In 1893 the first American automobile was modernized from a steam powered engine to gasoline engine. In April 12,1961 mankind made progress from the skies into outer space. In 1969 Edwin Hawkins recorded a contemporary gospel song that became a hit single to both church radio listeners and secular. Since then the Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Mary / Mary and others kept widening the door for a universal acceptance of Gospel Music.

Have these Gospel Artist gone too far? Hold up! Before you get your blood pressure all worked up, lets look at some information to help understand what's going on. The word "Compromise" means: to find the middle ground, to negotiate or to give in. The word "Contemporary" means: to be modern-day, to be current or present day.

Now I will be the first to admit that there are some songs out here today that have definitely negotiated the standards of Christ, but let us not paint all contemporary gospel music with one brush.

Here are some comparisons that make my point easier to understand. Music is similar to a car. A CAR carries people and packages from POINT A to POINT B and MUSIC carries ideas and emotions from POINT A (the song writer) to POINT B (the listener). Also both Music and a Car come in many styles. For the car there is the BMW, Ford, Chevy and so on. For music there is Traditional, Hip-hop, Ballets, and so on. What I have come to find out is that the style of music or the style of the car in not dangerous in it's self, but it is what and who is driving the car or what inspiration is driving the music is what determines if the car or music is dangerous or not.

We can easily recognize when someone is driving intoxicated by how they are reacting. When music that claims to be gospel does not line up with the teaching and qualities of Jesus Christ (Gal. 5:22-23) it should be just as easy to recognize. If the music or / and the artist is intoxicated with the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-20). These scriptural facts will undoubtedly concluded that those type of songs have found the middle ground, those type of songs have negotiated, those type of songs have given in to the pressure of compromising. Yes that's right! Compromised! If we make time to get in God's word then God's word will get deep into you. You will be able to tell if the music is just contemporary or if it has been compromised.

PEACE

By Undra Hill