The church has always been tempted to adopt the world's values---even in music. Without indulging in culture-bashing, Johansson shows how much modern church music has degenerated into world-affirming pap with bland musical structures and insipid lyrics. Both words and music can---and should---communicate the Gospel and effectively disciple listeners. Johansson explains how you can do it. 160 pages, softcover from Hendrickson.
"This thoughtful and challenging book should be studied by leaders of worship, lay and ordained, and be the subject of discussions and workshops for congregations."
" Dr. Alec Wyton, Manhattan School of Music
"Calvin Johansson sets forth a strong case for a worship that arises out of the gospel. Standing in historical tradition, he sees worship as the gospel in motion" the gospel told, acted out, and sung. His argument for good musical forms as a means of delivering the gospel deserves wide and careful consideration."
" Dr. Robert Webber, Wheaton College
"A thoughtful, thought-provoking, and prophetic statement about the nature of church music in our time which avoids the thoughtless and superficial by raising basic and primal questions."
" Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary
"Calvin Johansson is a prophet with an important message for pastors, worship leaders, and church musicians of our day. He calls us from our preoccupation with novelty in music styles and instant gratification of pleasure needs to a sober evaluation of how music can truly be. . . . Johansson's message challenges pastors and church musicians to think again about how and when church music truly glorifies God and edifies human beings."
" Dr. Donald P. Hustad, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"This thoughtful and challenging book should be studied by leaders of worship, lay and ordained, and be the subject of discussions and workshops for congregations."
--Dr. Alec Wyton, Manhattan School of Music
"Calvin Johansson sets forth a strong case for a worship that arises out of the gospel. Standing in historical tradition, he sees worship as the gospel in motion--the gospel told, acted out, and sung. His argument for good musical forms as a means of delivering the gospel deserves wide and careful consideration."
--Dr. Robert Webber, Wheaton College
"A thoughtful, thought-provoking, and prophetic statement about the nature of church music in our time which avoids the thoughtless and superficial by raising basic and primal questions."
--Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary
"Calvin Johansson is a prophet with an important message for pastors, worship leaders, and church musicians of our day. He calls us from our preoccupation with novelty in music styles and instant gratification of pleasure needs to a sober evaluation of how music can truly be. . . . Johansson's message challenges pastors and church musicians to think again about how and when church music truly glorifies God and edifies human beings."
--Dr. Donald P. Hustad, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
