Here’s a few observations and ramblings from one who has been listening to Contemporary Christian Music for over 3 decades.

I was blessed to grow up in the 70′s when “old school” Christian music came on the scene. Artists such as Chuck Girard, Petra, 2 Chapter of Acts, Phil Keagey,Keith Green, Andre Crouch, and Barry McGuire with his “Cosmic Cowboy,” brought such a refreshing depth to this genre. The music of this era really spoke to me lyrically, musically, and theologically. It challenged me to search The Word, and brought me through some trying times in my late teens, early 20′s.

However, even back in the day, a lot of these Christian artists were not embraced by many Christian stations. Even if some artists were allowed, in some markets, the station manager would literally take a black crayon and rub it into the grooves of the LP so certain songs could not be played on the air.

At the same time, in the secular world, one of the few “Christian” type songs played on the secular stations was The Doobie Brothers, “Jesus is Just Alright With Me.” I guess “Spirit in the Sky” would have been another.

I must confess as much as I enjoy having Christian music as a separate genre, it was in the mid- 90′s when I noticed the music seemed to have lost it’s depth, message, creativity, and perhaps identity.

To me, I find it interesting that I can listen to a secular station and hear a few Christian artists playing. On the flip side, there once was a local Christian station in my area that played secular music as well. At times I didn’t know if I had the secular soft rock station tuned in, or the Christian station.

I do hope there is a way that the modern-day CCM genre can survive. There are still some good artists out there that are bringing a refreshing sound, with lyrical depth that can reach U2′s audience and show them how to find what they are looking for.

Okay, Enough of this old timer’s ramblings down memory lane. I think I will dust off a Keith Green LP, put on those oversized Radio Shack headphones, settle into my beanbag, and listen to “Your Love Broke Through.”

Your opinion makes sense and I don’t disagree. Except, Becky the soccer mom has a minivan because she has KIDS. She plays on the radio the best fare she can find for her kids to have drilled into their brains. Their friends are listening to the fine art that is Hannah Montana. Third Day and DC Talk gives the kids something to listen to that sounds decently cool that they can share with their friends. The friends will hear good lyrics and it may be a witness.

I personally am weary of “family friendly” radio that is so clean it’s sterile. I like Todd Agnew’s song that says he has more questions than answers, etc. And they play Agnew once in a while but I would appreciate hearing more about real life and a Christian approach to pain, rejection, feeling distant from God, etc.

So this is the third separate thought in one comment, but say what you will, I like Third Day, DC Talk, TobyMac, Matt Redman, etc. As a kid, my parents were the “all rock is sin, no such thing as Christian rock, etc.” One of my few rebellions was to listen to Petra. Old hymns sung by funeral singers 100 years old may be very good songs but they are hard for kids to listen to.

outside of nudging Dylan for what really DOES amount to plagiarism on Modern Times, we’re not really on the same page at all. Or maybe we are. Here goes…

first off, whenever I seem to get into these conversations with my fellow Christians, the conversation tends to go straight to the words. Which is fine, because “Christian Music” without a Christian message is an automatic failure, no matter the quality of the music. So, I assume we agree there.

Where I guess we veer off is here: THE MUSIC.

In the CCM world, right now anyway, MUSICALLY speaking (so, rhythm, harmony and melody), with the exception of Mute Math and Phil Keaggy, about all there is is the “supposedly courageous crossover artists that are the worst purveyors of forgettable, milquetoast music.”

What that creates is, regardless of the “courage” that Third Day or DC Talk exhibits (no courage in writing the lyrics that you’d want to write for labels that want you to write them for an audience that wants to hear them), a Christian music ghetto. No one in the secular world needs to hear about Third Day because nobody in the secular world NEEDS to hear about them. They’re not doing anything musically worth hearing about at all. (that’s not mean-spirited, either. that’s the truth. They’re like Hootie and the Blowfish, but without the grit.)

Now, contrast with Mute Math, who are playing some REALLY amazing progressive pop music, and the secular world (or at least certain portions of it) are going GA-GA over these guys. Maybe those who will listen to them will pick up on the lyrics, maybe they won’t. But THEY’RE getting the chance where DC Talk never will.

Sadly, what does Becky the soccer mom want to hear in her mini-van on the way to school? Third Day and DC Talk.

There is a small number of artists who seek to glorify God and produce music that proclaims explicit Christian truths. I used to criticize artists that were so explicit, but lately I’ve come to admire their courage – bands like Third Day, Newsboys and DC Talk are not afraid to write lyrics and music that point to the gospel in a courageous way. I will not join in the chorus of criticism that has been directed at them by many inside and outside of CCM.

I realize that many people look at Bono or Jars of Clay as the definitive example of how to express the Christian faith to a secular audience. Well, I am a long time U2 fan- I have listened to and enjoyed all of their music countless times – but I do not think that Bono is courageous in his witness or some kind of great example for Christian artists. Though I do admire what he’s done with the AIDs crisis in Africa, the Christian themes in his music are so generic and watered down that they actually do more harm than good, in my view – because this approach makes everyone comfortable with platitudes and are no more Christian than “footprints in the sand” is.

I join you in your assessment that too much in CCM resembles Joel Osteen – but I don’t join you in blanket indictments and I don’t want to let supposedly courageous crossover artists off the hook – in many cases, they are the worst purveyors of forgettable, milquetoast music.