Dan Lucarini -- Why I Left The Contemporary Christian Music Movement

A former Worship leader tells his story why he left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement.

Dedication by Dan Lucarini This book is dedicated to the authors, pastors, music ministers and others who came before me. They never ceased to warn us about the dangers of rock music to a Christian; but we did not take heed. They had the courage to confront others in the church who defended every controversial and sensual music style; but in return we heaped scorn upon them. When they dared to oppose the contemporary music invasion into the church service itself, we called them legalists and worse. Many have sacrificed popularity and seen their ministry opportunities limited, because their consciences dictated they must take a stand.

Forward

Music has often been a "hot potato" in the life of the Christian church, and the subject may never have been more controversial than duringthe past fifty years. At one end of the spectrum, there are those who tell us that the only words that should be sung in the church are those forming the Old Testament Psalms -- and that they should be sung without any musical accompaniment. At the other end, there are those who say that any kind of music -- rock, pop, jazz, punk, country and western, rap, or whatever 'turns people on' is perfectly legitimate for use in worshipand evangelism. Dan Lucarini never approached the first of these extremes, but he came within touching distance of the second, and it is from his deeply involved experience of the modern music scene, secular and otherwise, that this book is written. The author's honest sharing of his own spiritual and musical journey prepares the way for his assessment of what he sees to be a major problem in today's church -- and makes it more difficult to deny that he in on to something. This book will undoubtedly raise many hackles, but Lucarini's direct and uncompromising style is harnessed to a gracious spirit concerned with nothing else but God's glory. This is nowhere more evident than in his warm and wise treatment of the subject of worship and ministry. John Calvin once wrote, "We know by experience that music has a secret and almost incredible power to move hearts." The reformer was right -- and we should therefore give its use in the life of the church serious and God-centered attention. I pray that this book will help us to do so. John Blanchard

Music videos - don't pattern after those things! We need spontaneous worship.

We've got a bookshop around there. It's quite a popular bible bookshop. They sell all these videos - music videos. You know brothers and sisters, everything today is super-duper; the music is super-duper, the singing is super-duper, the praise and the worship super-duper. You know it's not like real simple. You've got those videos, and sometimes we try to pattern after that. Don't pattern after those things! We must have spontaneous worship, because of the revelation, because of what God has done in your life, because of His saving Grace. We should praise Him - spontaneous worship. Not something we have to work up. You watch these people... well sometimes they try to imitate them. There they're standing, hands raised to the heavens, tears running down their eyes, singing like you never heard. Praising the lord, praising the lord, praising Jesus. I love you Jesus ... short skirts, pants, lipstick, cut-off hair. You want to tell me they are not sincere. They are sincere. They love Him just like you love Him. Emotionally they love Him just the same. We've got emotions, we love Him. Don't you love Him? Hallelujah! Well they love Him just the same. What is the difference then? What is the difference? We love the Word! We don't serve an imaginary God. We love The living Jesus Christ. He's living in me. Hallelujah! And we say we love you Lord. We love you!

~ Rev. Ivan Reynolds from near Cape Town South Africa

taken from his sermon "The Trumpet Voice of God"