Synopsis
My desire in this unpretentious manuscript is to present a "principia" handbook for Christian students and teachers in the light of their generation's music. Five chapters are dedicated to biblical principles in the context of our contemporary. Biblical principles must be seen before we will see what is happening both in the world and, more specifically, in the conservative churches across our land. If these early chapters are not read, the following chapters will reap no true appreciation and understanding, for out of "principle" comes "conviction;" otherwise conviction is simply a bias or prejudicial belief. The remaining chapters will focus on the subject of music itself. Three chapters deal with the history and philosophy of secular rock, a more pointed analogy of the world-wide powerful influence of the Beatles, and the rise of deva music in rock culture. Another chapter presents the history of music through church history, followed by a chapter presenting the birth and growth of "Gospel Music," and the final chapter deals with the history and present trends in Fundamentalist music. A "Postlude" concludes my thoughts in the light of a present need and future hope. . . .
The title of the book, Confronting Contemporary Christian Music, may seem somewhat forthright. But we are living in a time when this music has the manner of Goliath, the uncircumcised Philistine, coming before the Camp of God. As young David of old, the giant CCM must be confronted with the stones from the brook of God's Word. It is not only a philosophical battle; it is a spiritual one. May God dispel the fear and timidity among His people, so that they may rise up and confront this carnal, uncircumcised music invading our churches, for it is bold in its sounds and unseparated in its message.
From the Prelude
This book is also available in Spanish, Confrontando A La Música Cristiana Contemporánea.
About the Author
Dr. Hubert Talmadge Spence was named after his grandfather, Bishop Hubert T. Spence, who was well known as an outstanding minister of the gospel in many parts of the world. Dr. Spence is the first of three children of Dr. O. Talmadge Spence and Dr. Joye Spinney Spence. Married to the former Joy Kathryn Klepper of Oklahoma City, they have three children and six grandchildren. Although he was ordained in the Pentecostal Holiness Church at the age of 20, he left the denominational system with his father in 1974 because of the pervasion of the contemporary Charismatic movement. Dr. Spence is both president of the Foundations Schools and pastor of the Foundations Bible Collegiate Church, located between Dunn and Benson, North Carolina, on Interstate 95. His father Dr. O. Talmadge Spence commenced the Foundations Ministries in June of 1974. Dr. H. T. Spence has been a teacher with the ministry since its inception; he became vice president of Foundations in 1980 and the president in 1999. His educational background includes three bachelor s degrees, two master s degrees, and a ten-year doctor s degree in theology and Bible. These degrees from various colleges and seminaries are in the areas of Christian education, Bible, history, and theology with minors in the areas of music and philosophy. Dr. Spence has been named in the third and fifth editions of Marquis Who s Who in Religion; he is also presented in the Personalities of America, the International Biographical Society, sponsored by Cambridge University of England, Who s Who In American Education, and has received numerous other biographical awards and nominations. Dr. Spence has written some 150 sacred hymns, along with several musical monographs, musical dramas, and sacred dramatic plays. As an international authority on contemporary music, he has written an in-depth book entitled Confronting Contemporary Christian Music, which has been translated into Spanish and German. This publication has been viewed by many professors of history, philosophy, and music as one of the most candid, plenary writings of insight on the subject from a conservative perspective. Another of his writings is Crucial Truths for Crucial Days, in three volumes. He has also written an extensive survey study of each of the books of the Bible in a work entitled The Canon of Scripture. He is the editor of the Sunday Bible Pointer (Sunday School teaching lessons) and Straightway, the publication voice of the Foundations Ministries. Dr. Spence is also the host speaker of the Forwarding the Faith radio broadcast. As a teacher for over forty years, he travels throughout the United States and in many other countries presenting the Scriptures in the light of history, philosophy, and present trends that have marked our society. Dr. Spence teaches Old and New Testament along with classes in theology, history, philosophy, and music at Foundations Bible College and Theological Seminary. FOUNDATIONS BIBLE COLLEGE Foundations Bible College and Ministries were born in the providence of God in 1974, as the result of a growing concern of the founder and first president Dr. O. Talmadge Spence to raise up a school that would meet the demand for biblical leaders in a day of spiritual deficiency in church pulpits and Christian education. We live in a time when the old landmarks are being swept away by a neo crowd. Denominations are being divided; ecumenical movements are flourishing; and scriptural boundaries are being obliterated by Charismatic fevers. Foundations Bible College and Ministries are clearly identified with the fundamental and separatist position of Scripture. The College welcomes any heart that is desiring preparation for biblical living late in human history and a life-ministry for Christ. It is our hope to be Militant Against the Apostasy yet Magnificent for the Lord.
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