Not at all. There have been beautiful contemporary melodies and meaningful lyrics written throughout the decades and it goes without saying that the lyrics should be theologically and biblically sound.

As long as there are no carnal techniques in the music vehicle, apart from the lyrics, contemporary worship songs will meet the criteria for “spiritual songs,” as outlined in Scripture. Unfortunately, much contemporary worship music does not meet this criteria.

Historically, hymn tunes and other church music of centuries past were also “contemporary” to their time, and by their very essence they followed an acceptable “non-carnal” musical style that matched the message of the lyrics.

Contemporary Christian worship music–since around the mid 1900s–is far different from earlier forms of worship music because carnal, secular styles of rock music were adapted by new Christians and then adopted into the church.

Over time (and after a lot of debate, criticism, and church splits) this “new style” of music generally became acceptable, whether or not it was biblical. (Anything experienced over and over becomes acceptable.)

While most people understand that Christian lyrics should be “spiritual,” in most cases the term “spiritual songs” has not been correctly applied to also include the music vehicle, and this is where the debate about appropriate worship music begins, particularly because most defenders and proponents of CCM claim that music is amoral. [See article, “Isn’t Music Amoral?”]

Throughout history there appears to have been a struggle over what is “worldly” music and what is acceptable music for the Church. And although the Church has resisted change through the centuries, then adapted to the musical innovations of the time, we can safely conclude that the music used in the Church up until the mid-twentieth century was never carnal in the sense that much contemporary Christian music is today.

But since around the mid-twentieth century, for just about every contemporary secular music genre that has evolved, there is a corresponding Christian genre, only with “Christian” lyrics.

Why is the contemporary era of music styles (from early to mid-1900s on) different from earlier musical eras? Because it was around then that the focus of new musical styles began to appeal to the physical, rather than to the intellect. (This is documented in the book, Music and Morals.)

The problem with adapting just any secular music style to worship music and adding lyrics to be more acceptable, is that we are sending a mixed message to unbelievers and believers alike: music is an area of Christian living where the rules are different. “Anything goes” musically as long as the words are morally right.

So what should we do? Keep the theologically sound lyrics and beautiful melodies, but clean up and eliminate the carnal, flesh-gratifying rhythms.

Wouldn’t the message of the lyrics be the same, even strengthened? Because now, the message of the music vehicle, as well as the moral lyrics, would match: both would meet the criteria to be “spiritual (non-carnal) songs.”