I realize this has no bearing on the above article, but I recently came across a group that interested me because of their sound doctrine as well as talent, and it turns out they are in your area. You’ve probably heard of them, but their website is http://www.christcentric.net. According to a website they were recently featured on a Psalms project- maybe a guest appearance in August is in order????

Joyfully His,

Aaron Campbell

When I was a kid, there was pretty much no Christian music that really engaged me - I tried to listen and like it, but it was an effort, and I was much more interested in INXS, Thompson Twins, and Depeche Mode — edifying music, I’m sure you’d agree. Even as a college student, I remember getting excited about a handful of artists like Out of the Grey and The 77’s who were putting out music that appealed to me both lyrically and musically. It’s a totally different world in Christian music these days, and the upside is that there are a lot of artists that my whole family really enjoys and is blessed, sometimes even challenged, by. While the lyrics aren’t always meaty, they’re certainly much more beneficial on the whole than a steady diet of Disney pop or “screamo.”

These days, I’m exposed to a lot of music, both in the CCM and secular realm, generally all in the rock/pop world. I’ll sometimes see posts or articles describing how lame Christian music is, and the writer will reference “really great bands” in the secular world. But it seems like it’s always the same handful of bands/artists: U2, Coldplay, Keane, John Mayer, and a few others — all artists that, I agree, have a history of putting some great music material, some even with good lyrics. However, the vast majority of material in mainstream music is poor quality, re-hashed, trite, and worthless. I think this is a symptom of the music industry as a whole, all genres and ideologies included.

Meanwhile, in Christian music, there are several artists in the pop/rock realm putting out some great material. I know I get frustrated with Christian radio like most people do - same songs and glossy sounds all the time. If you can past that though, there are some artists worth the listen. Without making an endorsement of lyrics or viewpoints, I think of some excellent, even innovative, cd’s (my perspective) put out the past couple years by Jars of Clay, Sara Groves, Leeland, David Crowder Band, Rebecca St. James, Relient K, Adie, Paul Baloche, and Chris Rice, just to name a few. I (and my kids) don’t have to “try” to enjoy this music — there are many great songs and, for the most part, solid lyrics.

Wish I had a recommendation for how to filter through the mediocre and mundane before purchasing, but that’s info the “industry” just wouldn’t want us to have, right?

Blessings for the day, and thanks for the opportunity to post.

Andy Bryant
Vancouver, Washington

No matter who our target audience might be, I find that when I’m looking for new songs, it’s not too hard to weed out the stuff that’s just plain terrible. The struggle is separating the good from the best: trying to find songs with meaty lyrics that maintain a God-focus throughout. If I may kiss up for a moment, that is what I have found in any of the powerful Sovereign Grace Ministries songs that I have opted to use with my congregation. My only hesitation with some SGM stuff is the occasional extreme wordiness. But SGM is, by and large, a rich source of great music for congregatioal use. I highly recommend it.

The vast majority CCM is owned by secular companies. There’s probably nothing inheritantly wrong with that. However, the mindset seems to be “How can we get a 14-year-old to spend $15,” rather than “What spiritual truth do 14-year-olds need to hear.”

Personally, I feel that CCM began (like most para-church movements) because of neglect on the part of the local church. I would argue that due to the resurgence (however small) of the arts in the local church, CCM is becoming more unneeded and irrelevant.

Tragically, very few of the CCM artists that I met are meaningfully involved in their local churches. Pray for them, and for those Christians who look to them as examples.

I’m in a similar place. Catchy choruses surrounded by banal verses seem to fill the airwaves. But music isn’t nearly as meaningful to me as lyrics that force me to think and draw my attention to the greatness of God’s Word, works, and worthiness in Christ. And I don’t hear a lot of that on CCM radio, unfortunately.

I haven’t posted anything on Christians being involved in secular music, but I’m going to save that for a post. Thanks for asking.