Calvinistic Music Groups

[Erinwilcox]

Hello!

I am a music-loving Calvinist. While I am very blessed by the hynms that are sung at my Reformed Baptist Church, I was wondering if anyone knows of any Reformed Baptist or Calvinistic music groups with some more modern music (you know, something that I can sing to while I wash dishes). Currently, I know of no such groups and would appreciated it ever so much if someone could help me out.

[CoffeeSwirls]

http://www.reformedpraise.org/ may have some songs you would like. Jars of Clay is comprised of PCA members. There are other songs out there, but I wouldn't say that I'm an authority. I do have one CD called "Hymns: Ancient and Modern" that takes some great songs and modernizes them that I highly recommend. If you want something a bit edgy, Derek Webb has some good stuff as well.

Derek's musical style isn't edgy, by the way, but the lyrics are. In his album "She Must and Shall go Free" there is a song called "Wedding Dress." Webb has come under fire by some within the industry for his harsh language within the song, as the chorus repeatedly, though gently, uses the word “whore” to describe the church. A little Bible Study will, of course, show that this is simply a Biblical term used many times to describe the church. I am so easily satisfied / By the call of lovers so less wild / That I would take a little cash / Over your very flesh and blood // Cause I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress / And I run down the aisle

[Erinwilcox]

Thanks for the info. I checked out the website and enjoyed some of the music there.
As for the other song that you mentioned, I agree that the use of the word "whore" is scriptural, however I do not know how comfortable I would be "singing along" to a song like that. Perhaps it is just a worry over what others might think, but not everyone would understand (at least at face value) why the word is used unless they asked (and how many people are really going to do that).

[Behe's Boy]

Not sure if you like music with a bit of a harder edge - but if so - check out the group "Bean Bag." This is the only hard core/hard rock Christian group out there that I would consider "Calvinist." I absolutely love the song "Whiplash" which is about the eternal security of the believer. Lyrically - its rather simple, precise, and to the point - but you will not find this topic covered anywhere else in hard Christian music. They remind me a lot of "Rage Against The Machine" - the way they speak/sing with authority and precision. Musically they are a bit more talented than "Rage" - believe it or not. I'm not sure if these guys are around any more - if not it would be a shame....

[Beoga]

I have heard that the David Crowder Band is Reformed, not 100% though.

[FivePointCalvinist]

I could name a bunch. Jars of Clay are Reformed (check out their newest album, "Redemption Songs" - they've got a bunch of old hymns that they've revamped).

Also, check out Red Mountain Music (google it - I can't seem to be able to post a link) - the website of the music ministry from Red Mountain Church from Birmingham, AL, has some of William Gadsby's hymns that they've reworked, jazzed up, and put onto a CD.

Also, Indelible Grace is the touring band from Belmont University's Reformed University Fellowship group.

[CoffeeSwirls]

I'll look into those as well, FPC. Just so you know, you will be able to put pictures and links in your posts after a certain number of regular posts. I can't remember the number, but it doesn't take too long. If you want it to speed up, you can always "cheat" by chatting with the Chrisbot. It's pretty brain numbing, to be sure.

http://www.christianforums.com/f111-chat-with-chrisbot.html

[Erinwilcox]

Thanks everyone for the great response! I can't wait to check out all of the great music! It is so difficult to find music that is doctrinally correct-I'd rather have the instrumental than listen to bad theology! I really appreciate all of the information!

[firenze]

I could name a bunch. Jars of Clay are Reformed (check out their newest album, "Redemption Songs" - they've got a bunch of old hymns that they've revamped).

Also, check out Red Mountain Music (google it - I can't seem to be able to post a link) - the website of the music ministry from Red Mountain Church from Birmingham, AL, has some of William Gadsby's hymns that they've reworked, jazzed up, and put onto a CD.

Also, Indelible Grace is the touring band from Belmont University's Reformed University Fellowship group.


One of my friends was asked to record some music for Red Mountain Music, I think. Pretty cool ;)


Also, I agree with the Derek Webb recommendation. She Must and Shall Go Free is very good. Also try Matthew Smith and Sandra McCracken.

[Beoga]

Check out Steve Camp, I enjoy his stuff...plus I get to hear him alot on the Dividing Line, hehe.

[frumanchu]

http://www.reformedpraise.org/ may have some songs you would like. Jars of Clay is comprised of PCA members. There are other songs out there, but I wouldn't say that I'm an authority. I do have one CD called "Hymns: Ancient and Modern" that takes some great songs and modernizes them that I highly recommend. If you want something a bit edgy, Derek Webb has some good stuff as well.

Derek's musical style isn't edgy, by the way, but the lyrics are. In his album "She Must and Shall go Free" there is a song called "Wedding Dress." Webb has come under fire by some within the industry for his harsh language within the song, as the chorus repeatedly, though gently, uses the word “whore” to describe the church. A little Bible Study will, of course, show that this is simply a Biblical term used many times to describe the church. I am so easily satisfied / By the call of lovers so less wild / That I would take a little cash / Over your very flesh and blood // Cause I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress / And I run down the aisle

I still haven't gotten around to picking up Derek's album, but I'm a huge Caedmon's Call fan. Many of their songs have a Reformed undertone to them. Not sure how much of that was due to Derek and how much comes from the other members. Any time somebody mentions the word "Reformed" and "music" in the same sentence the song "Prove Me Wrong" from the Long Line of Leavers album comes to mind, particularly the first verse:

Sometimes I fear maybe I'm not chosen,
You've hardened my heart like Pharaoh,
And that would explain why life is so hard for me.
And I am sad Esau, hated,
Crying against what's fated
Saying, "Father, please is there any left for me?"

IIRC, rnmomof7 told me the group Salvador is also Reformed.

[Foundthelight]

Check out Steve Green. He is very much reformed.

[Foundthelight]

XM radio has recently started a Southern Gospel Channel. I never listened to Southern Gospel before. There is a lot of reformed theology in many of these songs.

[Erinwilcox]

I've recently found that FFH seems to have some Reformed theology in them.

Their new song, Worth it All, sounds like election:

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you are in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, the Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you. . .That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” (Isaiah 43:1-4)

O Child, you’ve never known
How I really feel
Cause you’ve never been shown
O child, you’ve never known
That my love is real
Cause you’ve never been shown
I’m about to show you for myself
So listen baby,
You don’t need nobody else - cause

You are mine, you are loved
You have always been thought of
When you hurt I feel it every time
You are mine, you are loved
And I’m never giving up
Till I’ve dried all the tears you cry
Long before you took a breath
I took your pain upon my chest
I knew your name, I heard you call
It was worth it all
It was worth it all
You are worth it all

O child, it wasn’t fair
How they walked away
Left you standing there
O child, I saw your tears
Was with you everyday
Through the lonely years
I’m about to bring back what was lost
So listen baby,
You don’t need nobody else - cause

Bridge
No matter where you go I’ll come and find you
You are precious to me…My everything
No matter what they’ve done I will repair you
You’re a masterpiece to me…Only I can see
That underneath the hurt and the pain
Is a picture of me

O Child, where did you go
Please don’t walk away
I love you so
So here I come to say


But my favorite song from them, You Found Me, sounds sort of like Irresistible Grace

I’ve got nowhere to turn
I’ve got nowhere to hide
And I’ve got no alibis
You’ve been following me
You know my history
And no matter how hard I try
I can’t explain away
The way I feel today
There’s only one thing I can say

You, You found me
You found me and You called me from the wilderness
From my cave of emptiness
You, You found me
You found me in the places of my loneliness
You told me there is more than this
You captured me with tenderness
You found me

There were so many days
Trying to figure out ways
To explain what I feel inside
I tried to fill up my soul
Without losing control
This desire never did subside
I’m ready to give in
I know I’ll never win
The hide and seek I’ve been in
In the pit of despair, I was all alone there
I wasn’t looking for You
But You found me anyway
You put Your hand on my face
Then You changed my name
Nothing can separate me from You

[Neal]

I just read that the leader of the band O.C. Supertones is a Calvinist (from his own words) and that Reformed theology underlies many of the songs. I've never heard much of them before, though.

[Neal]

I hear Indelible Grace is Reformed, as well.

[Ethan_Fetch]

The singer for Becoming the Archetype describes himself as Reformed in soteriology.

Sandra McCracken, wife of Derek Webb is also Reformed.

I believe Caedmon's Call is still Reformed and,

Of course,

Who could forget,

ALICE COOPER!

[frumanchu]

I've recently found that FFH seems to have some Reformed theology in them.

You catch the occasional hint of it. I haven't listened to them much lately The last album of theirs that I got was entirely to bubble gum for me. They almost seemed to have regressed musically, at least for awhile.

I rarely listen to CCM anymore.

[Erinwilcox]

You catch the occasional hint of it. I haven't listened to them much lately The last album of theirs that I got was entirely to bubble gum for me. They almost seemed to have regressed musically, at least for awhile.

I rarely listen to CCM anymore.

Well. . .I only hear them on the radio, so I guess I've only heard some of the better ones. Something that I think that you'd probably enjoy (I know that I love it) is the CD "Hear My Prayer," with Mathew Burtner. It is an instrumental collection of solid hymns. The music is beautiful and soothing. There are no vocals, but you know that the words to the hynms are solid.

[erin74]

The music that our anglican/reformed diocese uses the most is this:
http://emu.mu/
The congregational stuff is great, and good to listen to - well as a 30ish year old it is - hopefully not too daggy for the younger set. If so try the garage hymnal.
Check out their gospel according to groove if you like jazz - the track 'freedom' is a great sermonette to music.

also Stuart Townend is excellent (very lilting irish stuff). I think some of the Emu CD's has his stuff too.

Ruth Buchanan is a friend of ours who has re-written the music to some great old hymns and some of her own stuff.
http://www.ruthbuchanan.com/
check out Rock of Ages of the album "songs for the wealthy beggar" - it is fantastic

[Erinwilcox]

I've also been enjoying some of the music of Avalon and Selah--perhaps not exactly Reformed, but definitely some of it is not as mushy as some of the other stuff out there! Selah's CD of hymns has some really rock solid old ones on there!

[erin74]

Is Selah an australian group. We have some music by a group named Selah, who we saw a few years back... well quite a few now. I wonder if they are the same people.

[JJB]

I enjoy Todd Agnew -- particularly his putting music to Isaiah 6.

[Behe's Boy]

A bit of a rather radical band - UNDEROATH -on their latest CD has desiringgod.org (Piper's website) down as an organization that they support. Interesting - there music suddenly makes sense in light of the doctrine of Total Depravity...

[kimlva]

If anybody here likes rap type stuff (my hubby does), check out Tripp Lee, LeCrae, and Shai Linne.

If you think that kind of music is from the devil, I'll just go crawl back in my hole and you can pretend I didn't say anything.;) :blush:

[epistemaniac]

I also appreciate the recommendations..... I second the Caedmon's Call recommendations.... I went to see them in concert and they had a book table filled with Reformed books on theology..... OVE their stuff... so well produced and so great lyrically..... my son and I were listening to the Song "There You Go", in particular the line:

When I asked for and deserved a stone
You broke and gave your body as bread
And even the stone that dropped down and rolled away
Spoke of the one who bled

my son... he was about 12 or 13 at the time.... well you could just see his face as it all came together for him and it hit him very hard.... he broke down in tears and he and I prayed right there and then, in our basement, right in front of the washer and dryer lol.... as he asked for forgiveness for his sins and thanked God for the sacrifice Jesus made, the broken body.... as he realized, at least partially... the enourmity of what Jesus did.... I believe he was, at that moment, saved.... the full song is here:

There You Go


Is this the strange feeling
Of you working all to good
'Cause I am so confused
I don't even ask for what I should

When I asked for and deserved a stone
You broke and gave your body as bread
And even the stone that dropped down and rolled away
Spoke of the one who bled

There you go working good from my bad
There you go making robes from my rags
There you go melting crowns from my calves
There you go working good of all I have
Till all I have's not that bad

When I asked for and deserved a serpent
You gave a net full of fish
And even the serpent that told the lie
When lifted high foretold the gift

For you so loved the unlovable
That you gave the ineffable
That who so believes the unbelievable
Will gain the unattainable

good stuff musically (folk/rock maybe?.. hard to cetegorize them exactly) !! I love ALL of their albums.....

also, while I can't say for sure... I have always heard that Michael Card is Reformed, as is Wes King and for the heavey metal lovers out there.... the band Precious Death is most defintely reformed.... reading through the credits on the sleeve of their CD leaves no doubt as far as this band is concerned...

blessings,
Ken

[GrinningDwarf]

Thanks for the Caedmon's Call recommendations!! I just picked up In the Company of Angels II tonight...and I like it better than the new Newsboys CD!!

It sounds kinda like the bumper music they play on the White Horse Inn.

[MrsJoy]

Thanks for the info. I checked out the website and enjoyed some of the music there.
As for the other song that you mentioned, I agree that the use of the word "whore" is scriptural, however I do not know how comfortable I would be "singing along" to a song like that. Perhaps it is just a worry over what others might think, but not everyone would understand (at least at face value) why the word is used unless they asked (and how many people are really going to do that).
I actually enjoy his work. dh loves him so we have his cds, but some of them are quite out there for sure.

[MrsJoy]

my dh has made a cd. I dunno what the rule is for links here, as it might be seen as me trying to make a profit (although it's not, we don't make a profit most of the time). if you are interested pm me and i 'll send you the link ;)

[Erinwilcox]

The new Selah CD of hymns is AMAZING. It has some really rock solid hymns on it and I've been enjoying it a lot.

[strengthinweakness]

If anybody here likes rap type stuff (my hubby does), check out Tripp Lee, LeCrae, and Shai Linne.

If you think that kind of music is from the devil, I'll just go crawl back in my hole and you can pretend I didn't say anything.;) :blush:

Wow! I didn't think that there would be anyone else here who cared for hip-hop at all! For the people who hate it, please know that God can work mightily through this art form (yes, it can be art, and good art at that :) ). There are actually a number of Reformed rappers whose lyrics are some of the most deep, edifying, and challenging that I have ever come across in any musical form. I just recently got a CD by Timothy Brindle entitled Killing Sin, and it is nothing short of a lyrical masterpiece. The title comes from Romans 8:13. For hip-hop fans, the beats and samples are outstanding! :) Check out this disc and many others at http://www.lampmode.com/ (http://www.lampmode.com/)

Also, Erin, have you ever heard of Sovereign Grace Music? This line of Reformed praise and worship CDs comes from the Reformed Charismatic movement of churches which was spearheaded by C.J. Mahaney and Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. Regardless of whether one is charismatic in theology or not (I'm undecided but very cautious about it), any Reformed Christian should love the lyrics of Sovereign Grace's songs. The music is often good too! Go to http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/, and click on "Resources."

[Erinwilcox]

I am familiar with Sovereign Grace music (have some of their stuff on the iPod. . .) and really enjoy it!

[Paleoconservatarian]

I like a little unknown band called Atomic Opera, who seem to be Reformed in their worldview. In any case, if you like rock music, especially rock that's a little different than the standard MTV and/or Christian Rock fare, give them a try.

[eutychus]

Other excellent Christian reformed musicians are:
Andrew Peterson
Andrew Osenga

As a matter of fact, I'd wager that many Square Peg Alliance (squarepegalliance.net) members are reformed, but that would be a guess.

There's also Red Mountain Music who do reworked hymns like Indelible Grace.

[HeadofSpace]

Five Iron Frenzy; Supertones

They have a lot of good energy and a great message with lots of fun