Benefits/Blessing of CCM

What's the point? No matter who says what, it will not change the minds of the ones who are steadfastly against it.
It's like the athiest asking for conclusive proof that God exists. No matter what you tell him, he won't accept it.

 

I am edified by, and enjoy all music which expresses reverence, awe, gratitude, love, and humility in a spirit of worship equally.

As far as music which simply explores the human experience, or is instrumental, I enjoy it as much as anyone enjoys anything recreationally. I don't think there is a moral difference between Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and taking a walk on the beach, or sucking down a bowl of death by chocolate.

 

Bob, I have a lot of problems with CCM but there is some good stuff out there.

For me, I find the little I do listen to uplifting, convicting and encouraging.

A couple of examples for you:

HYMN


IN THIS LAND OF THE WALKING WOUNDED
IN THIS DESERT OF COUNTLESS SORROWS
I WILL CLING TO HIS HAND TODAY AND
FEAR NOT FOR TOMORROW

IN MY HEART I HAVE MADE THIS PROMISE
WITH THIS SONG I DECLARE MY CHOICE
I WILL WALK WHERE THE SHEPHERD
LEADS AND HEED NTHER VOICE

IN THE CHILL OF MY DARKEST HOUR
I AM SAVED FROM MY DEEP DESPAIR
FOR THE FATHER WHO LOVES HIS
CHILDREN HEARS MY TRUSTING PRAYER

IN MY SOUL THERE IS ONE LIGHT SHINING
FROM THE FLAME OF MY TRUE BELIEF
AND ITS EMBERS CANNOT BE QUENCHED
OR ROBBED BY ANY THIEF

IN THE END WE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
AND OUR JOURNEY IS NOT IN VAIN
FOR THE MASTER WHO BOUGHT US HERE
WILL LEAD US HOME LEAD US HOME AGAIN

BREATH OF GOD


O BREATH OF GOD
COME IN AND DWELL
PLEASE MAKE MY ACHING HEART
YOUR HOME AND USE ME WELL
FOR YOU CREATED ME
AND NAMED ME AS YOUR OWN
TO KNOW THE WONDER OF YOUR LOVE
AND MAKE IT KNOWN

O BREATH OF GOD
TEACH ME YOUR WAYS
THAT I MIGHT SERVE YOU IN THESE
PRECIOUS, FLEETING DAYS
NOW I AM SURE OF THIS
IF I'VE LEARNED NOTHING ELSE
UNTIL I LIVE FOR YOU
I DO NOT LIVE MYSELF

FATHER, FATHER
LIFT ME ON YOUR WINGS
SHOW ME WHY THE ANGELS SING

O BREATH OF GOD
I'M TIRED AND COLD
AND ALL THE DREAMS I'VE CHASED
HAVE LEFT ME FEELING OLD
BUT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING HERE
NOW I UNDERSTAND
PLEASE LET ME FALL INTO YOUR
LOVING, NAIL-SCARRED HANDS

Fire

Fire, holy flame
Walk with me, walk with me
Fire, holy flame
Take my heart And burn away this darkness in Your fire

I did not know that I was blind until I looked into Your eyes
I did not know that I was lost until You found me
I did not know I was a fool until I heard the words You speak
They are spirit, they are life, they are
Fire, holy flame
Walk with me, walk with me
Fire, holy flame
Take my hand And I will follow you into Your fire

I did not know my savage thirst until You lead me to Your well
I did not know I lived in chains until You freed me
I did not know I was afraid until You gave Your perfect love
Love that casts out all my fears
Fire, holy flame
Walk with me, walk with me
Fire, holy flame
Take my soul That I may dwell forever in Your fire

And when I feel the flame within this burning white hot light of truth
My body trembles 'til I feel my flesh will leave my bones
My soul is filled with Mourning such as I have never known
A piercing aching sorrow, heavy as a grave stone
And I cry out, I am ruined, oh, I am undone
Then like Ezekiel You bring burning coals to touch my tongue
Cleansing me from my iniquity
Under the shadow of Your cross you shelter me
You shelter me in Your fire Holy flame
Walk with me, walk with me
Oh, fire, holy flame
Take my hand, take my heart, take my soul
Fire, holy flame
Walk with me, take my hand and walk with me I will follow You...

Could It Be

I Corinthians 1:19-25

In the ebb and flow of living
As we wander through the years
We're told to listen to a voice
We can't here with our ears
They say to live by something
That you can't see with your eyes
Is there really any purpose
To this foolish exercise?

Chorus
Could it be You make Your presence known
So often by Your absence?
Could it be that questions tell us more
Than answers ever do?
Could it be that You would really rather die
Than live without us?
Could it be the only answer that means anything
Is You?

In our words and in our silence
In our pride and in our shame
To the genius and the scholar
To the foolish and insane
To the ones who care to seek You
To the ones who never will
You are the only answer even still

Chorus

It's a question you can't answer
An answer you cannot express
That the gentle Man of Sorrow
Is the source of happiness
You'll never solve the mystery
Of this magnetic man
For you must believe to understand

Chorus
Could it be the only answer that means anything
Is You?


That's What Faith Must Be

Galatians 3 & Romans 3:22

Chorus
To hear with my heart
To see with my soul
To be guided by a hand I cannot hold
To trust in a way that I cannot see
That's what faith must be

When the universe fell from His fingertips
He decided He wanted some fellowship
But the man and the woman would not submit
So He made a better way
When the moment was right He sent His own Son
And He opened the way so that everyone
Could have hope and believe that when time was done
He'd be able to make us one

Chorus

Now I understand that there is a key
It's Jesus in me, a reality
That God is in Christ and that Christ's in me
That with faith I see what is unseen

Chorus
That's what faith must be


Distressing Disguise

II Corinthians 8:9

He is in the pain, He is in the need
He is in the poor, we are told to feed
Though He was rich, for us He became poor
How could He give so much, what was it for?

In His distressing disguise
He waits for us to surmise
That we rob our brothers by all that we own
And that's not the way He has shown

Every time a faithful servant serves
A brother that's in need
What happens at that moment is a miracle indeed
As they look to one another in an instant it is clear
Only Jesus is visible for they've both disappeared

He is in the hand that reaches out to give
He is in the touch that causes men to live
So speak with your life now as well as your tongue
Shelter the homeless, take care of the young

In His distressing disguise
He hopes that we'll realize
That when we take care of the poorest of them
We've really done it to Him

The Love of God
Romans 8:18-39, Ephesians 3:14-21


There's a wideness in God's mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

Now I've seen no band of angels
But I've heard the soldiers' songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it's never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love

Oh the love of God
And oh, the love of God
The love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I'm tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

The Just Shall Live

Psalm 16:9-11, Proverbs 24:11-12, Isaiah 10:1-4
Matthew 5:5, Matthew 16:18, John 6:35-40
Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 2:9-11


I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

'Cause You won't let Your Holy One
No, You won't let Your Holy One
You won't let Your Holy One
See corruption in the grave

Because He put His trust in You
Because He put His trust in You
Because He put His trust in You
Many shall be saved

And I know that You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
On the last day

For the Lord looks down on the sons of men
To hear the cries of the innocent
And the guilty will not stand
For the day of reckoning soon will come
And the whole world will see justice done
By the Lord's almighty hand

So I'm telling you the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

And You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
That You will raise them up
On the last day

And the prayers stand where the fighters fell
And time testifies with the tale that it tells
That the meek shall inherit the earth
And the Church advances on the gates of hell
And she clings to a light that will not be quelled
By the kingdoms of this world

I'm telling you the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

And You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
You will raise them up
On the last day

 

I'm not sure what you mean by the "present fad".

Contemporary Christian music started in the late 60's when converted hippies got saved and didnt think much of the idea that they had to get rid of their guitars now, and start playing "Bringing in the Sheaves" on piano or organ.

They kept doing just what they were doing before, only they started writing about Jesus and God, instead of sex and drugs. So, Its been going on consistently for over 30 years now.

I enjoy christian music because it lifts up, and praises, Jesus Christ and God. I'll admit though that some of the styles now I cant listen to. (Hard core "heavy metal" or Rap noise, etc)

Mike

 

No doubt. There's been a steady erosion over the years and CCM seems to have finally imploded around 1993 or 1994.

Personally, I think the mid-late eighties was the best era for CCM, both artistically and philosophically.

I don't know, Bob. The eighties had artists who were very "deep", scripturally but the style of music was different and people were expressing ideas that they might not have felt free to in the 70's.

I don't think you're off at all. I do think that the collapse of CCM came much later than you do, though.

There are a lot of good songs from the eighties but if you start around '88 or so, you see the number of good songs steadily declining.

When I think about where CCM was at when I listened to it and where it is now, it's just sad.

 

One of the differences...speaking negativly...now, verses at the beginning, is that at 1st everything was driven by what was in the artists heart. Nothing more. There was no "industry" to it. They made their recordings, and sold copies at concerts.

Now, here lately, many of the christian labels have been purchased by secular recording companies, who are driven by.....$$$$$$$.

So, we have to sell product, which means that we go into bookstores and find giant, life size, promos for Steven Curtis Chapman, or Amy Grant, or whomever. That would have been unthinkable early on. Probably some of the lyrical change might be driven by the same forces. Gotta sink to the lowest common denominator, in order to appeal to the widest group of people.

Which also leads to a concern for "show biz". My wife and I went to see "Point of Grace" and "4 Him" a few years ago and it was awful. All show biz. They put on a biiiiig production.

The good thing, though, is the "Praise and Worship" movement. A lot of people were getting tired of the show biz and the "middle of the road" lyrics, and wanted to just get back to what its all about...Praising our God and lifting up Jesus.

Anymore, I purchase more Praise and Worship then CCM.

So, there is hope!

Blessings,

Mike

 

Man, I thought I was the only one thinking that! It seems that the CCM music quality is more competive with secular music today but to me the song writing is inferior. And is it only me or do they all seem to sound alike today? Like factory manufactured music clones? There seemed to be a more creative spirit in CCM in the 80's and more diversity in sound and a sincerity. Maybe I'm getting old at age 38 (soon to be 39!) but CCM today has a vanilla flavored, manufactured sound. Just my thoughts!

 

Well folks, getting back to the original purpose for this thread....I have received tremendous blessings from CCM. Many CCM songs have challenged my thinking and made me examine my heart and attitudes. I like overtly spiritual songs, but I also like songs that stand for spiritual things but aren't blatant or make you think before understanding the meaning. Charlie Peacock is a big favorite of mine for his songwriting.

I also like CCM because it can apply to my different moods. When I'm happy and energetic, I can groove along with a pop or rock song. When I'm sad or depressed, I can listen to a mellow or overtly spiritual song to remind me to look up to Him who sustains me. Whatever mood, I can find a style of CCM that "fits" with a good clean message, if not outright worship. God has also used it to speak a message to me at just the right time. Taking CCM with me on some international missions trips has brought me to tears it touched me so...PRAISE GOD!!

I haven't used CCM for much direct "ministry" purposes, but it is nice that if I wanted to share my music with unsaved friends or acquaintences, they would see that I am current in style, but with a WHOLE different meaning and purpose. I think it shows that Christians are not people with outdated, old fashioned, washed out, ideas and methods. CCM shows the unsaved that Christians have a relevant message in a relevant medium.

I was raised with the standard old hymns, and I have been and am still blessed by some of them. However, I have been blessed 100X more by CCM that I listen to at home, work and during travel.

I just remember to not put God in a box and say that He can only work in certain ways. God's ways are not man's....ANY mans! He will use WHATEVER he wants to bless or minister or do His will.

God Bless!
WW2'er

 

I can see right away that several of those songs are after 1980.
And I agree that it is just not as good as it once was. It seems now it is purely about copying what is poular, rather than expressing truth using a style that happens to be contemporary.

Also, notice how many who usually battle against the anti-rock crowd are admitting the flaws of CCM today. That shows that not all those who do not take a traditional-only position are trying to justify everything out there, or have no sense of musical or spiritual quality.

 

I would completely disagree that the newer songs lack Scriptural backing. I would ask that people look up people like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Delirious?, and David Crowder Band. The lyrics that go into their work are just amazing and are uplifting, to me at least...

For example:

All of you is more than enough for
All of me, for every thirst and
Every need, you satisfy me
With your love, and all I have in You
Is more than enough

You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King, You are everything
Still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I can see
You are more than enough to me

(Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio

And here is another one:

Sing to the King who is coming to reign
Glory to Jesus the Lamb that was slain
Life and salvation His empire shall bring
Joy to the nation when Jesus is King

So come let us sing a song
A song saying we belong to Jesus
And he is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King

(Billy Foote)


One new thing of note that Chris Tomlin said to us in a group of praise and worship leaders was quite interesting. He noted that one of the most pressing needs in worship is to connect the modern church with our worship roots. He led us in a most beautiful arrangement of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" that used the text and tune of the hymn with similar chords on the guitar. The interlude between the verses was new:

Lift up the crown
Raise up the praises
Place on the brow
Of the King of the Ages

---------


On another note, concerning CCM, a good friend of mine is into the underground hard-core Christian music scene. (Much harder than I could handle.) He has told me various stories of hard-core people who came to know Christ because of the testimony of these groups, who actually "preach" near the end of their sets. (These are the groups that I would say are "real" about their desire to seek and serve those who are lost.)

As far as my own ministry, I've seen CCM (praise and worship more specifically) create an environment of worship for my youth that I do not see during our Sunday morning, more traditional service. That's an incredible blessing right there.

My guess is that those who work with youth would offer a similar testimony.

 

Very well written

Words: Charles S. Horne, circa 1910.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/singking.htm

Pete

 

Here's a link to a community that sings 'contemporary' music that is really beautiful...

http://www.taize.fr/

 

Oopsie

Apologies Dr Bob and everyone, I must have missed that line the first time I looked at thread.

Pete

 

Titus, that's ok. We all knew it wouldn't take long for someone to start dissing CCM on this thread. If not you then someone else.

Bob, what do you get out of your music? Encouragement? Inspiration? Maybe a little education? Worship? Challenges? A sense of awe for God? A sense of peace? Joy? Don't you realize we get the exact same things out of our music?

As I've said before, I would put the songs of Skillet and Supertones against any others I have heard, including the hymns. They speak to me like the hymns never have. Maybe it's because they speak my language, maybe it's because they talk about things I experience.


Skillet - Kill Me, Heal me

Words and music by John L. Cooper.

Break my bones and reset me piece by piece.
You break me, pick up the cross cause it's killing time.
Hey, hey, hey, how can I scream when the pain is such a release.
I get the courage to pick up the nails cause it's killing time.

Kill me, heal me.
Kill me, heal me on and on.
Kill me, heal me.
Kill me, heal me on and on.

Breathing your love, you're ferocious, you're in my lungs.
Resusitate, craving your electricity.
Hey, hey, hey, feet to my pain, you give wings to my fear.
Your peace inhabits my blood. Your love is thick.

I can't live without it. I can't live without it.
I can't live without it. I can't live without it.

I figured I'd post a song that was a stark contrast from the P&W stuff that has already been posted. This is my favorite Skillet song right now. It's one of Skillet's more simplistic songs. But this is probably the best example I've ever heard of the lyrics, vocals, and the music all combining into one message.

 

I think a fair comparison can be made. The majority of our hymns are songs that are sung ABOUT God, Christ, His love, and so on. The two songs that you mentioned are about God. They are praise songs, but they are not being sung TO him, per se. Many of the praise and worship songs of today are songs that are sung TO Him, such as "Enough" as I posted earlier. I think that this generation longs to connect with God in a different way than the previous generation - a result of the new post-modern world that generation X and beyond have constructed. That is why praise and worship is different. The words have been written to tell Christ something vertically, while so many of our hymns are horizontal in orientation.

Think I'll sing it for her before I go to bed tonight! [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]I would wonder how Teresa would fulfill,

"You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King, You are everything
Still more awesome than I know"

You conveniently left that out. There is a stark contrast between songs that are designed to praise God - such as "Enough," where you know exactly that it is designed for a praiser to God - and those that are designed for a more mainstream audience.

And I would hope that as much as you love Teresa, you wouldn't be able to say that she is more than enough, because we both know that only Jesus Christ can complete us completely!