Modern Christian Music Has DARK Secrets Nobody is Seeing...

[Magenta]

Nice! I do enjoy both those songs and have them on my playlist . Holy forever reminds me of this one.

That was lovely! Thank you for sharing... reminded me of two songs/artists:

After All (Holy) by David Crowder Band
Not so much for the style but the title/topic of God's Holiness...

And then this one, more along the same style as what you posted .

Father, Son, Spirit (Official Lyric Video) // A Table Full Of Strangers // Jason Upton

 

[Magenta]

This duo still just gets to me. This video just hit hard for me just now. Someone Uploaded it 12 years ago . Worst picture quality I’ve seen in a recording for some time and it STILL gets 5million views.

Oh! Johnny and June .. I must admit I am not much of one for the old-time standards, though I do really love Amazing Grace, and having said that, there are some hymns that are really really old that I love, like this 4th century Latin Advent hymn by Ambrose of Milan, who was one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of his time. From the CD: "State of Grace." Veni Redemptor Gentium means, "Come Redeemer of the Earth" (or nations).

I also really really really like the music of Hildegard von Bingen, who was a 12th century (or 11th?). Hildegard was born in Germany in 1098 and tithed to the church by her parents, being the tenth child in her family. She grew up to become the Abbess of the Monastery where she lived, and she removed all the nuns from the presence of the monks in an act of independence unknown in her time. She had visions that she turned into artwork, and they may have informed some of her musical writings as well. She did write in Latin, so that is the language of Richard Souther's arrangements of her music. The CDs come with quite extensive little booklets translating the lyrics into multiple languages, as well as showcasing some of her artwork, and his musicians.

She was an amazing woman who has more surviving chants than any other composer from the entire middle ages, and is considered a polymath, having been a medieval mystic and visionary philosopher whose extensive knowledge far exceeded that of her time, encompassing, among other things, the healing power of herbs, gemstones, and the workings of the human body. Her many songs/chants have been revived by a multitude of medieval musicologists, most of whom reproduce it as they believe it was meant to be, which is mono-tonally, accompanied by minimal droning instrumentation in the background. Richard Souther completely revisions her work with stunning effect.



.

 

[FollowingtheWay]

Oh! Johnny and June .. I must admit I am not much of one for the old-time standards, though I do really love Amazing Grace, and having said that, there are some hymns that are really really old that I love, like this 4th century Latin Advent hymn by Ambrose of Milan, who was one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of his time. From the CD: "State of Grace." Veni Redemptor Gentium means, "Come Redeemer of the Earth" (or nations).

I also really really really like the music of Hildegard von Bingen, who was a 12th century (or 11th?). Hildegard was born in Germany in 1098 and tithed to the church by her parents, being the tenth child in her family. She grew up to become the Abbess of the Monastery where she lived, and she removed all the nuns from the presence of the monks in an act of independence unknown in her time. She had visions that she turned into artwork, and they may have informed some of her musical writings as well. She did write in Latin, so that is the language of Richard Souther's arrangements of her music. The CDs come with quite extensive little booklets translating the lyrics into multiple languages, as well as showcasing some of her artwork, and his musicians.

She was an amazing woman who has more surviving chants than any other composer from the entire middle ages, and is considered a polymath, having been a medieval mystic and visionary philosopher whose extensive knowledge far exceeded that of her time, encompassing, among other things, the healing power of herbs, gemstones, and the workings of the human body. Her many songs/chants have been revived by a multitude of medieval musicologists, most of whom reproduce it as they believe it was meant to be, which is mono-tonally, accompanied by minimal droning instrumentation in the background. Richard Souther completely revisions her work with stunning effect.



.

Thanks! I’ve been looking for something like the one you posted from Hildegard for something for a slow down and help to focus my mind a bit before my prayers and bible study.

 

[Magenta]

Thanks! I’ve been looking for something like the one you posted from Hildegard for something for a slow down and help to focus my mind a bit before my prayers and bible study.

I was listening to music like that before I was saved, or became a Christian... and like you, found music on a Christian praise and worship radio station, ha, though it was on my TV, which I'd bought for my 50th birthday, but didn't get cable for a couple or few years after that. I would have the station on while I was doing other things, and over time certain songs really stood out for me, and I would research the artist online. Some songs I recognized from the church where I was baptized, as they, and at least one other church I was attending at the time, were big on modern praise and worship. I had been attending an Alpha Course there when I realized I was no longer fighting against God. That surely was a major turning point in my life! A third church I was attending then had some really lovely congregants and an awesome pastor, but on Sunday mornings they stuck with the old hymns that reminded me too much of my RCC upbringing. We did also have Sunday afternoon gatherings at the pastor's house, where we would do a reading, have a sharing session, sing songs of praise and worship (more modern than what was sung in church, perhaps) and then break bread together and also the Lord's Supper. I have very fond memories of those days around my conversion and my early years as a Christian, and still love much of the music I was discovering then. And Hildegard never really gets old! I am glad you like it... This is one of my "early" finds (though it is from 2009, and my conversion was in 2004):

Alive Again - Matt Maher

 

[Magenta]

@FollowingtheWay if you like songs sung in Latin, you may also enjoy this:

Pilgrimage - Path To The Invisible (from 9 Songs of Ecstasy)

1. Campus Stella/Field Of Stars (5:14)
2. Through The Seas Of Life (4:57)
3. Pilgrimage (4:25)
4. Land Of Ecstasy (5:24)
5. Rain Or Shine (5:21)
6. Ceremony (3:45)
7. Dark Skies (6:47)
8. Iberia (5:51)
9. Path To The Invisible (10:52)

The whole CD used to be available uninterrupted on the tube but I can no longer find it.
That's why I gave you the song list and order .

 

[Magenta]

I discovered Veni Redemptor Gentium on this CD by Paul Schwartz.
He does some modern retakes on operatic arias you may enjoy also.
They are on CDs called Aria, Aria 2, and Aria 3 .

1 Veni Redemptor Gentium (5:31)
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

2 Amazing Grace (6:42)
Lyrics By [Uncredited] – John Newton (2)
Music By [Uncredited] – Traditional
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

3 Miserere (6:04)
Vocals – The Joyful Company Of Singers

4 Veni Creator Spiritus (4:06)
Violin – Gavyn Wright
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

5 Auguries Of Innocence: Part 1 (3:51)
Oboe – David Theodore
Piano – Paul Schwartz
Violin – Gavyn Wright
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

6 Auguries Of Innocence: Part 2 (3:28)

7 Be Still My Soul (5:01)
Piano – Paul Schwartz
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

8 Angelica (4:55)
Cello – Jonathan Williams (4)
Violin – Gavyn Wright
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott

9 Simple Gifts (5:00)
Pipe – Dirk Campbell
Vocals – Lisbeth Scott
Whistle – Andrew Findon
Written-By [Uncredited] – Joseph Brackett

10 State Of Grace (3:09)
Piano – Paul Schwartz
Violin – Gavyn Wright

@FollowingtheWay

 

[FollowingtheWay]

I was listening to music like that before I was saved, or became a Christian... and like you, found music on a Christian praise and worship radio station, ha, though it was on my TV, which I'd bought for my 50th birthday, but didn't get cable for a couple or few years after that. I would have the station on while I was doing other things, and over time certain songs really stood out for me, and I would research the artist online. Some songs I recognized from the church where I was baptized, as they, and at least one other church I was attending at the time, were big on modern praise and worship. I had been attending an Alpha Course there when I realized I was no longer fighting against God. That surely was a major turning point in my life! A third church I was attending then had some really lovely congregants and an awesome pastor, but on Sunday mornings they stuck with the old hymns that reminded me too much of my RCC upbringing. We did also have Sunday afternoon gatherings at the pastor's house, where we would do a reading, have a sharing session, sing songs of praise and worship (more modern than what was sung in church, perhaps) and then break bread together and also the Lord's Supper. I have very fond memories of those days around my conversion and my early years as a Christian, and still love much of the music I was discovering then. And Hildegard never really gets old! I am glad you like it... This is one of my "early" finds (though it is from 2009, and my conversion was in 2004):

Alive Again - Matt Maher

Thanks for sharing all these wonderful suggestions ! It’s all really pretty fresh for me. my conversion was in 2020, like you I had a background of church attendance as a child in a Protestant church but just so cold and formal. Songs right from hymnal religiously , dress code, maybe piano or organ if They decided to get rowdy that Sunday. Lots of dry religious attendance but that was pretty much a formality in my family . Life with God started and stopped once a week for 2 hours on a Sunday at the church doors in that early part of my life it didn’t penetrate my soul or life. my family refused to engage godly relationship opportunities in the community for whatever reasons so we were really isolated from community. I was for many decades one of those who would culturally identify as Christian because that’s the term I knew and was labeled but my heart nor obedience were there.
So Within a year of my 2020 conversion his Word really came alive . We found a Church who actually focuses on Gods Word , Prayer , and community. Their mission statement is Leading people into a growing relationship with Christ and that’s exactly what started to happen. I began seeking discipleship and hungering for more of God both in and outside the Church walls. It has been a journey of both joy and some growing pains these last few years for me! Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

[Magenta]

Thanks for sharing all these wonderful suggestions ! It’s all really pretty fresh for me. my conversion was in 2020, like you I had a background of church attendance as a child in a Protestant church but just so cold and formal. Songs right from hymnal religiously , dress code, maybe piano or organ if They decided to get rowdy that Sunday. Lots of dry religious attendance but that was pretty much a formality in my family . Life with God started and stopped once a week for 2 hours on a Sunday at the church doors in that early part of my life it didn’t penetrate my soul or life. my family refused to engage godly relationship opportunities in the community for whatever reasons so we were really isolated from community. I was for many decades one of those who would culturally identify as Christian because that’s the term I knew and was labeled but my heart nor obedience were there.
So Within a year of my 2020 conversion his Word really came alive . We found a Church who actually focuses on Gods Word , Prayer , and community. Their mission statement is Leading people into a growing relationship with Christ and that’s exactly what started to happen. I began seeking discipleship and hungering for more of God both in and outside the Church walls. It has been a journey of both joy and some growing pains these last few years for me! Thanks for taking the time to share.

You are very welcome, and I likewise thank you so much for sharing some of your journey with me!

I listen to some of these songs and they really move me. Like Jason Upton and Michael W. Smith...

Richard Souther's second CD of Hildegard's music is a bit more mellow Than Vision.
It is called Illumination: Fire of the Spirit.

 

[Magenta]

Phillips, Craig & Dean - Revelation Song

He Is - Mark Schultz

One True God - Mark Harris

Colin Bernard - Hold On

Chris Sligh - One

Chris came in 10th in the 6th season of American Idol, got momentarily caught up
in the star maker machinery and then left it knowing what he really wanted to do
was write and perform praise and worship music. He wrote Empty Me about all that...

 

[Magenta]

 

[Magenta]

Some more for you @FollowingtheWay .

 

[Magenta]

 

[Magenta]

 

[Magenta]

This I Believe (The Creed)

God of Wonders by Third Day (13 Million views, posted 16 years ago; poor video quality)

Children Of God by Third Day

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) 45 Million views, posted 7 years ago

Shout To The Lord - 28 Million views, posted 6 years ago

 

[Moses_Young]

That's just the way JohnDB is. You get used to his broad brushing and wild assumptions after a while.

If you like those singers, I could go through my collection and make some recommendations. I have everything from christian heavy metal and rap to christian country and bluegrass.

For starters, try James Payne.

"That night old Jack Daniels
Met John 3:16
God's word broke the hold
Sin had over me
I traded Tennessee whiskey
For Calvary's dream
The night old Jack Daniels
Met John 3:16"

But is that a song about Jack Daniels, or about Jesus? I'd argue songs like that are more about Jack Daniels than Jesus. Sure, it might mean a lot to Jack, but is it suitable for corporate worship in the church? I'd argue no, on the grounds it's about Jack, not Jesus. I guess it could be said to be a "Christian song" or a song with a Christian message, but what is the substance of the song? What scripture/s is it reinforcing, what heresy/ies is it refuting? "For God so loved the world...", yes, but even the JWs and Mormons and other cults believe that (about a false god and a false Jesus). And their fake bibles (I believe) take out the word "begotten" from the verse.

Everyone in the church knows (or should know) Jesus, but we don't collectively worship by singing songs about how each individual church member met Jesus, or gave up wine, women or wealth. Or if we did, it wouldn't really be worshiping Jesus...

No offense intended, so I hope none is taken. Just interested in your counter.

 

[Lynx]

But is that a song about Jack Daniels, or about Jesus? I'd argue songs like that are more about Jack Daniels than Jesus. Sure, it might mean a lot to Jack, but is it suitable for corporate worship in the church? I'd argue no, on the grounds it's about Jack, not Jesus. I guess it could be said to be a "Christian song" or a song with a Christian message, but what is the substance of the song? What scripture/s is it reinforcing, what heresy/ies is it refuting? "For God so loved the world...", yes, but even the JWs and Mormons and other cults believe that (about a false god and a false Jesus). And their fake bibles (I believe) take out the word "begotten" from the verse.

Everyone in the church knows (or should know) Jesus, but we don't collectively worship by singing songs about how each individual church member met Jesus, or gave up wine, women or wealth. Or if we did, it wouldn't really be worshiping Jesus...

No offense intended, so I hope none is taken. Just interested in your counter.

Whatever the song is more or less about, it sure has touched a lot of people's lives. That guy sings in a lot of churches and he has had a lot of people tell him that song has made a big difference to them.

 

[Subhumanoidal]

Funny thing about these threads is they always seem to have titles suggesting some secret hidden knowledge that everyone is clueless about the industry. Yet the discussions are mostly full of people who've heard it all before, for years now.
This topic seems to come up at least once a year and the titles are nearly identical usually.
For some reason many Christians seem to want to know things no one else knows about.
The BDF is full of this. Not usually with the regulars, but it happens with a lot of new users. They show up claiming some new understanding of scripture, or portion of scripture and believe themselves to be the first to figure it out and that they are special because God revealed to them this new knowledge.

 

[Magenta]

@FollowingtheWay I want to thank you for being instrumental in bringing back to mind so many of these praise and worship songs that meant so much to me in my early years as a Christian. Some do seem dated now, but even so, contain lyrics that quite frankly I will never understand anyone saying they are Satanic or whatever. I also wanted to share a song with you sung by Allison Kraus, written by Ronald Franklin Block, who is an American banjo player, guitarist, and singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station. I had to look that up because I was not sure how modern it was. I was thinking about this yesterday morning, and then when I got to work and turned on the phone I keep there (to listen to Christian talk radio online [kari55.com]), another of her songs was playing! Alison Krauss popularized it in the 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? It was written by George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867.

Another one by Jason Upton:

 

[FollowingtheWay]

@FollowingtheWay I want to thank you for being instrumental in bringing back to mind so many of these praise and worship songs that meant so much to me in my early years as a Christian. Some do seem dated now, but even so, contain lyrics that quite frankly I will never understand anyone saying they are Satanic or whatever. I also wanted to share a song with you sung by Allison Kraus, written by Ronald Franklin Block, who is an American banjo player, guitarist, and singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station. I had to look that up because I was not sure how modern it was. I was thinking about this yesterday morning, and then when I got to work and turned on the phone I keep there (to listen to Christian talk radio online [kari55.com]), another of her songs was playing! Alison Krauss popularized it in the 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? It was written by George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867.

Another one by Jason Upton:

your welcome

 

[Lynx]

Funny thing about these threads is they always seem to have titles suggesting some secret hidden knowledge that everyone is clueless about the industry. Yet the discussions are mostly full of people who've heard it all before, for years now.
This topic seems to come up at least once a year and the titles are nearly identical usually.
For some reason many Christians seem to want to know things no one else knows about.
The BDF is full of this. Not usually with the regulars, but it happens with a lot of new users. They show up claiming some new understanding of scripture, or portion of scripture and believe themselves to be the first to figure it out and that they are special because God revealed to them this new knowledge.

Not just Christians. People in general take a lot of pride in having secret information.

It's one of the reasons conspiracy theories are so popular.