Directory of Contemporary Worship Musicians - Way of Life Literature

Tomlin, ChrisChris Tomlin is one of the most influential contemporaryworship songwriters, having been called “the king of worshipmusic” and “the most-sung music artist in history. He is theauthor of “We Fall Down,” “Holy Is the Lord,” and “HowGreat Is Our God.”128 of his songs are being used in churches around theworld. e CCLI (Christian Copyright LicensingInternational) estimated that between 60,000 and 120,000churches are singing Tomlin’s songs (“Chris Tomlin, king ofthe sing-a-long,” CNN’s Belief Blog, March 9, 2013). HowardRachinski, CEO of CCLI, says that “in the United States onany given Sunday, 20 to 30 million people would be singingChris Tomlin's songs.” As a result, he is a multi-millionaire,having sold 4.2 million albums, 6 million digital downloads,and receiving millions in royalties via CCLI from churchesthat use his music.Tomlin holds the ecumenical philosophy that is typical ofthe CCM crowd. He says, “Conservatives and charismaticscan stand in one room, listening to the same music,worshiping the one true God. Music unites” (“e UnitedState of Worship,” Christianity Today, Aug. 2003).ere is definitely uniting power in contemporary worshipmusic, but this is an evidence of its apostasy rather than itsspiritual authenticity. Bible-believing Baptists and Biblebelievingfundamentalists don’t want to be united withcharismatics and the “broader church,” as it is oen called,because we are forbidden to do so. God’s Word teaches us totake doctrine seriously. We are to allow “no other doctrine,”which is the strictest possible stance (1 Timothy 1:3). We areto earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to us inScripture (Jude 3), and we are to separate from those whoteach doctrine that is contrary to the one true faith (Romans16:17). We are warned that in the last days multitudes ofprofessing Christians will be apostate (2 Timothy 4:3-4). ey366