Below is a list of some of my favorite Christian songs you usually don’t hear in church (listed in no particular order).
Face to Face Kenneth Cope
Meant to Live Switchfoot
On Fire Switchfoot
Faceless Man Creed
Gravity Sean McDonald
Alive P.O.D.
Breath of Heaven Amy Grant
Flood Jars of Clay
Love Song for a Savior Jars of Clay
Breathing Lifehouse
Homeless Michael McClean
Everything Lifehouse
His Hands Kenneth Cope
Jesus Freak DC Talk
Feel free to share your songs. Let’s see how big our list can get!
P.S. Just for fun and old times sake here’s a link to the Mormon Rap video: http://graceforgrace.com/2008/06/21/mormon-rap/
“Thy Mercy” and “God who Saves” by Caedmon’s Call
Hey Clean Cut,
I haven’t heard of Caedmon’s Call. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks for the reference!
Great list. I am a huge fan of Jars of Clay – Flood is one of my all time favorite songs. And I had completely forgotten about PODs “Alive.” What a great song. Here is what I would add to the list:
DC Talk – What If I Stumble
Jars of Clay – Faith Like a Child
Switchfoot – Dare You to Move
Collective Soul – Hymn for My Father
VeggieTales – God is Bigger
Fiddlesticks – Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing
Chris,
I think I was with you in high school when I first heard DC Talk. I haven’t heard the VeggieTales one or the Fiddlesticks…I’ll have to check them out.
All I can say is Collective Soul rocks and that’s awesome you included them on the list!
Casting Crowns’ “Who Am I,” “Praise You in the Storm,” or “East to West.”
Hi Jon,
Thanks for the references. I actually forgot about Casting Crowns.
“Give Said The Little Stream”
The greatest song on service ever written, and you never hear it anymore.
Hey Brettw,
On my mission there was a jazzed up version of “Give Said the Little Stream” we used to listen to all the time. I wish I knew who wrote it. I can’t seem to remember but it was pretty cool.
Love Jars of Clay. Never heard of Kenneth Cope but really liked Face to Face.
Do any of the LDS wards have contemporary music as part of their worship service? Is that allowed?
Hi Doug,
Kenneth Cope is an LDS artist so I’m sure you don’t hear his stuff much in worship services. He has some very good songs though.
LDS don’t have contemporary music as part of their worship service. They have traditional hymns….similar to what you would find in a Catholic or traditional protestant church like Presbyterian or Lutheran churches.
They do hold worship services outside of their Sunday worship called “firesides” where they have contemporary music sometimes, but this isn’t a regularly scheduled event like you see many times in the evangelical churches.
My opinion of why they have the more traditional and reflective slow hymns in the weekly church services is because they (the leaders of the church) feel too much jazzed up music distracts from the sacredness of taking the sacrament (communion), which LDS do on a weekly basis. During this time it is time for people to reflect and ponder, etc. and if there were drums, guitars, etc. it would distract (in their opinion) from the mood.
I have been to evengelical churches though where there are drums, guitars, a full band and I love the songs they sing and the way they worship. I love how the people in the worship services join in with feeling and emotion as you can tell they truly have passion and love for the Savior. I think the LDS could benefit from a little more of that, but that’s my opinion.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir does an awesome rendition of Psalm 121-”My Help (Cometh from the Lord). Their Hallelujah Chorus” is incrediable.
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