So, who is everybody's favorite musicians for solidly theological lyrics? Any Reformed recordings out there? I'm getting sick of playing David Crowder and By the Tree over and over Thanks!

Aaron

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Aaron Finch

Member of First Baptist Church of Briar, Texas. [url]http://www.fbcbriar.org[/url]
Exposing the Scriptures and revelling in the beauty of Soveriegn Grace.

Freshman at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Music Student
Defending the Truth of Scripture among those much more intelligent than myself :D

I know you may shrink back at this, but someone suggested some reformed rap a while back and I LOVE it!

Timothy Brindle is a good place to start!

http://lampmode.com/mainframe.htm

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Adam Leavelle
Westminster OPC
Roaring Spring Pa.

http://www.myspace.com/aleavelle
"Speak wisdom to a fool and he'll think you have no sense at all"

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i would have to say shane and shane, along with adam about reformed rap "116 clique" is reformed rappers that were disciple by Tommy Nelson in Denton Texas and are ver Biblically sound, shane and shane are very biblically sound to. putting scripture to music Will Hunt is awsome too...

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Jordy Burchfield
Student of Theology Central Baptist College
Central Baptist Church-BMA Baptist
Conway AR
PO BOX 109 Conway AR, 72034

I think any music that imitates the worlds music is rubbish. I listen to Paul Wilbur mostly, but have some Keith Green, second chapter of Acts, some Amy Grant, Amy coming close to the worlds style but as I said, some.

I like classical too, especially Handel and Spanish guitar playing. Have you heard a version of Greensleeves on acoustic that is out of this world, I will try to find it and post a link.

[Edited on 7-10-2005 by just_grace]

[Edited on 7-10-2005 by just_grace]

i used to think that to but with research you can see all forms of music has been imitated. if we say that hyms are the only music they were written to the music style of their time. i think we do conform to the world to much but if a sincere effort to glorify God is taken then i see no fault in it.

But you know what I mean!

Music can control people, their actions and way of life it's a weapon the devil uses to his delight and ultimate destruction.

Beware people.

For Reformed lyrics and good music, I particularly recommend Derek Webb, Steven Curtis Chapman, OC Supertones, Wes King and Caedmon's Call (up through their "Back Home" album).

Also, though I'm not sure or not whether they're specifically Reformed, other Christian artists that have the lyrical depth and the intellectual and spiritual integrity that has been lost in most of CCM are Rich Mullins, Mark Schultz, Shaun Groves, John DeGrazio, Ron David Moore and Eli.

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Chris


A passion to know and reflect Christ by living and demonstrating the truth and richness of the historic Reformed faith

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Christopher Blum
Member of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Northern Kentucky (PCA) in Burlington, KY

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Agreed, but that is likewise true of essentially every pastime and hobby, including books, films, sports, food and drink - and indeed, we should beware of letting any of these things influence us the wrong way, and should use and enjoy them all for God's glory. But at the same time, we do not of course advocate specifically "Christianizing" all of them in full (e.g. never reading literature, only watching specifically Christian films, etc.), so why music?

When I was a young Christian I remember questions being raised about our freedom in Christ and how some people were strict and others liberal with how we react with things in life whatever they were and I used to hear this word 'balance' come up a lot.

What is ok for one Christian may not be ok for another though. It's an area that causes no end of problems in Church. Some people are against drinking alcohol, some against smoking etc etc..I even think some people harp on about theological things with such certainty and yet cannot convince people 100%

Here is a perfect piece of theology, Jesus is the Messiah. Would any Christian argue that!


Like houseparent who has something building up within himself that wants to fight wishy washy stuff, I to have something building up within me regarding the Christian's way of life. I have just ordered a stack of stuff from Matthew ( Webmaster ) and other sources and will get down to really understanding this Christian life. I just found out that maybe I am Preterist and I don't fully understand why I have to be one or the other to be a Christian.

Christian's should not live any life other as lived by the early Christians we read of in the Bible. And I do not see the simple early Christians caught up with problems if they only listened to their teachers and enjoyed the Christian life as God intends them to live it.

Sorry I am way off topic here. I will stop.

Not sure what your actual tastes in music are . . . but, personally, Reformed groups that I enjoy are OC Supertones, Derek Webb, & some Caedmon's Call.

One suggestion: see what you can borrow from your library. I've been able to borrow a lot of good music (and some not so good!) by requesting CDs through my local library. I currently have Derek Webb's 2nd album, "I See Things Upside Down" out. While I'm not too keen on some of the songs, he's got some really good ones too - "The Strong, The Tempted, and The Weak" is one of my all-time favorite songs (actually, I'm listening to it right now).

Also, you might try to look for a Ben Glover CD. He isn't that popular - at least, not around here - and I only know of one album of his (26 Letters), but it has some good songs - both musically & lyrically - on it (I'm not sure if he's Reformed, but he seems to have some leanings that way).

As far as Caedmon's Call goes, out of the one's I've listened to, I'd say that their 40 Acres, Long Line of Leavers, and their worship album (I forget the name right now), are their best.

Chapman does have some songs with good lyrics. You might also want to check out Michael Card. He's done some really good work, too (Scandalon is probably my favorite album of his).

I'm not sure if Jars of Clay is reformed or not, but they do seem to have some leanings in that direction. They're one of my favorite bands; they recently came out with a album of re-done hymns, which is pretty cool.

Some of Third Day is good, some of theirs I can't stand. Switchfoot is somewhat similar (I don't think either are Reformed, though); both of their last 2 albums have some good songs, and some not so good. Unfortunately, if you listen to your local CCM station, you tend to hear the worst songs - lyrically at any rate - of an album. So, it's worth trying to borrow an album, even if you know that they've got some songs you don't like.

I haven't heard of all of the bands Chris mentioned - I'll have to see if I can borrow some of those!

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Jessica H.
Church: www.eopckent.org (OPC)
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Oh make this heart rejoice or ache; / Decide this doubt for me; / And if it be not broken, break -- / And heal it, if it be. ~William Cowper

Jason Coghill

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

You should have come up to Elkins Park when he was here Andrew.

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*Peter Gray* Elkins Park RPCNA

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. " Mk 9:24
"The greatest thing we can desire, next to the glory of God, is our own salvation; and the sweetest thing we can desire is the assurance of our salvation. In this life we cannot get higher than to be assured of that which in the next life is to be enjoyed. All saints shall enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth; some saints enjoy a heaven while they are here on earth." Joseph Caryl

That would have been a real blessing!

I've heard some stuff from Coghill. I'm not really one for much contempo Christian music, I find a lot of it bland, copy-catish (of the world), and shallow. It's hard to beat David and Asaph using the words of the Holy Spirit.

My favorite albums of all time.



Hymns Triumphant vl. 1&2

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R. Martin Snyder
1689er
Harmony Baptist Church (Member)
PuritanCovenanter MSN Blog
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"Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
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Also look at the Hymnmakers collection.







Hymnmakers


I do have these and I also enjoy the Charles Wesley one also. I think he was a confused Calvinist.

[Edited on 7-12-2005 by puritancovenanter]

Here is one for the Scots



The sixteenth album in our Hymnmaker series takes us to Scotland, the home of the metrical psalm. The hymns, sung by The Scottish Festival Singers, conducted by Ian McCrorier, reach across the centuries. We hear the words of Horatius Bonar which 'sing the truth of God in ringing tones' and George Matheson, who though blind for most of his life, saw the world through the eyes of faith and was filled with visions of what it might and will be. Join with the choir and worship the Lord, who is our Shepherd, and who will never let us go.

Christ is coming! Let creation 2.28

Courage, brother! Do not stumble 2.35

Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God 3.14

Gather us in, Thou Love that fillest all 3.09

Go, labour on; spend, and be spent 2.59

I heard the voice of Jesus say 2.41

Immortal, invisible, God only wise 2.30

Light of the world, for ever, ever shining 2.33

Make ma a captive, Lord 3.16

O love of God, how strong and true 2.28

O Love, that wilt not let me go 2.57

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want 3.02

The sands of time are sinking 3.25

'Yet there is room!' 2.48

And this is truly Scottish and Reformed.Scottish Metrical Psalms

Randy,
Cool collection!

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Scott Bushey
Husband to Tina, father to Nicole, Danielle and Zoe
Member First Presbyterian Church of Margate PCA

o lets just break out the heavenly highway

I'm very particular on my music as well. I too despise the "contemporary christian" STUFF. (I can't call it music :P )

I recently happened upon a group that is very hard to find, but I fully enjoy their Albums. Thats right, albums. They have been redone in CD format, but I can't find where to purchase them! LOL

The Celebration Singers - "Exalt HIm! Vol. 2 - Songs for Celebration & Praise" (also Vol. 1 is good.)

Another one that I personally enjoy is Betty Jean Robinson. At first listen she sounds country, but she's not, the lyrics to her songs (and I do enjoy most of them) are God glorifying, not self worship. Some of the better song titles are "When I see His Face" "To the Glory of My Father" "Holy Jesus" "The LORD God Omnipotent."

REading some of the prior posts, I can't stand rap, sorry. And Stephen Curtis never impressed me! Sorry Guys! Just my two cents.

There shouldn't be a pb'er that doesn't own this. Go and buy it. Listen to it in the car, before church, any time...

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Chris Rhoades -33
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (PCA) Nashville, TN-Under Care

Vera theologia non theoretica, sed practica est; Finis siquidem eius agere est hoc est vitam vivere deiformem. - Martin Bucer
""True theology is not theoretical, but practical. The end of it is living, that is to live a godly life."

Wow. I really hope the gals don't screech that high when we're all singing in Heaven. That reminds me of a couple of the girls at my church who drive me up a wall sometimes when they sing.

More power to you if you can listen to hymns sung this way, but I can't take it. I barely got halfway through the little clip of "Holy, Holy, Holy", and I just had to stop.

I guess I'm just not cut out for listening to opera-gals. Female opera and me just do not mix. :bigsmile:

If you want to hear some really good singing of some really good hymns with NO shrill voices, I highly highly highly recommend this album:



http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...music&n=507846


That album is SUPERB!!!!!!!!

If you can listen to that other hymn album, then you may LOVE this one. The hymns are wonderful, and the singing itself is too!

I think Wesley was a confused Pelagian. :P

...but I like alot of his hymns too.

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Jeff Bartel
Mechanical Engineer
Member - Trinity Reformed Church - RPCNA

"To believe in the power of man in the work of regeneration is the great heresy of Rome, and from that error has come the ruin of the Church. Conversion proceeds from the grace of God alone, and the system which ascribes it partly to man and partly to God is worse than Pelagianism" (The Reformation in England (London, 1962), Vol. 1, p. 98)

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