So, what is wrong with Contemporary Christian music? Isn't music just music? Does it really matter what kind of songs that we sing? Can't any kind of music be used for God's honor and God's glory? There are many things that can be said, but there are a few key things that I want to look at.
First of all, CCM promotes the "Artist" and the music over Jesus. If you disagree with me, listen to the words of the musicians and singers themselves.
Amy Grant
"What we're trying to do is take Christian principles and make them understandable. Even if it doesn't say Jesus, it doesn't matter. . ." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p 10)
Amy Grant
"I'm a singer, not a preacher, I'm not looking to convert anybody." (Los Angeles Times, 5/4/84, pg. 2-c)
Rich Mullins:
"I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians take themselves too seriously. They should have more FUN, and they should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." (CCM magazine, April, 1987, p. 12)
Jason Martin of Starflyer 59
"A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you have to put the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many bands get almost anti-Jesus in their lyrics, even though they're Christians." (HM, Mar/Apr 97 p. 21)
Here's what a secular reporter in the Birmingham News wrote after watching a Michael W. Smith concert:
"If you weren’t familiar with Michael W. Smith’s standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser." (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c)
Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, I’ll Lead You Home, has 2046 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Live the Life, has over 1100 words — Jesus occurs — you guessed it — ZERO!
"His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. . . . To his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, BAR NONE . . ."
Who is being glorified there, Jesus, or Michael W Smith?
The Bible clearly teaches us that the songs that we sing should bring honor and glory to GOD!
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and PRAISE thy power. Psalm 21:13
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7
PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3
In the song by Rebecca St. James "You make me come alive", the words are so vague, as most CCM is, that you're not sure if she is talking about the Lord or her boyfriend!
Within the last month I have visited many of the websites of CCM "Stars", here are just a few of the ones that i looked at;
Janet Paschal
D C Talk
Michael W Smith
Steven Curtis Chapman
Phillips, Craig and Dean
Amy Grant
4th Sunday
Jars of Clay
Rebecca St. James
Point of Grace
Chris Tomlin
Toby Mac
Mercy Me
Darlene Zchech
Newsboys
Starflyer 59
None of the sites had the plan of salvation, none of them! It was all about promoting THEIR CD's, THEIR concert's, join THEIR fan clubs. Do you think that John the Baptist would have a fan club if he were around today? No, John the Baptist would say, "He must increase, but I must decrease". John 3:30
So I would say that the first thing that is wrong with CCM, is that it promotes the singer and music, instead of God.
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