How can you tell if music is “Christian”?
November 24th, 2009 by Matt Heerema | Posted in Song Selection
Ed Stetzer posted an excerpt from his book Perimeters of Light (co-written with Elmer Towns) on How to Test Your Music. Because music is not inherently Christian, no matter the artist, label or (to some degrees) words used in the song, how does one tell what is “Christian” music? Ed and Elmer offer seven tests.
The message test. Does this song express the Word of God?
The purpose test. Choose songs that reflect our emotions or are likely to produce the emotion we wish to feel.
The association test. Does the song unnecessarily identify with things, actions, or people that are contrary to Christianity?
The memory test. ‘Does the music bring back things in your past that you have left?’
The emotions test. ‘Does the music stir our negative or lustful feelings?’
The understanding test. Is it understandable? Easy to find the meaning and the melody?
The music test. Looks at the song to determine its merits based on hymnology. It seeks to determine if the song is singable, if it flows comfortable from one line to another. Does it make your heart join in the song?
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