Matt Olmstead

For those of you familiar with SoundForth, you know they release new recordings every year at Bible Conference, which is in March. This year is no exception. I found out recently that Dan Forrest played a major role in this year’s recording by serving as a producer and scoring several of the pieces.Dan sent Scott Aniol a review copy and asked him to review the CD before its release. This morning Scott posted that review. After reading the review, I am the more eager to get this CD. In the past, the SoundForth vocal recordings have been performed by a select studio choir. While the recordings have always been excellent, there has been that sense of manufactured ministry with each recording. Scott indicated in his review that the recording was done by a “real choir,” which is what he loved best about the CD.

I am hopeful (certain even) that this CD will bless the hearts of the hearers by helping them meditate on truths from Scripture in their private worship. On the other hand, I believe the plethora of “good Christian music” we have today can (has become in some respects) a hindrance to corporate worship.

By substituting family singing in the home with listening to sacred recordings, we have de-emphasized the importance of singing in personal and family worship in favor of simply listening to “good Christian music.” Furthermore, the high-quality recordings often attain a higher level aesthetically than a majority of the local churches can ever achieve and thus gives a higher emotional charge to the listener. Subsequently, worshipers give only half-hearted efforts on Sunday morning because the hymns are not of the same “emotional level” as the CDs that they listen to at home.

So I urge caution. Listen for enjoyment, edification, and personal reflection, but understand that believers still have a responsibility to actively participate in worship with as much emotional vigor as that with which they listen to “good Christian music.”

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