Contemporary Christian music hot this summer (on MainStream Radio)

Stars & Stripes (Pacific Edition) ^ | 17 Aug 03 | Brian Bowers

[xzins]

By Brian Bowers, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, August 17, 2003

MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” has been all over mainstream radio. Superchic(k) provided more music for “Legally Blonde 2.” And Stacie Orrico is a staple on MTV’s “Total Request Live.”

Contemporary Christian music is very popular this summer — but you wouldn’t know it from the news media. Journalists generally aren’t interested in topics involving religion unless there’s a whiff of scandal. Perhaps that’s why a reader asked how to find out what’s topping the genre’s charts.

I can fill part of that vacuum by adding a list of best-sellers to the bottom of this column from now on. Fans will have to turn to the Web to fill in the rest.

The best source is Billboard magazine, but you normally can’t get to its listings on the Internet unless you are a subscriber. If you’re really into it, go to www.billboard.com and sign up.

R&R magazine keeps track of radio airplay. Its Christian listings are at: www.rronline.com/Formats/christ_home.htm.

If you are simply interested in news and trends, check out the site for CCM magazine at www.ccmmagazine.com or the Musicforce page at the site for Christian Book Distributors at www.christianbook.com.

 

Disc tip

“Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon,” Avalon. This adult-contemporary group has made a lot of fans happy by putting all of its best music on one CD. With its 12 hits spread among six albums, listeners had to take the good with a lot of so-so. Now, they can focus on the best — with only a little so-so mixed in. “In Not Of,” “Adonai,” “Testify To Love” and the other hits are still catchy and uplifting but the three new songs seem relatively routine. The best is “New Day,” which contains the harmonies and sunny lyrics that make Avalon popular but doesn’t soar to the level of past hits.

 

On the charts

Top contemporary Christian albums as reported by SoundScan, according to The Associated Press.

1. “Almost There,” MercyMe.
2. “Worship Together: I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” Various Artists.
3. “Stacie Orrico,” Stacie Orrico.
4. “Spoken For,” MercyMe.
5. “WOW Worship (Yellow),” Various Artists.
6. “Unclassified,” Robert Randolph & the Family Band.
7. “The Beautiful Letdown,” Switchfoot.
8. “Offerings II: All I Have to Give,” Third Day.
9. “Rise and Shine,” Randy Travis.
10. “Adoration: The Worship Album,” Newsboys.

[PlutoPlatter]

so is it the Christian message you don't like?

hmmm.... something tells me that God is using this "contemporary" type of music for His glory....

very interesting... you hear that Racebannon, and afronaut...

some answer his call, some find it boring (or uncomfortable) to listen to because like it or not THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN IT!!!!

[Skooz]

I bet you couldn't name two CCM artists without doing a Google search.

Yet, you consider yourself well versed enough to proclaim the music as "lousy."

[PlutoPlatter]

Hey, it is understandable that you think the Truth of God is fairy tale all men do who haven't had their eyes opened.

Here is some homework for you, if you are so sure that God doesn't exist... just ask him if He is real to reveal Himself to you, you might just be surprised what will happen.

The very fact that you are here on this thread means that He is speaking to you at this very moment...

[Skooz]

Are these "Rock lyrics?:"

I was blinded by the devil, born already ruined
Stone-cold as I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I've been delivered
By His spirit I've been sealed

Now I've been saved by the blood of the Lamb
I'm saved by the blood of the Lamb
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
Now I'm so glad (So glad)
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank you, Lord
Thank You, Lord (Thank You, Lord)

By His truth I can be upright
By His strength I can endure
By His power I've been lifted
In His love I am secure
He bought me with a price
Freed me from the pit
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it

Nobody to rescue me
Nobody would dare
I was going down for the last time
But by His mercy I've been spared
Not by works
But by faith in Him who called
For so long I've been hindered
For so long I've been stalled

Now I've been saved by the blood of the Lamb
I'm saved by the blood of the Lamb
And I'm so glad
Yes, I'm so glad
Now I'm so glad (So glad)
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank you, Lord
Thank You, Lord (Thank You, Lord).

[PlutoPlatter]

Or perhaps these lyrics?

He Reigns

it's the song of the redeemed
rising from the African plain
it's the song of the forgiven
drowning out the Amazon rain
the song of Asian believers
filled with God's holy fire
it's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
a love song born of a grateful choir

Chorus
it's all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns
it's all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns

let it rise above the four winds
caught up in the heavenly sound
let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
to the faithful gathered underground
of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
some were meant to persist
of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
none rings truer than this

- Chorus -
all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns

Bridge
and all the powers of darkness
tremble at what they've just heard
'cause all the powers of darkness
can't drown out a single word

when all God's children sing out
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
all God's children sing out
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He Reigns, He reigns

all God's people singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (He reigns), hallelujah
all God's people singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (He reigns), hallelujah
all God's people singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)
all God's people singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)
all God's people singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)

all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns
all God's children singing
glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns

[Skooz]

or these:

Your love, oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide
I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
I will find my strength
In the shadow of your wings

How odd it is that some cannot tell the difference between this and Insane Clown Posse.

[PlutoPlatter]

or this...

Adoration

I'm here with the others
who saw the heavens testify
now I hang back in the shadows
I want to come close
I want to know
she sees me shivering here
she smiles and with a nod
I walk through the mud and straw
to the newborn Son of God


Chorus 1
come let us adore Him
He has come down to this barren land
where we live
and all I have to give Him
is adoration

He raises a wrinkled hand
to the dust and the flies
wrapped in rags like we are
and with barely open eyes
He takes my finger
and He won't let go
and He won't let go
it's nothing like I knew before
and it's all I need to know


- Chorus 1 -

Chorus 2
come let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
and all I have to give Him
is adoration

Bridge
God is with us here
our Emmanuel
God is with us here
our Emmanuel
o come let us adore Him (o come on)
o come let us adore Him (come on)
Jesus our Emmanuel
He's with us here and He won't let go
o come let us adore Him

come let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
and all I have to give Him
is adoration
o come let us adore Him
come let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
and all I have to give Him
is adoration
o come let us adore Him
come let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
and all I have to give Him (and all I have to give Him)
(is adoration) is adoration (is adoration)
come let us adore Him
o come let us adore Him
(adoration
adoration)
(o come let us adore Him)

[Skooz]

Or how about:

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered was crucified, buried, and dead
He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again
He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand
I believe that He's returning
To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord
I believe in the Holy Spirit
One Holy Church
The communion of Saints
The forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
I did not make it, no it is making me
I said I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

[PlutoPlatter]

One more:

It Is You

as we lift up our hands
will You meet us here?
as we call on Your name
will You meet us here?
we have come to this place
to worship You
God of mercy and grace

it is You
we adore
it is You
praises are for
only You
the heavens declare
it is You
it is You

and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone

it is You
we adore
it is You
it is You

as we lift up our hands
will You meet us here?
as we call on Your name,
will You meet us here?
we have come to this place
to worship You
God of mercy and grace

it is You
we adore
it is You
praises are for
only You
the heavens declare
it is You
it is You

and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone

as we lift up our hands
as we call on Your name
will You meet us in this place
by Your mercy and grace?
as we lift up our hands
as we call on Your name
will You meet us in this place
by Your mercy and grace?

it is You
we adore
it is You
it is You
[yeah]

holy, holy is our God Almighty
holy, holy is His name alone (holy, holy is our God)
holy, holy is our God Almighty (holy, holy is His name)
holy, holy is His name alone (holy, holy is our God)
holy, holy is our [yeah] God Almighty (holy, holy is His name)
holy, holy is His name alone (holy, holy is our God)
holy, holy is our [yeah] God Almighty (holy, holy is His name)
holy, holy [He's holy, holy] is His name alone

it is You
we adore
it is You
and only You

and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
and holy, holy is our God Almighty
and holy, holy is His name alone
hooh
holy, holy is our God Almighty (oooh yeah)
holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
holy, holy is our God Almighty
holy, holy is His name alone (yeah)


holy, holy is our God Almighty
holy, holy is His name alone, yeah
holy, holy is our God Almighty
holy, holy is His name alone
holy, holy is our God Almighty
holy, holy is His name alone
holy, holy is our God Almighty

[Skooz]

Now wait a minute...............they didn't play drums on that, did they? Or even *gasp* a ......... bass?

[PlutoPlatter]

how can any professing Christian object to those lyrics...

it must be the devil jungle drumming.....

the six stringed guitar... the modern version of the Lyre

the bass, yeah that's it.

Don't forget the people raising holy hands to their Father...

yeap sign of the devil for sure....

[Skooz]

You mean some people actually enjoy giving praise and offering worship to the Father? The horror!

[PlutoPlatter]

Think we scared 'em all off

[PlutoPlatter]

Yeah, God made me an emotional being....why would He do such a thing....

Maybe some just like to worship in a funeral parlor sitting on their hands.

[Theo]

Your experience is far too common. It bothers me greatly that much of the "contemporary" worship includes dumbed-down and outright heretical theology. It is very difficult for me when I visit some churches and find the songs "as shallow as a Pledge commercial."

And I agree completely with you about a "performance church" mentality, a seeker-sensitive approach that seeks to soften the rich and offensive nature of our faith.

I'm not sure why you wrote, "To remain Contemporary you must slide with the sinful world down the same path." That's not my experience, and not the experience of those in my church, and not the experience of those in my "denomination."

Of course, it is the experience of far too many, many people.

[PlutoPlatter]

I suppose you haven't read any of the lyrics posted (must be too shallow for you...) hmmmm..... the Bible shallow?

Get real

[Skooz]

People can worship God in any Biblical manner they choose: with hymns, psalms, a cappela, quietly, loudly.....all are Biblical ways of giving praise to God. I only have a problem if they, in their manifest ignorance to God's Word, proclaim that the way I worship God is unbiblical or "of the devil."

Of course, they offer no Scripture to back up their claims. Just church tradition.

And God's Kingdom marches on........

[Theo]

Hold on friend. Read more than one of my posts. Visit this page to read a bit more about one of my contributions to contemporary worship: http://www.newattitude.org/naband/index.htm. I'm the guy in the back, in the middle. :-)

My argument isn't with CCM. My argument is with weak/wrong doctrine that's found in *some* CCM.