The Problem With Christian Music
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- 621,919
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- 21,447
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- 15:11
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- Entertainment
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--
Big thank you to Kelsey McGinnis!
Follower her here: https://www.instagram.com/kelseykmcginnis/
In this video I discuss the history of Christian Music also known as CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) and the controversies that lasted from the 70's, 80's and 90's up into the 2000's and the present day industry. Some of the artists I mention in this video are Larry Norman, Amy Grant, DC Talk, UnderOath, Jon Steingard from Hawk Nelson, Katy Perry, Jars Of Clay... and others. This is a observational commentary video not meant to be a complete "history of". Everyone interviewed or shown in my videos hold their own views and do not represent my position concerning various claims and/or ideas. I also mention Ray Comfort from @LivingWaters and @LivingWatersPodcast and John Cooper from Skillet and @CooperStuff
I wish I could have touched on a lot more stuff like digging deeper into theology and the cultural issues the CCM industry is facing constantly.
Please note: Some people have expressed concerns about Christianity Today being progressive (which I think are valid!) but please understand that Kelsey is representing herself here not Christianity Today. She was very unbiased when we spoke and her credentials are valid.
However!
I will not be working with Christianity Today in the future based upon the fact that I believe they are incredibly progressive and problematic.
Thanks again for being cordial and representing Christ with compassion and kindness :)
God bless you!
The chart on the wall behind me:
https://link.amazon/B0439Hhjn
(affiliate link)
My YouTube Gear:
https://amzn.to/47nC1mm
(affiliate link)
My Book List:
https://amzn.to/3VciAdH
(affiliate link)
Exclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
--
Big thank you to Kelsey McGinnis!
Follower her here: https://www.instagram.com/kelseykmcginnis/
In this video I discuss the history of Christian Music also known as CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) and the controversies that lasted from the 70's, 80's and 90's up into the 2000's and the present day industry. Some of the artists I mention in this video are Larry Norman, Amy Grant, DC Talk, UnderOath, Jon Steingard from Hawk Nelson, Katy Perry, Jars Of Clay... and others. This is a observational commentary video not meant to be a complete "history of". Everyone interviewed or shown in my videos hold their own views and do not represent my position concerning various claims and/or ideas. I also mention Ray Comfort from @LivingWaters and @LivingWatersPodcast and John Cooper from Skillet and @CooperStuff
I wish I could have touched on a lot more stuff like digging deeper into theology and the cultural issues the CCM industry is facing constantly.
Please note: Some people have expressed concerns about Christianity Today being progressive (which I think are valid!) but please understand that Kelsey is representing herself here not Christianity Today. She was very unbiased when we spoke and her credentials are valid.
However!
I will not be working with Christianity Today in the future based upon the fact that I believe they are incredibly progressive and problematic.
Thanks again for being cordial and representing Christ with compassion and kindness :)
God bless you!
@dizzydisciple
A list of names is shown at 9:50 directly before I pose the question “what do we do with the artists who have abandoned Christianity altogether?” Let me clarify something. The people on that list have different stories. Some of them are atheists, some are progressive Christians, some are agnostic, and others we have no idea whatsoever because they purposely obfuscate their positions, however, we can see their fruit by their public proclamations and/or sinful lifestyles. My wording was harsh but not aimed at every single person on that list. What I should have said was “abandoned or seemingly abandoned biblical Christianity”. Everyone on that list according to my research has either publicly left Christianity, adopted heresy or have publicly affirmed dangerous and unbiblical ideologies that are antithetical to the Christian faith (which is tantamount to abandoning biblical Christianity). If you’re one of the people who decided to hyper focus on a 3 second clip and comment something like “How dare you say Jon Foreman, Amy Grant or whoever else isn’t Christian” then you’ve either missed the entire point of the video or believe that their positions are in fact biblical when they’re not. I also won’t be breaking down every name on that list. If you have time to hyper focus on a 3 second clip then you have time to hyper focus on using ChatGPT to explain the list. May God bless you on your journey to becoming an armchair investigative journalist. I am not sorry ❤️
365 likes
@fernandosimon5621
I just wanna stop singing about myself at church...
4.3K likes
@DrKoneko
My Bible teacher in 10th grade said something that will stick with me forever. "You have to pay attention to when a performance is to honor Jesus, and when a performance is to impress us."
1.9K likes
@TristanDaChristian
TRADITIONAL HYMN LOVERS DOWN HERE 👇
5.6K likes
@jacobbush4796
My biggest issue is… well I’ll let CeCe Winans explain. She said “god gave you your gifts, he’s not impressed with them.” The issue with modern Christian music is the mindset of “me me me! Look what I can do! Instead of “look what god allows me to do”
702 likes
@HaraRambles
Christian Author here. The hole I saw in the fiction market is the exact same one in the musical market, only one has been filled with slop since the mid-late 2000s and the other has been completely empty since Tolkein passed. We need great artists. The Lord Created everything around us, and we personally know Him.. there should be zero excuse for us not to produce the best content in every form of art. I'd urge any young artist to master their craft as much as humanly possible, to reach out with other believers with similar gifts and create art again. Art that'll permeate through the culture around us, but even more importantly, will draw both the culture and ourselves closer to Our Father in Worship. Don't be afraid to take risks! God Bless!
1.5K likes
@RanaHaurire
Is it just me or does CCM sound the same most of the time? (Edit: I don't mean just beat, but I also mean the lyrics. Each song feels like it is repeating buzz words like "break my chains")(edit 2: I found Josiah Queen, I rlly like his ukulele songs!)
2.1K likes
@timnewman1172
Hank Hill said it best: "You're not making Christianity better, your just making Rock & Roll worse!"
1.2K likes
@Seize_The_Karp
The problem with ccm is that it has lost its variety. 90% of songs are written by 5 people. We dont have a wide variety of genres represented anymore.
114 likes
@ThandoA.Mhlanga
This video ended so quickly, We need a part 2 😭
1K likes
@TheStarshipGarage
I think the problem with CCM is that it lost its backbone. Christians are supposed to be at the forefront of art, and early CCM bands embraced that. Many CCM bands were started by former hippies whose lives had been radically changed by Christ. They also embraced heavy topics.
My favorite classic CCM band, Rez Band, covered social issues like abortion, suicide, drug abuse, apartheid, PTSD, and really struck deep. Songs like “Broken Promises” echoed the Psalms of Lament. And they sounded good and theologically, were good as they reflected how Christians should want to change the world.
Then you have Daniel Amos who was an eclectic band to say the least, who criticized televangelists and materialist culture in the 80s. And after 12 years being dormant, they release what is probably the best CCM album of the 2010s in my opinion, “Dig Here Said The Angel” which deals with issues of doubt and grief, reflecting how the band members had recently experienced losses as they were now a lot older.
And in my opinion, the best Christian songwriter, Steve Taylor. Who I’ve wanted to do a video on if I ever found the time. He pulled no punches, he was controversial as he challenged the prosperity gospel and preachers who kept trying to attach a due date to when the rapture would happen. However, due to this controversial nature he ended up leaving the CCM scene for a few years before starting his own independent Christian record, and hosting acts like Chevelle and Sixpence None The Richer and doing producing for acts such as the Newsboys (back when they had Peter Furler and they were good!)
I think Steve Taylor’s 1994 song “Sock Heaven” describes the problem with the CCM industry, where one line goes “Pick any market, pick a straitjacket” where he was describing the straitjacket that both the secular and Christian record labels would put you in.
In my opinion, the best Christian artists in recent years has been Kings Kaleidoscope. IMO, their sound is fresh, insightful, and has something for everybody, and their songs cover so many good topics in ways much deeper than anything you would hear on K-Love. They’ve even done covers of old hymns which sound amazing.
I’m glad that artists like Forrest Frank are finding lots of success, but I think CCM artists should expand. We shouldn’t just be trying to appeal to the soccer moms listening to K-Love, we need to get back to the roots of songs about the struggles of this world and how Jesus can solve them, and about deep truths only found in the Word. Luckily, I do hear a lot of Christian rappers who tend to get deeper, and we are living in an age where we no longer are required to sign to a label to release records. So we really have no excuse for making the best and most innovative music all for the glory of God in a world where the music industry is full of sin.
In the words of one of Petra’s band members: “we don’t want to just be the Christian alternative to these guys. We wanna stand out as something exceptional that people listen to because we’re good. And we want to glorify God while we’re doing it”
Also W to include John Cooper. That man, despite making the most edgy music back in the day, has remained faithful more than many artists who made less “offensive” sounding music.
1.5K likes
@kalebroberts5518
Love the editing. We need more high quality Christians on YouTube that put effort into content like this 🫡
715 likes
@jayjuliecooper8882
It's disheartening to see the state of cultural Christianity, particularly in worship music. Many artists seem to prioritize wealth and fame, charging $200 a ticket and even for meet-and-greets or autographs. It feels contradictory for them to promote a humble Carpenter who lived with no reputation while acting as if they’re something special. I've witnessed situations where fans have been let down by artists who prioritize their schedules over their followers. We should be cautious about assigning so much importance to these figures and instead focus our energy on Jesus, who deserves all our devotion.
144 likes
@holypaintkaraoke
Just because a bunch of christian artists have problems doesn't mean God can't use their songs to reach people
1.2K likes
@catmutterer
I wasn’t raised as a Christian. When I sought to know the truth about God’s reality and where Jesus fit into the whole story. Long story short, when God proved His reality to me and the Messiahship of Jesus, I decided I should probably listen to “religious” music. I went searching through the radio stations and landed on Amy Grant singing “My Father’s Will.” That was 1979, and I was 18. There’s been good Christian music and questionable Christian music since then. Some of the good Christian music has been a blessing for unchurched people. The bottom line is that God can use anything for His glory.
311 likes
@ShawHortonMusic
Keith Green is my favorite, not only Christian artist but one of my favorite artists in general. He was so bold for the Lord! One of the most passionate singers I’ve ever heard and his piano playing was incredible.
441 likes
@The_Everlasting_Art
You got me just by the intro!
It's really sad to see so many shallow christian music
7 likes
@camerastooge
We spend so much time focusing on the Michael Taits, Jennifer Knapps, and Derek Webbs of CCM that we forget that there are a lot of artists like TobyMac, Crowder, Skillet, etc. who are trying to make good art and express genuine faith through their art. I know there are a lot of people with the attitude that we need to nuke the industry from orbit (it's the only way to be sure) but instead let's focus on people making good music that at least nails the basic doctrines of Christianity and affirms believers in their faith. God will sort the wheat from the chaff in His own time.
354 likes
@BradandChrista
Former "CCM" artist here- some good points here. I think it's a matter of too much money to spread the Gospel. Especially in "worship" genres. When money is THE big incentive and the Gospel, is "an" incentive, it can become idolatry for the artist as quickly as the listener. Less money = more sincerity... as a general rule, but not law ;)
436 likes
@peanutpablo9596
I personally do NOT like CCM but I cannot stand when people ask, "why does this type of music exist?" well, it exists because people like it. And that's fine. For some people, this is the only music they mainly listen to. And that's also fine. I personally will never in a million years purposely seek it out. And that's fine as well. I enjoy other types of worship music
679 likes