What is gospel music?
We presume to know what gospel music is until we subject it to discussions and analysis that reveal a diversity of thoughts and sentiments; then our knowledge becomes congested.
For starters, think about this statement: “Every gospel song is Christian music, but not every Christian music is a gospel song”? You need to read that assertion again to clear your mind of possible confusion.
The statement tries to make a distinction between “gospel music” and “Christian music”. But how does it matter, whether a piece of godly music is “gospel” or “Christian”?
Christians in Antioch
The word “Christian” is a New Testament word that broadly encompasses everything Christlike, pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ and his life, mission and vision.
In the city of Antioch where the disciples were first called “Christians”, those who gave them that label observed their lifestyle and behaviour as resembling that of Christ.
To the inhabitants of Antioch, the way the disciples talked, their morality, prayer life, gentleness, patience and togetherness looked like the Christ they talked about.
In that case, the lyrics of their songs were Christian in nature. Therefore, “Christian” is the broader umbrella label conferred on all who follow Christ and everything about Christ.
On the other hand, “gospel” — which means “news” — is a more specific concept within the broader Christian space — namely, God’s plan for the salvation of mankind through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That news is “good”, very good indeed, for it guarantees the salvation of our souls and our future happiness; hence, the gospel is “Good News.”
Great Commission
Thus, “gospel” is specific to the Great Commission, the charge Jesus gave to his disciples (and to us) about his mission on earth and his vision about his kingdom, recorded in Matthew 28:19, 20 —“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
That is missions and evangelism. Therefore, any song, drama, sermon or literature that delivers this specific message is gospel, whatever the genre, because it focuses on Christ Jesus.
Micro and macro
Thus, the discussion on “Christian music” versus “gospel music” is about whether we are looking at it from the specific (micro) or the broader (macro) point of view. “Christian music” is the broader view (macro) while “gospel music” is the specific view (micro).
As long as the lyrics of a song focus on Christ and what he stands for, that, specifically, is a gospel song.
What if the song does not mention Christ but is godly in nature, mentioning God or the Holy Spirit but not Jesus? Should we still call the song “gospel”—since per our explanation gospel is specific to Christ? And should we say the song is not “gospel”?
To answer this question, remember that a cardinal fact about Christianity is that we cannot separate Christ Jesus of the gospel from God and the Holy Spirit divine.
Our submission
Our submission, therefore, is that any message that is Christ-centred is invariably connected to God Almighty and the Holy Spirit, for the very critical reason that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit cannot be separated.
This mystery will continue to elude those who are unable to accept it by faith because the truth about the Trinity is spiritually discerned, not intellectually analysed.
Trying to differentiate a general Christian song from a specific gospel song seems tedious and quite unnecessary. Moreover, if a Christian musician were to sing only “gospel songs” by our definition in order to qualify as a gospel musician, he or she could not sing any other Christian song, which would be absurd.
In other words, although the word “gospel” derives its foundation from the Lord Jesus and the Great Commission, generalising it to encompass any other authentic Christian message would not be inappropriate.
Note that Christian songs in general come in a variety of genres depending on the content: praises and adoration, evangelistic and missions, testimonial and experience, teaching and instruction, motivational and encouragement, rebuke and caution.
And all these genres embrace the gospel in its broader or specific viewpoint without drawing a dichotomy between “Christian” or “gospel”.
That is why even if a Christian song is not specific to the Great Commission, as long as it provides instruction for Christian living, it can be called “gospel” without contradicting the term.