Why I Stopped Hating Christian Music (a blog)

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christianitytoday.com/peter-chin/2014/september/why-i-stopped-hating-christian-music.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=13250864&utm_content=303922510&utm_campaign=2013

This is from the online Christianity Today, so it’s Protestant.

Those of you who are interested in the topic of contemporary Christian music will hopefully be interested in this, especially the comments.

I would be interested in comments about this blog from Catholics who listen to contemporary Christian music.

One thing that I found interesting is how the author claimed that his faith is 2000 years old–remember, this is an Evangelical Protestant writing this blog. One of the comments takes issue with this, pointing out that modern Evangelical Protestantism dates from 1967.

Another interesting point in the article is the recognition that much of the CCM on the radio isn’t appropriate for “church” worship. My husband and I were Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of our life, and we didn’t really see a lot of separation between Christian music on the radio and Christian music in church. If it was “Christian,” it was OK for church worship services. I’m wondering if this blogger is unusual in his point of view, or if Evangelical Protestants widely hold to the viewpoint that some music is appropriate for home and some is appropriate for church worship.

Finally, I do disagree with the blogger that Christians have to write subpar music in order to appease everyone. I think that Christians above all people should strive to write and perform only the BEST music with the greatest skill they can muster. The idea of writing “down” to appease people is unacceptable to me.
 
Being not familiar with contemporary Christian music, it may be that I’m not understanding what the author is trying to say, but some of the reasoning confuses me.
And in order to accomplish this, many Christian artists hedge their bets and write songs that are of saccharine sweetness - not because they themselves are not familiar with suffering or have nothing deeper to say, but because they don’t want to take the risk of writing a song that is so honest that it might negatively impact a person spiritually or emotionally.
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The approach “we don’t want to tell people about suffering, since it might get them upset” seems strange to me, I must admit.
 
I listen to CCM and my family can’t stand the hip-hop and rap like sound. We are all definitely older country and bluegrass fans. Several years ago I realized I would rather listen to bad music with up-lifting lyrics than catchy music with lyrics that kept my mind in the gutter so to speak. I would love if we had a gospel bluegrass station. I’m sure there is plenty if you have satelite radio which we don’t. Of course I don’t think all the CCM sounds bad, there a whole lot of them that I really like, but some, ugh, I have to just turn the radio down and hope the next one is better.

Also, I too have bad habit of picking them apart theologically.

“Like a rose trampled on the ground He took the fall and thought of me, above all.”

I really like this song, but I always hate singing “above all”. I can’t help but think that Jesus thought of all of us the same. I know, I know…nitpicky.
 
(Couldn’t access comments on that blog anymore).

When going through old sheet music I happened upon this original song by Nancy Honeytree: youtube.com/watch?v=2dKd3ybd3-s

I think it has some old school appeal and is worth keeping on air. Similarly, I have regards toward a few CCM artists including the Newsboys.

John Michael Talbot was part of CCM early on from what I understand, then he took a different direction exploring the roots of ancient liturgical music.
 
Cat said:
christianitytoday.com/peter-chin/2014/september/why-i-stopped-hating-christian-music.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=13250864&utm_content=303922510&utm_campaign=2013

This is from the online Christianity Today, so it’s Protestant.

Those of you who are interested in the topic of contemporary Christian music will hopefully be interested in this, especially the comments.

I would be interested in comments about this blog from Catholics who listen to contemporary Christian music.

One thing that I found interesting is how the author claimed that his faith is 2000 years old–remember, this is an Evangelical Protestant writing this blog. One of the comments takes issue with this, pointing out that modern Evangelical Protestantism dates from 1967.

Another interesting point in the article is the recognition that much of the CCM on the radio isn’t appropriate for “church” worship. My husband and I were Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of our life, and we didn’t really see a lot of separation between Christian music on the radio and Christian music in church. If it was “Christian,” it was OK for church worship services. I’m wondering if this blogger is unusual in his point of view, or if Evangelical Protestants widely hold to the viewpoint that some music is appropriate for home and some is appropriate for church worship.

Finally, I do disagree with the blogger that Christians have to write subpar music in order to appease everyone. I think that Christians above all people should strive to write and perform only the BEST music with the greatest skill they can muster. The idea of writing “down” to appease people is unacceptable to me.
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I couldn’t access the comments on the site. I used to hate CCM but I started getting into it a few years ago. There’s not too many I like, but I managed to find a few artists I really enjoy, mostly Catholic artists. I know a lot of the contemporary Catholic artists have written music specifically for a Mass setting. Some of it is beautiful, wonderful music that would fit in and even be an improvement over a lot of what I hear on Sundays. While some of it may not fit in with a general Mass, I don’t see a problem with it at a Mass for teens or younger audiences.

I also disagree with the blogger about Christian music somehow being subpar by default. I think Matt Maher is great and my wife, who is not a fan of Christian music, usually doesn’t realize that a Christian song is playing when he comes on unless she recognizes the song or looks at the MP3 player. Same with Audrey Assad. I also disagree that they’re hamstrung by having to conform to theological teaching. Just off the top of my head, Francesca Battistelli and Moriah Peters both have songs about marriage and chastity that don’t really have any theological content. My take is that they’re writing songs from a personal perspective, just as the “unrestrained” secular artists do, but from a different background and with a different personal and moral outlook. Personally, I’d rather hear a female artist singing about wanting to be with their husband for a hundred more years, or saving her first kiss for her husband, than about getting drunk, sleeping around and having a large posterior.
 
I often hate contemporary Christian music. I think the music usually sounds good but the lyrics are subpar.

Many songs seem like they threw together a bunch of modern Christian catch phrases (sometimes unbiblical or with a Protestant twist) with no particular order or cohesion. I’ll clarify that Matt Maher, Pawnshop Kings, and those like them tend to be the exceptions: great music, great lyrics.

Great love songs are often better music to me than most of today’s Christian songs. I think we as Christians have generally dropped the ball on great art (music, movies, etc.) over the past 40 years and secular artists have had to carry most of the load alone with varying degrees of success but also sometimes lacking virtuous direction.
 
I’m an old Neil Young and Bob Dylan, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, Beatles, etc., fan.

I really would like some good suggestions.

The Christian muzak I’ve heard has sounded all whispy and thin and vacuous. I suppose as a Catholic, I’d like Christian music to at least some of the time mention Catholic aspects.

Any good suggestions?
 
I am not a fan of Christian music. I like a few Christian artists but that is all. My sister is a huge fan though.
 
A coworker often has it playing in her office.

It’s boring.
 
Captain_America said:
I’m an old Neil Young and Bob Dylan, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, Beatles, etc., fan.

I really would like some good suggestions.

The Christian muzak I’ve heard has sounded all whispy and thin and vacuous. I suppose as a Catholic, I’d like Christian music to at least some of the time mention Catholic aspects.

Any good suggestions?
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I’m a big fan of “C.S. Lewis Song” by Brooke Fraser. It’s not Catholic, but like Lewis himself, it’s pretty close! Also, I like her song “Shadowfeet”, which is also inspired by Lewis’ book “The Great Divorce”.

And IMHO, the music is quality as well, not just the lyrics. I don’t listen to CCM otherwise at all.
 
Captain_America said:
I’m an old Neil Young and Bob Dylan, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, Beatles, etc., fan.

I really would like some good suggestions.

The Christian muzak I’ve heard has sounded all whispy and thin and vacuous. I suppose as a Catholic, I’d like Christian music to at least some of the time mention Catholic aspects.

Any good suggestions?
Click to expand...
I’m right there with ya. I grew up listening to punk and alternative rock, but once I turned 19 or so I fell in love with Springsteen, Dylan, the Stones. Rock & roll and singer-songwriter tunes are still my favorite, but the past couple years I have gotten into a couple artists that I would have avoided when I was younger (I can be a bit of a music snob, but now that I am 32 maybe I am mellowing out) 🙂

Check out Gungor and Jon Foreman. Neither are Catholic, but you won’t regret it.

You might be familiar with Gungor from their song “Beautiful Things” which I think gets radio play on CCM stations (and has been covered by other CCM artists). Their first album (Beautiful Things) is more evangelical church praise and worship music, if that’s your thing. But since you are a Neil, Beatles, etc fan and that means you appreciate music that is also art you should do yourself a huge favor and get their second album Ghosts Upon The Earth. That is ART. It’s epically good. It’s like the Old Testament set to music. Their latest album, I Am Mountain, is more indie electro-folk-rock; it’s fantastic as well, but lacks overt Christian themes (which they are getting blowback for… I guess the CCM community has demanding expectations of artists).

Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot. (If you don’t know who they are - like me a couple years ago - Switchfoot is an alternative rock band made up of Christian guys who are into rock n roll, surfing, and God. The songs are kept vague at times so as to be accessible to a wider audience, but it’s hard not to see the Christian themes in the songs even if you aren’t one). Even if you’re not into the alternative rock scene, you should check out Jon. He has 4 EPs (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) out as a solo project and they are all singer-songwriter. Some of the most beautiful stuff I’ve ever heard. Not all the songs are about God, but even the one’s that aren’t are very positive.

So start there and let me know what you think!
 
Captain_America said:
I’m an old Neil Young and Bob Dylan, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, Beatles, etc., fan.

I really would like some good suggestions.

The Christian muzak I’ve heard has sounded all whispy and thin and vacuous. I suppose as a Catholic, I’d like Christian music to at least some of the time mention Catholic aspects.

Any good suggestions?
Click to expand...
I’m right there with ya. I grew up listening to punk and alternative rock, but once I turned 19 or so I fell in love with Springsteen, Dylan, the Stones. Rock & roll and singer-songwriter tunes are still my favorite, but the past couple years I have gotten into a couple artists that I would have avoided when I was younger (I can be a bit of a music snob, but now that I am 32 maybe I am mellowing out) 🙂

Check out Gungor and Jon Foreman. Neither are Catholic, but you won’t regret it.

You might be familiar with Gungor from their song “Beautiful Things” which I think gets radio play on CCM stations (and has been covered by other CCM artists). Their first album (Beautiful Things) is more evangelical church praise and worship music, if that’s your thing. But since you are a Neil, Beatles, etc fan and that means you appreciate music that is also art you should do yourself a huge favor and get their second album Ghosts Upon The Earth. That is ART. It’s epically good. It’s like the Old Testament set to music. Their latest album, I Am Mountain, is more indie electro-folk-rock; it’s fantastic as well, but lacks overt Christian themes (which they are getting blowback for… I guess the CCM community has demanding expectations of artists).

Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot. (If you don’t know who they are - like me a couple years ago - Switchfoot is an alternative rock band made up of Christian guys who are into rock n roll, surfing, and God. The songs are kept vague at times so as to be accessible to a wider audience, but it’s hard not to see the Christian themes in the songs even if you aren’t one). Even if you’re not into the alternative rock scene, you should check out Jon. He has 4 EPs (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) out as a solo project and they are all singer-songwriter. Some of the most beautiful stuff I’ve ever heard. Not all the songs are about God, but even the one’s that aren’t are very positive.

So start there and let me know what you think!
 
Wow…I had no idea there were so many people out there who do not like Contemporary Christian Music. I’m the exact opposite. I’ve been listening to CCM for over 35 years now and although I cannot say I enjoy all of it, I do like most of it.

I started listening to CCM when groups like 2nd Chapter of Acts, Dallas Holmes and Praise, and Keith Green were big. Back then, the production quality was pretty low, but the message was what I listened for.

Today, some of my favorites are Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, and a little more obscure, Michael Card.

Maybe I’m not as discriminating in my taste in music as others are, but I do not feel that this music is as bad as it was characterized in the blog.

(But then again, I also like the music of Haas and Haugen, so there you go!) 😉
 
I’m still partial to the Integrity Hosanna! and Vineyard labels of the late 80’s to mid-90’s. Their lyrics were much richer, heavily drawn from Scripture if not outright lifted (e.g. Integrity’s Scripture Memory series). The music was also much better (subjectively speaking, Yamaha DX7 notwithstanding).

Today, with a few exceptions, the lyrics are bland, they tend to be more me-centered rather than God-centered, and the music has become harder such that it can’t be distinguished from secular rock and alternative music. At a recent prayer gathering, it had become so noisy it took all my strength to not walk out.

I have become a “trad” when it comes to P&W music.
 
TheLeastofThese said:
Wow…I had no idea there were so many people out there who do not like Contemporary Christian Music. I’m the exact opposite. I’ve been listening to CCM for over 35 years now and although I cannot say I enjoy all of it, I do like most of it.

I started listening to CCM when groups like 2nd Chapter of Acts, Dallas Holmes and Praise, and Keith Green were big. Back then, the production quality was pretty low, but the message was what I listened for.

Today, some of my favorites are Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, and a little more obscure, Michael Card.

Maybe I’m not as discriminating in my taste in music as others are, but I do not feel that this music is as bad as it was characterized in the blog.

(But then again, I also like the music of Haas and Haugen, so there you go!) 😉
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I know people who quit listening to it altogether because some of the folks they associate with are so over-the-top hateful toward it that they would mock and abuse them if they heard them mention it or saw a CD in their car. One friend who was really into has recoiled to the point where he’ll quit talking to me if I mention it.

I agree that it’s nowhere near as bad as portrayed in the blog. I personally feel that when someone says they don’t like CCM, that’s almost as broad a statement as saying they don’t like music in general. The artists I like have sounds that range from country to rock, R&B, folk, alternative, pop and church music. My wife will state emphatically that she doesn’t like Christian music, but with a lot of what I listen to, if she doesn’t pay attention to the lyrics she has no clue that that’s what she’s hearing.
 
Cat said:
Another interesting point in the article is the recognition that much of the CCM on the radio isn’t appropriate for “church” worship. My husband and I were Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of our life, and we didn’t really see a lot of separation between Christian music on the radio and Christian music in church. If it was “Christian,” it was OK for church worship services. I’m wondering if this blogger is unusual in his point of view, or if Evangelical Protestants widely hold to the viewpoint that some music is appropriate for home and some is appropriate for church worship.
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A lot of what radio considers as friendly contemporary Christian music has changed. From country/pop songs suited for sing-alongs by church congregations there is more Christian rock and Hip Hop making the playlist of radio stations. It is to the point where Praise and Worship music is considered its own sub-genre within CCM. The other forms are popular enough that Christian rapper Lecare was one of the host of the Dove Awards, the CCM equivalent to the Grammy’s. Except in perhaps a college or teen church a Lecare would be invited to give a special offering in music but the church as a body would not be rapping along with him.
 
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