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Posted by: David Bunch

Our flagship, Ninety and Nine, has delivered a hot topic of discussion with last week's cover article, The State of Apostolic Music-How Bad Is It? The article is very thought provoking and I really like the format (it consists of several emails from our executive editor, Kent Curry, and an Apostolic Musician, Courtney Ballestero). The feedback received from our readers was as overwhelming as it was varied.

As a music connoisseur and a pseudo musician, I can't help but weigh in.

First, let's take a step back and look at the broader picture. The Christian music genre in general is (mostly) in bad shape itself. Primarily you have artists/labels who are trying to copy the secular sound and then trying to copy each other. So what you wind up with is a whole lot of less-than-inspiring drivel that all sounds the same. There is limited creativity or inspiration. And those bands that do make it get over exposed. Literally, every time I turn on the Christian station I hear "God Reigns" by the Newsboys. It's more than a human being should have to live with.

There are of course exceptions to this in which a good quality band with a good sound and message breaks through. This becomes a matter of opinion but I would classify Jars of Clay, dc Talk, David Crowder, Caedmon's Call and others in this category. These guys have a straight up God message with a relevant sound.

To be equal opportunity, let me also say that the secular recording industry is by and large a parody of itself wherein one has to look long and hard for the glimmer of true art and creativity. When we're giving awards to Kayne West and others for songs like "Pimp Life" or whatever it was, we're in bad shape artistically and spiritually. My friendly reminder to myself and others is to often state that the best music is not going to be found on the radio or Top 40 charts. It's generally tucked away in the back of the record store on an independent label.

That brings us to Apostolic music. For some reason, someone has decided the following:

A. God loves gospel/choir music and we should too
B. God loves southern gospel/quartet music and we should too
C. All other types of music are an insult to spiritually minded people and we should not have them in the church

To me this is the reason that truly creative, unorthodox musicians (by the above standards of orthodoxy) within our Apostolic movement can not get any momentum. That is, if you don't fit into one of the styles mentioned above, you are out of the will of God and are going to be sat down.

I for one am in favor of fostering the creative styles of everyone.

Think about it. The music that King David danced before the Lord to with all of his might would sound horrible to us (I'm imagining some kind of ancient Hebrew sound that would be foreign to our post modern Western culture ears). But if David were here today, Kirk Franklin's "Stomp" probably wouldn't do much for him.

Likewise, the rock musician who gets saved should not be expected to come into the Church and start listening to southern gospel. Perhaps an edgier sound with inspired and anointed lyrics would work better at connecting him or her to God.

A musician has to create within the culture and styles of the day, and it's time Apostolics make room for artists to do that.