Pop Goes the Bible!

Churches Urged to Utilize Pop Songs to Boost Bible Reading ...

What's next in the worship wars? A "Christianized" cover of Wully Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharohs? According to a Christian Post story, "With Bible illiteracy plaguing Christians in areas even where Scriptures are in abundance, one bishop is urging churches to use hits by bands such as U2 and the Beatles to help their congregants connect with the teachings contained in the Bible. 'For many people the language of the Bible has become inaccessible," says the Rt. Rev. Nick Baines, bishop of Croydon in South London, “and yet pop song writers can make a connection with people because their language is fresh. They are able to open our imagination to a way of thinking about God that we've become deaf to in church language.”

In his latest book, Finding Faith, Baines argues that Christian themed pop music can convey deep theological concepts in a way that is more accessible to the younger generation.
"Songs get more into the soul than simply reading an ancient book,” he told the Telegraph. A simple "ancient book?" I've heard some churches are plaing Pink Floyd's classic, "Money" during the ofeeratory. Without getting into musical forms, and the pre-evangelistic nature of some secular pop, let's not lose sight of what worship music in the house of God is to be about. Eph. 5:18-19 and Col. 3:16 remind us that we are "to let the word of Christ dwell (make its home) in us richly by singing psalms, hymns and spritual songs, making melody to the Lord in our hearts." That means that those various forms of song are to Bible-saturated and therefore theologically rich. That means God is to be glorified and the body of Christ (church) is to be edified or built-up musically, and we are to be filled or led by the Spirit biblically.

Does the Christian music you listen to fit that mold? Anyone who knows me understands that I've been the biggest Beach Boys fan that ever lived and while I can try to justify my listening pleasures with classics like God Only Knows, nothing can replace the musical Word of the living God to nourish the soul.