of music while maintaining harmony in a music ministry for all.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Dutch translation of The Contemporary Christian Music Debate has been of tremendous help to many church leaders in Holland who struggle with issues of modern styles and worship. The combination of solid research with a gentle manner has a way of opening otherwise closed minds." -- Arjan van den Bijgaart, Manager Ecovata Publishers

As a professor, I am constantly concerned with equipping my students with a scriptural perspective of cutting edge issues in today's youth culture. When it comes to music, I have yet to find a more balanced and thorough work on the subject. -- Dr. Bill Jones, president, Columbia International University

About the Author

I live with my wife, Cherie, and seven boys in metro Atlanta. As founder and president of Legacy Educational Resources, I offer resources for teachers of life skills and character education in public schools at www.character-education.info and resources for youth workers and pastors at www.youth-ministry.info . I’m a "wisdom broker," collecting wisdom from many fields and packaging it for teachers and writers via the Web. I’ve spent most of my life working with young people, training youth workers in Central and Eastern Europe, pastoral ministry, teaching and writing. Interests Research, writing, family time, guitars, keyboards, Web design, church, hiking, racquetball, tennis, windsurfing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419677756
• ISBN-13: 978-1419677755
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #640,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book to give others, May 1, 2011

By 

Falvo Fowler - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Contemporary Christian Music Debate: Worldly Compromise or Agent of Renewal? (Paperback)

I got this book when it was first released in 1993-1994. After years of onslaught by the likes of the Peters Brothers, where everything secular was bad and everything conservative/traditional Christian was good (so wrong!), and where studies were skewed to fit a certain religious bent (I'm being polite), it was refreshing to read the rest of those studies with appropriate bibliography. This book was just what I needed at the time when I was beginning to work in Christian broadcasting. It allowed me to recognize that human history has often tainted what God calls for as worship. Do I agree with everything Miller says? No. But the book does have excellent references for me to go back and decide for myself. We have become a nation, and church, that follows the loudest voice...and often that voice is as far from God as can be. God doesn't call us to worship in styles established by dead people. He calls us to renew ourselves and be relevant to the world around us. This book allows us to break some of the chains that bind us and allows us to rediscover what principles should exist in our worship.

This book is inspirational, educational, and an easy read. Helped me rediscover a wonderful, guilt-free, worship experience that allowed me to grow with God.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete Explanation and Guide to Christian Music, October 20, 2007

By 

Francine Larson (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Contemporary Christian Music Debate: Worldly Compromise or Agent of Renewal? (Paperback)

This book is perfect for our times. It is my experience that churches, pastors and congregations are totally confused and uninformed regarding music for their church. Mr. Miller gives a fair and complete explanation of all kinds of music and what it means. The objective view is based on the Bible. I think before we can argue about the "Comtemporary Christian Music Debate" we need to be well informed on every level. Mr. Miller does just that. The book helps to clarify what is true and what we have heard from others. Every Christian needs to be informed on this subject. His research is both fascinating and extensive. This unique treasure of information is a must for anyone searching true answers on Christian Music.

Francine Larson, Co-Author of "Character Keys to a Bright Future."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biblically based, gentle, and culturally relevant, June 22, 2011

By 

John Joyce - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Contemporary Christian Music Debate: Worldly Compromise or Agent of Renewal? (Paperback)

Miller has done a superb job of wedding Scripture and cultural relevancy. He deals with various viewpoints in an objective and gentle way which is only an accurate representation of who the writer is. He always goes the extra mile in terms of research and in terms of gentleness and compassion. In today's world where "the musical production" seems to be the bottom line for many, Miller radically --and Biblically--suggests that musicians who are "up front" in musical ministry should exhibit the qualifications of elders or deacons as listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. He challenges parents to carefully examine the content of the music they listen to before criticizing their children's musical tastes. He offers wonderful advice for parents on how to help their children and correctly brings out the incredible influence that music plays in our lives. The chapter on "The Bible on Music" is full of helpful references to music in Scripture. The section entitled "A Revealing Journey Through History" is priceless as Miller takes a balanced look at the stories of how many of our traditional hymns were developed. Personally, I love many old traditional hymns, but it seems clear that many of the writers adopted tunes from normal life and incorporated into them the lyrics that they wrote.