I grew up listening to all kinds of music, from rock and roll to country-western to classical. As an adult I have learned to appreciate all music. Well, still struggling with rap. I know it’s just poetry, spoken in a monotone, with synthesized music buzzing along in the background, but, aside from the frequent nasty or violence-based phrases (which I hate), it just doesn’t do anything for me.
As a Christian (”saved” when I was 17; born again-again when I was 59) I cycled thru hymns and spiritual songs, gospel singing, Christian folk and contemporary Christian. As I now have begun to review and revise what I believe, I must also give serious thought to the music message associated with that belief.
Take, for instance, Julia Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic. I’m no longer comfortable with “He is trampling out the vintage where his grapes of wrath are stored / he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword … ” I don’t think God has to stomp on anybody.
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