Let Those Who Have Ears to Hear: If They Took the Music Away...Would You Still Follow Jesus?

both her books are super and should be read by all ...churches considering major changes in format and worship service should consider this book.

"One doesn't have to have music degree to understand how certain types of music appeal to our flesh." This highly convincing sequel to Smith's previous book "Oh Be Careful Little Ears," further explores sensuality in music and how we need to deny our flesh and not feed it in worship. This is reccomended reading for every church.

We recommend this to Christian parents who have any doubts, no matter how small, about the CCM industry and the place of rock music in our lives. With three teens of our own who sometimes 'push the envelope' of music styles, we appreciated Kim's plain-spoken message and her warnings. The information about music she shares was easily understood by us and our teens.

In this sequel to "Oh, Be Careful Little Ears," Smith further impales the heart of contemporary Christian music, then twists the stake. In a broader crusade against the worldly appeal of Christian rock and other "carnal" music, she makes this observation: churches that embrace contemporary music are far more likely to develop casual attitudes about God and worship. Accordingly in such churches, a worship service is no different from "hanging out" at the local mall, where slovenly dressed people can meet with friends to have some "laughs" and hear some "tunes" (emphases mine). The book's subtitle provides much pause for thought: "If They Took Away the Music...Would You Still Follow Jesus?" It implies that upbeat contemporary music is the principal factor (perhaps the only factor) which keeps people, especially teenagers, in today's "cool" churches. But to Smith, "'Cool' is not a fruit of the [Holy] Spirit."Smith devotes a large segment of the book (71 pages) to crushing some 50 additional excuses which proponents of contemporary music have offered in defense.This book, together with "Oh, Be Careful Little Ears," should more than sufficiently convince discerning Christians to reclaim biblically sound music for their worship services. This includes opposing many forms of contemporary music, most especially rock music. These two books should be mandatory reading for Sunday school programs and youth groups.