Answers to Your Questions

What Is It?

by
Atom Biggs

Rock

‘n

Roll

What is Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)?
Contemporary Christian Music refers to several styles of Christian music that appeal to people who live in today’s generation. Praise and Worship music is written for use in church. Christian Adult Contemporary music is written for inspiration and edification of Christian adults. Christian Rock music is written primarily to inspire, encourage, and challenge churched youth. Crossover music describes music written by Christian musicians with the intent of receiving airplay on mainstream radio stations. Crossover music may or may not always be intended to relay an obvious Christian message but the lyrics are still consistent with a Christian point of view.
POP CHRISTIAN MUSIC?
SHOULD CHRISTIANITY BE POPULAR?
It is true that CCM is the fastest growing form of music in the country. In the past 5 years Christian radio stations have multiplied faster than any other format. Christian music now accounts for one out of every 20 albums sold in this country (more than jazz, classical, and New Age combined). The assumption is that “if it’s popular it must be wrong.” Was Jesus wrong when He was popular? His miracles drew the crowds; His message changed their hearts. He was popular but He never sacrificed moral principle to get there. In the past, Christian musicians have produced music more than 5 to 10 years behind the current style trends. Today they are not only keeping pace with the styles but even creating new trends! Because of the greater variety of music now available many Christians are replacing their secular tunes with Christ-centered alternatives. Even some non-Christians are now willing to give Christian music a chance. But as long as the truth-based message in the music remains CCM will most likely never make it to the top of the popularity poles. Nevertheless, many are listening. What an awesome opportunity now exists to not only minister to our own people, but to present the everlasting gospel to a world that is lost. Let us make the most of it!
Isn’t Contemporary Christian
Music worldly? sHOULDN’T WE
abstain from the world?
In referring to the evil in this world, we most certainly must abstain from it. The Bible clearly forbids us from sexual immorality, greed, gossip, stealing, lying, murdering, pride, prejudice, etc. CCM preaches inexorably against all of these kinds of vises. However, the Bible does not condemn culture. Jesus, our example, identified with the culture of the common people of the day. He spoke the same language, wore the same clothing, celebrated the same customs, ate the same food, and probably sang in the same music styles as those around Him. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). From a historical standpoint it is well known that the Christian church had often been reluctant to accept organ, violin, and piano music into its worship because 1) these instruments produced “worldly” sounds or 2) they were not mentioned specifically in the Bible. Years ago, in their zeal, members from one Southern Baptist church broke into the sanctuary late at night, removed the brand new “devil-inspired” organ, and threw it into the bayou! Well, today it’s the ________. May we learn from our past. Meanwhile, let us seize the opportunity to transform today’s world. We can deliver messages of truth to them through the music they are used to, will listen to, and can understand.
Aren’t the lyrics of CCM
generally shallow?
The answer to this is “no.” Just like the Bible CCM often speaks to real-life situations, and does so from a God-centered perspective. Also, like much of the Bible, CCM may or may not mention the actual name of God or Christ. CCM may speak of love, adoration, faith, anger, fear, and doubt. CCM is often very relevant to what your teen may be going through in his or her spiritual journey and most teens can easily identify with it. In fact, the artists teens listen to are often Christian young people close to their own age. Plus, the message spoken through music grabs the attention of the youth like nothing else will. Let’s ask this question: How many sermons do you know of that youth are dying to get their hands on so they can listen to them over and over and over? Welcome Contemporary Christian Music!
Here are some examples of so-called “shallow” lyrics to some of today’s top bands:
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIAN ROCK MUSIC AND SECULAR ROCK MUSIC?
Christian rock and secular rock sound very much the same. Some stop here and draw the conclusion that “There’s no difference.” But the difference is unmistakable. Bible-based truth underlies the message of Christian rock. Secular rock often revels in life without morality or God, may glamorize death and suicide, and often teaches sex outside of marriage as the ultimate. Christian rock, on the other hand, says that God IS life. It preaches hope through the cross and heralds a Savior as the fountain from which all joys find their greatest fulfillment. In fact, it is for this reason, the Bible-preaching lyrics, that secular radio stations give for NOT playing the majority of CCM: it’s message is a “turn-off” to the public. Likewise CCM can be an ultimate “turn-on” to those who are hungering and thirsting for spiritual truth.
But I can’t even hear the words!
It is true that in much (but certainly not all) of modern rock the instrumentation is the dominant feature. But let us ask, “What is the dominant feature in classical music?” What about any instrumental music? Clearly many people enjoy music just for the music’s sake and this is not wrong. However, the reality is that young people can and do listen to the words of Contemporary Christian Music. Devoted Christian youth choose this music primarily because they want godly lyrics, not just a beat. “There is no doubt,” states one parent, “that my little daughter will one day be singing along to her favorite songs. I would much prefer they be lyrics that bring honor to Christ.” May this be every parent’s wish for their child.
If my teen listens to Christian rock won’t he develop a taste for secular rock?
The sad fact is that most teens develop a strong taste for secular rock before Christian rock is ever introduced to them. After that Christian rock has very little appeal to them. However, spiritually-minded youth who grow up appreciating modern Christian music will generally hang onto the music they have grown to enjoy. The music has fed their spiritual nature. It has taken them through some rough times in their lives and has served to strengthen their walk with God [see “Testimony Of A Youth” at the end of this pamphlet].
Doesn’t the beat of Christian rock
make young people want to sin?
It is well known that the lyrics of secular rock n’ roll in general reveal attitudes of acceptance toward sin. But what about the beat? Many critics of CCM claim that a heavy, syncopated, or repetitious beat makes music innately evil. They say that the beat gets into a person’s body and arouses thoughts of sex and violence. However, no research has yet been found to support this. In fact, music research does indicate that music’s effect on moods varies greatly from person to person. Music often simply reinforces whatever lyrics or picture theme (in the case of movies) is built around it. Christian youth who have grown up on a diet of CCM will most often associate the sound of the beat with the lyrics they have become used to, lyrics of purity, holiness, and a call to service.
That kind of music really
makes me feel uncomfortable.
No doubt, each one of us has experienced music styles that makes us feel “uncomfortable”. Let’s not stop here but ask ourselves the question, “Why?” Is it because I’m not familiar with the music style? Why do I feel suspicious toward it? Let us remember that our feelings are not usually a safe guide. Try asking more objective questions: Are the lyrics consistent with Bible truth? Do the musicians honor God? Members of the early Christian church struggled with a very similar issue in regard to food. Many felt very uncomfortable eating food they knew had been offered to idols. But the apostle Paul reassured them that this food was really ok. A modern rendition of 1 Corinthians 8:4-9 in the context of music might read something like this: “So then, about questions regarding contemporary music styles: we know that the world’s idols are nothing and that there is no God but one... But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to rock music being ungodly that when they listen to Christian rock they associate it with evil, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But our choice of music styles does not make us more holy...” Are you willing to feel uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel? What an opportunity we have to surrender our own personal feelings and tastes that we might allow others to be blessed!
Doesn’t the Bible condemn rock music?
The Bible contains “everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). However, even Christian rock’s most animate critics admit that the Bible contains no mention of a single evil music style or sound. Music was certainly around from the beginning of time. But although it was used to promote both good and evil, by themselves the sounds of the music are and have always been morally neutral. In spite of this, more rules defining which music is acceptable and unacceptable have been contrived than there are music styles (see p. 8). Shouldn’t we use the same criterion for judging music that we use for everything else: “To the law and to the testimony”? The Bible presents some descriptions of music that are surprisingly somewhat similar to today’s rock music: loud, lively, and intense. Here is what the Bible says about music:
It Is so loud, obnoxious, and abrasive. IT really grates on my nerves!
Statements like this are made about organ music, band music and classical music, as well as the sounds of rock. Music is a very subjective experience. We generally like what we have conditioned ourselves to like. The Bible speaks about praising God with “loud” music (Revelation 5:9), “shouting” (1 Chronicles 15:28), “crashing cymbals” (Psalm 150:5), and “dancing and celebration” (1 Chronicles 15:29). Every person is certainly entitled to their own preference in the area of music styles but they ought never to be presented as if they were God’s standards.
I’d just rather that my teens not know
about Christian rock altogether.
Some well-meaning Christian parents, in their effort to guard their young people from the influences of this world, have felt it best to shield their kids from Christian rock music. Unfortunately, hiding Christian rock from your teens will often guarantee their gravitation toward secular rock which is readily available to them. In fact, most kids have already established musical preferences long before their teenage years. If your child has any spiritual interest at all then Christian rock can serve to reinforce the Biblical values you have taught him or her. Testimonies of youth who listen routinely to Christian rock will assure even the most doubtful about the merits of this music. It is time for our youth to awake, as in the days of the Great Reformation, combining enduring truth with the music of the times. This music gives them courage, makes them strong in the Lord, and gives them a voice by which they can speak to the world!

The Ten manmade Commandments
On Christian Music
[Please Note: The following 10 assumptions are satirical only]
I. The beat must not be dominant or be too fast (cuz the devil liveth in the heavy beat).
It must not have too much syncopation (cuz the devil hideth in
the irregular rhythms).
It must not be “rap” or “rock n’ roll” (or whatever is new and
popular).
IV. The music must contain no distortions and the electric
guitars must not squeal.
V. It should not make me want to dance like David; if it does then it’s wrong.
VI. The music must not be more dominant than the words (but if it’s music with no words, like classical, then it’s ok).
VII. You must be able to identify every word the first time through.
VIII. The words must be straight from the dictionary (i.e. no “ooh”s, “ah”s, “la la”s, “sha na na”s, or “oh ya”s).
IX. You must not put religious words to a secular tune as did that man Martin Luther.
X. It must sound “Christian” (to me that is).
“Their worship is worthless,
for they teach their man-made laws instead of those from God.”
Mt. 15:9
[A condemnation of music style is found nowhere in the Bible.
Whenever it is presented from a heart that honors God it is very good.]

"You'll never find peace of mind in your pool of self. You'll never find peace of mind in your sea of wealth. You'll never find peace of mind in your [ungodly] rock n' roll. You'll never find peace of mind if you sell your soul.” (DC Talk)
“I hear You speak and I obey, I walked away from the grave, I will never be afraid, I gave my life away, I’m obliged and I obey, I’m enslaved to what You say.” (Audio Adrenaline)
Continued next page

“If you want to get to heaven, you’ve got to count the cost, pick up your cross. If you want to live forever, you better check the time, make up your mind.” (Out Of Eden)
“Today I will make a change, I will make a change today, purge my mind of mud and mire, cast all my gods away, and I am brand new today, I make my resolution.” (The Supertones)
“I don’t deserve this love but, I hear your voice, Lord, Jesus, ‘Go and sin no more...’” (Rebecca St James)
“So I promise to be true to You, to live my life in purity as unto You; waiting for the day when I hear You say, ‘Here is the one I have created just for you.’” (Jaci Velasquez)

“Sing unto Him a new song, play skillfully with a loud noise.” Psalms 33:3
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalms 98:4
“Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD, Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 150:4-6
“David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.” 1 Chronicles 13:8.

Testimony Of A Youth
There was a time in my life when I was not a happy person. I had a bad attitude towards life and my actions and words began to reflect that. I know that some of it was just a part of growing up, but I also know that the secular music I was choosing to listen to was negatively effecting me.
I got into Christian music after I attended one of my first Christian concerts. I was blown away by the energy and excitement of it all. I never knew how much fun being a Christian could be. I began to buy Christian CD's, listen to Christian radio and of course attend more concerts. I'm so happy now and excited about being a Christian.
I look back on it all and I realize that secular music is filled with all of the stuff that I have chosen to stay away from like partying, sex, and drugs. So why should I be filling my head with that stuff? I get so much more out of Christian music. I listen to the lyrics and I think, "Wow! That is so my life!" I can relate to what the musicians sing about and I can apply it to my life. And it has helped me become a better person and encouraged me in my daily walk.
Stephanie, age 17

I Welcome Your Questions and Comments:
Atom Biggs
P.O. Box 69
Dixie, WA 99329
Email: atomsemail@charter.net
Visit my CCM: What Is It? website:
www.ccmwhatisit.bizland.com/