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.

[winstonchurchill]

What I am saying is that these styles and idioms speak of the world and its culture good and bad and are thus disqualified to be the musical vehicle for the saints in worship, fellowship, evangelism, and the Christian life in general.

I am, as the modern phrase goes, conflicted on this one. I am strongly for traditional hymns in worship and for the exclusion of drums and CCM therefrom. Yet, I listen to CCM on my car radio and while working in the garage on a regular basis.

My real problem is with the argument. The argument was used, historically, to disqualify the organ (by my otherwise iconoclastic hero Oliver Cromwell), to argue for the Gregorian chart and against congregational singing. In favor of the quartet and against the choir. In short, for that which wasd known against that which was not.

A more difficult argument, but I think the better, is that the vast majority of CCM is fluff, i.e. a few mindless phrases repeated over and over. Martin Luther called his hymns, 'my little sermons' because in fact they were. Running many verses, each different and content-laden, with the content of the verse summarized and driven home by the memorable chorus.

I remember, as a boy, siding with the group in my church which wanted to sing all 6 verses (or whatever) rather than merely verses 1, 3 and 4. It seems to me that the issue must be content.

OK, what about my drum prohibition? My argument is that, again, the drums detract from the content. I call this my 'Italian opera' argument. I suspect there are some operas out there with great lyrical content, but unless you speak fluent Italian or German, you (and I) will never know it. The language masks the content. Similarly, drums are used to mask the content of lyrical music.

So that's why I can enjoy CCM while wishing to keep it out of formal church worship. Are there others who feel similarly?

[mommybain]

Thanks for the link...I listen to Beethoven.com at work and have been looking for an online contemporary Christian station.

I am amazed at the number of people who hold to the "CCM is a spiritual disease" mantra. We continue to have this battle at our church. I play keyboard and sing with our praise team and can remember getting into a discussion on this with a senior adult who held this belief. I told her that my then 6-year-old son understood "rock-and-roll" to be contemporary Christian music, and that was fine with me because I didn't have to worry about the words he was hearing. Her response: "Well, I never thought about that."

[P-Marlowe]

Gee its amazing how none of these people have names. I can probably post at least a thousand testimonies of people who would testify as to how listening to Christian Rock actually brought them to the cross. And those people would probably give their names instead of hiding behind the moniker of "Sixteen Year Old Student from California."

None of your anecdotal children have names. Show me one child who has actually been harmed by CCM. One with a name. And I'll show you a thousand who have been radically changed for the better.

Here's an example of the idiocy of the anectdotal quotes that you postede:

" 'Christian rock' does not praise God and it is worse than regular rock because I think it is hypocritical."

The little snot then claims that it was Christian Rock that "contributed to my moral failure

Baloney. It was his own moral failures that contributed to his moral failure. Blaming CCU is like blaming the paint companies because you became addicted to sniffing paint.

If you don't think God is praised in some of the Christian Rock, I challenge you to find a better statement of praise in any hymnal than you would find in these rock lyrics:

King of Glory
Lyrics by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

From the recording: Offerings, Track #1.

Who is this King of Glory that persues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit¹s ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the graceous King of kings
the Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

Consuming Fire (Live)
Lyrics & Music by Mac Powell

From the recording: Offerings, Track #9.

Set this place on fire
Send you spirit, Savior
Rescue form the mire
Show Your servant favor

Yesterday was the day that I was alone
Now I'm in the presence of Almighty God

Chorus:
and yes our God, He is a consuming fire
And the flames burn down deep in my soul
Yes our God He is a consuming fire
He reaches inside and He melts down this
cold heart of stone.

Set this place on fire
Send Your spirit, Saviour
Rescue form the mire
Show your servant favor

Yesterday was the day that I was alone
Now I'm in the presence of Almighty God

Repeat chorus

Did you realize that inside you there is a flame?
Did you ever try to let it burn?

[RaceBannon]

If you have a problem with the names, go to the website I left the link to and ask him for their names.

[rwfromkansas]

Not many today. It used to be pretty common and I say, while I love hymns and CCM music, there is something powerful in singing the Psalms.

Mine does: www.reformedpresbyterian.org

[rwfromkansas]

You are taking "new song" too far based on what I remember reading about it. Read up on what it is. It has nothing to do with an uninspired hymn IIRC. It is in fact a TYPE of OT Psalm revealing God's mercy in an unusual way.

As for PSalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, that actually could very likely be a statement repeating the same thing (like "iniquity and transgression and sin") and in looking at the context a good case could be made that all three are referring to a type of Psalm. After all, these are titles given to various OT Psalms. Furthermore, the word of Christ can't dwell in you richly via singing (Col. 3:16) unless you actually sing his Word, at least that is what I think when I take take that phrase pretty literally. Many respected commentators take the view that all three terms refer to the OT Psalms. Many respected commentators disagree, so by no means is it sure and I don't want to be dogmatic about what "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" mean.

But, when I look at the examples in Scripture, there isn't hymn-singing, but Psalm-singing, even by our Lord himself. Our Lord himself didn't feel comfortable singing a song of human making.

Good thinking....at least you didn't yell at me like some people...lol.

[rwfromkansas]

It's been awhile since I looked. But, I remember some of the heavier Christian bands tending to try to do all they could to make sure the name of Christ wasn't in their lyrics.

[=Intervention=]

Some bands are called to evangelize directly, others not. I'm not comfortable with bands purposefully and forever leaving Christ out, just as I'm not comfortable with the JPM (Jesus per minute) folks either. I don't think a band needs to preach from stage, but if they're not, they don't need to water down their lyrics! Heh. You're from Arkansas -- you know about Living Sacrifice, right? Right from the capital city, those guys.

[rwfromkansas]

Kansas, not Arkansas. :)

Jennifer Knapp is from here though. Awesome style she has in playing.....not your typical CCM.

I noticed at the major secular Kansas City radio station's website that "I can only imagine" is number 14 on their hits for this week and it was 15 last week. It is getting some big play there apparently. I notice on some other local secular stations it is getting lots of play as well.

It is amazing, as it is very simple and straightforward, not a little veiled like Flood from Jars of Clay, which also received lots of play several years ago.

[Theo]

Anecdotes are interesting, and they may "support" an argument, but they are not proof of anything.

The problem is "sin" -- an issue of the heart -- not music. Look at this one quote, for example: "'Christian rock' had made me a shallow, rebellious young Christian." No, my young friend, you made yourself a shallow, rebellious young Christian by submitting to your sin. You are responsible for your sin; don't blame it on your unwise musical choices.

As many have pointed out, there are musicians today who are Christians, who are composing, performing, recording, producing, singing wonderfully God-glorifying songs. There are others who are putting out doctrinally weak or outright heretical songs. I count myself among the first set, for the most part; are you saying that Christians are unable or unwise to create contemporary, culturally relevant music?

Listening to and singing along with the "good" Christian songs (those which are doctrinally clear and sound) may spur you on to love and good deeds. The "bad" songs may contribute to your immaturity and sinfulness.

Of course, even listening to "good" songs can be bad if it becomes an "idol," keeping you from fellowship with the Lord....

[hocndoc]

I keep remembering David dancing to the Lord. He was so exuberant that his wife thought him immodest.
Praise God with all your heart, your mind, and your body.

Let that Spirit which dwells with yours shine!

[Theo]

In the same posting, you refer to "rock and roll" and to "God." You say that "rock and roll" is bad, in part, because of its origin -- a vulgar reference to sex. If that's your criteria for evaluating something, why don't you be consistent and say that "God" is bad, since its origin is a non-Christian germanic deity (rather than YHWH)?

It is good to think about what we listen to, and why -- our motivations, etc. It is good to desire purity in what we listen to and look at. But it is just not right to condemn contemporary artistry just because there are those involved in it who are doing bad, or who listen to the bad stuff and are negatively affected.

Please be careful, RaceBannon, condemning things (the "good" modern expressions of worship, in musical form) that the Lord is pleased with, and which He blesses. That's a dangerous place to be, to talk trash about something the Lord approves of.

[Wolfie]

...it's just that most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts.

Those that do, (Creed and Evanescence,for example) do their damndest to throw off the Christian artist label as fast as possible.

[Theo]

Your musical preferences are fine (not that you asked my opinion or approval, but there it is :-) ). There's nothing wrong with preferring more contemporary music when you're outside the Sunday morning meeting. And there's nothing wrong with preferring more traditional music when you're in the Sunday morning meeting.

The point of the singing on Sunday morning (or Saturday, or Wednesday -- whenever your church gathers for its corporate meeting) is to reflect on sound doctrine, to sing it alongside other Christians. Perhaps the reason why so many prefer hymns (typically songs written many decades/centuries ago) is that they tend to be more doctrinally rich. I love hymns.

A loving and sensitive worship leader (could be a pastor or some other individual) will take into consideration the musical preferences of the congregation and provide musical accompaniment that facilitates the congregation's resonating/engagement with the theology of the song/hymn/psalm so that "worship in spirit and truth" might be facilitated.

Again, there's nothing innately evil about cymbals or drums or brass instruments or stringed instruments. It's about the "meaning" of the song/hymn/psalm and engaging with the Lord, in this case through musical expression.

[hocndoc]

Of course we should worship Christ in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers that God, who is Spirit seeks.

Romans 14 seems to cover this subject best. I can't imagine why anyone would want to remain the "weaker brother."

I can't imagine what non-believers think about this sort of conversation.

[Theo]

You and I are probably a lot alike. I get the sense that you are drawn to Reformation Theology, reformed doctrine. Hence your appreciation for Scripture, and for the more doctrinally-rich hymns and Psalms.

There's not a whole lot of doctrinally rich contemporary worship songs, but there is some! My "denomination" places a big emphasis on sound doctrine in the songs we sing: http://www.SovereignGrace.com/music -- feel free to check it out.

BTW, I think Mark 14:26 refers to Jesus singing a "hymn." I believe it was part of the Passover tradition. It may have originally be a Psalm, but perhaps merely a human-written song supporting the themes brought out in the Passover ceremony....

[RaceBannon]

Calling a translation a pagan origin is way off.

It is a word, not a philosophy or lifestyle.

Rock was a lifestyle, punctuated from sinful living, and none of you can deny that.

To say that a word is a sin, that is foolishness. Rock and Roll represented a sinful lifestyle, and the origin of the word was based on open sin. the word God was not.

[RaceBannon]

Show me where David danced with women in a sexual manner and I will agree with you.

Ever go to an Orthodox Jewish wedding? I have. Men dance with men, and women with women. They do this to keep people from beginning sinful thoughts.

The Jewish Hora is based on this. Dancing in other manners are not.

My point still stands.

[RaceBannon]

Those musicians are not Glorifying God if they are doing it to a Rock beat or Rock lyrics, they are celebrating the flesh.

And their appearance proves it.