What got you started listening to CCM?

[s1mp13m4n]

Hello everyone. I am curious, what got you interested in listening to Christian music? For me it was a neighbor in 1995 who was trying to get me to know Jesus. She went to the public library and checked out some cds. Not knowing what I liked she got a few:

It was not one song but rather a few cd's, which helped me find Christian music.

Ken Holloway He Who Made The Rain
Michael W. Smith I'll Lead You Home
DC Talk Free At Last & Nu Thang

Those cd's opened my eyes to Christian Music.

Later after I was born again I found the WOW collections and I have them all starting from WOW 1996. Another items that I found when I was a baby Christian was the "as seen on tv" series called Keep The Faith. It was a multi cd collection which I still own to this day. Those items in a nutshell got me listening to Christian music.

 

[WannaWitness]

Amy Grant was actually my first real influence when it comes to CCM. This was way back in the '80s when I was approaching my teens. Then, I learned more about other artists as the years went on, resulting in a fairly good-sized collection of music of various styles.

I do draw the line at metal, though. Petra is just about as edgy as I get.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I enjoy CCM very much. I love the "feel good" part of it for just listening to it. It has a way of making you feel good that secular tunes simply lack. Now I like my share of secular tunes....the 80s for example, but I do try and limit things I listen to....without going too over the top.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

When Jesus truly became my Saviour I never wanted to listen to the music of the world again.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

When Jesus truly became my Saviour I never wanted to listen to the music of the world again.

That is really awesome. I still struggle with the music (not the lyrics) of the world being better than ours because they have the money and equipment that we simply do not have to get training, lessons, and they tend to think outside the box. Again I am not saying that I am right, it is simply my stinkin' thinkin' that needs fixing. I love CCM and I try to fight the lie that the worlds music (not lyrics) is better.

 

[HisServant4eternity]

When Jesus truly became my Saviour I never wanted to listen to the music of the world again.

amen!!!

I started listening to CCM seriously in 1992, after my grandfather, who was a Christian, had died. I was listening to a station that had Christian programs on during the day and CCM at night. I heard some really great music and that got me hooked. Since I sang secular music (casually), I instead started singing Christian music. The first song I sang in church was "Jehovah" by Amy Grant, and also "Ball & Chain" by Susan Ashton. After the 2nd song, the Holy Spirit was moving so powerfully that the Pastor said he was skipping his sermon to let the Holy Spirit work. A couple years later, I found out the Lord was calling me into music & worship ministry, and that's what I do now.

I am always amazed and blown away at how the Lord can work thru a song or a voice, and minister to people. I've had times where when I sang the HS would just come over me and I found myself in tears singing. I love to sing for the Lord, it is a labor of love, and I only sing songs that glorify Him.

 

[holyrokker]

The year was 1976. I'd been a Christian for about 6 months, and went to work at a Christian camp for the summer.

While there, I met people who were listening to music by Larry Norman, Phil Keaggy, 2nd Chapter of Acts, etc.

I was surprised to hear good music with Christian content.

When I got home, I went to a Christian bookstore and bought as much as I could.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

The year was 1976. I'd been a Christian for about 6 months, and went to work at a Christian camp for the summer.

While there, I met people who were listening to music by Larry Norman, Phil Keaggy, 2nd Chapter of Acts, etc.

I was surprised to hear good music with Christian content.

When I got home, I went to a Christian bookstore and bought as much as I could.

Thank you for sharing, it is nice to know how everyone found CCM and how it helped bring people to God.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

The year was 1976. I'd been a Christian for about 6 months, and went to work at a Christian camp for the summer.

While there, I met people who were listening to music by Larry Norman, Phil Keaggy, 2nd Chapter of Acts, etc.

I was surprised to hear good music with Christian content.

When I got home, I went to a Christian bookstore and bought as much as I could.

Phil Keaggy is a great musician, I think one of the best living right now, he was also my fathers favorite artist, he had all of his CD's which are now mine since his passing.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

That is really awesome. I still struggle with the music (not the lyrics) of the world being better than ours because they have the money and equipment that we simply do not have to get training, lessons, and they tend to think outside the box. Again I am not saying that I am right, it is simply my stinkin' thinkin' that needs fixing. I love CCM and I try to fight the lie that the worlds music (not lyrics) is better.

I would disagree, the Christian music I listen to is every-bit as high quality as the secular industry. They (secular) may have better sound effects and music videos but that says nothing about the music. Let me say again though that the lyrics of the world's music is really meaningless to me, it speaks of a life I am trying to leave behind, a life that is dead to me...So even if they had diesel powered guitars on stage at secular concerts I would still not be impressed...

Have you listened to much worship music like Hillsong for instance? The Worship genre in Christian music has very high production value (more so then say the rap genre of CCM). The Christian Rock genre is really picking up in quality also, I would recommend you check out the group Red.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I would disagree, the Christian music I listen to is every-bit as high quality as the secular industry. They (secular) may have better sound effects and music videos but that says nothing about the music. Let me say again though that the lyrics of the world's music is really meaningless to me, it speaks of a life I am trying to leave behind, a life that is dead to me...So even if they had diesel powered guitars on stage at secular concerts I would still not be impressed...

Have you listened to much worship music like Hillsong for instance? The Worship genre in Christian music has very high production value (more so then say the rap genre of CCM). The Christian Rock genre is really picking up in quality also, I would recommend you check out the group Red.

Thank you for this reply. I have heard the group Red and like what I have heard. Hillsong on the other hand for me is simply churchy....what I mean is that it is not my cup of tea. It all sort of sounds alike. I love CCM do not get me wrong, I have simply never been a huge fan or P&W music for some reason....I am not sure why. Maybe it is the chior, maybe it is how they sing and entire line in a monotone note. I want the lie that is in my head that says secular music is better...to be gone. I want to believe that our music is better quality, better musicians, better song writing.....forget all the flash and fireworks and effects. Is there a Christian rap artist that can rap better then a secular artist? (I really do not like rap). Is there a Christian artist that can out sing Whitnet Huston or Celene Deion in their hay day? Please tell me that their is. There is no doubt that Christian country can not hold a candle to the worlds country.
Please do not get me wrong, I want to be proven wrong on this and I want the lie to be gone. Thank you for your prayers on this. ((hugs))

Update:

I thought about it and realized that I am simply a bit strange in that there are some great Christian music artists. Why do I struggle with this lie? Please pray for me on this. Nicole C. Mullin: Redeemer, Come Unto Me, and Call On Jesus are fantastic songs. The Cross Movement is as good as any rap group and heck KJ-52 sounds like Eminem but Godly. Why do I believe a lie?

 

[holyrokker]

I don't listen to much of what is called "CCM" today. I listen nearly exclusively to Christian music, but the artists I prefer are Tourniquet, Disciple, Neal Morse, Living Sacrifice, etc.

One recent concert that I attended included Disciple, Brian Welch, and Red. They were all VERY good, high quality musicians. Frankly-better than just about anything on "secular" radio.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Please do not get me wrong, I want to be proven wrong on this and I want the lie to be gone. Thank you for your prayers on this.

Well I guess what it boils down to is what exactly you are looking for in your music. The music I listen to first and foremost must bring me closer to the true God in Jesus Christ, if it does not do this I will not listen to it. This is one reason I enjoy P&W music so much because I can use this music to bring me to a place of worship and quitness before the Lord.

That's not to say that I do not enjoy Christian rock, I do, I like the issues they speak about and the trials that they discuss on their records and sometimes I can even enter a place of worship with this genre as well but as I said I only enjoy music that will bring me closer to Jesus Christ.

Is this your goal? Maybe your New Life in Christ is having a hard time letting go of the world, specifcly the worlds music. You should change your focus away from the quality of speactacles and look to quality in spirit, I think that you will see that Christian music wins hands down (or up, I should say) in this respect. God bless and here are a few of my favorite CCM songs.

YouTube - misty edwards you won't relent

YouTube - Hillsong Chapel - Hosanna

YouTube - How He Loves - David Crowder Band (Lyrics + Pictures)

YouTube - Kutless - Take me in

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

double post

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Oh and one more thing! If you look at the history of contempory music (including secular) you will see that the major influence was and is classical music: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven etc. And notice one more thing all of these and many more were devout Christians!

Satan has tried to hijack music, but the plain truth is the lyrics in the secular world are all speaking to dead people and their words are meaningless and confusing, they worship demons (literally in some genres), sex and drugs. Although I will admit many are very musically proficient but that is about it, they have all the gifts but when you open the present it is always empty inside, that is how I see secular music.

 

[holyrokker]

Well I guess what it boils down to is what exactly you are looking for in your music. The music I listen to first and foremost must bring me closer to the true God in Jesus Christ, if it does not do this I will not listen to it. This is one reason I enjoy P&W music so much because I can use this music to bring me to a place of worship and quitness before the Lord.

That's not to say that I do not enjoy Christian rock, I do, I like the issues they speak about and the trials that they discuss on their records and sometimes I can even enter a place of worship with this genre as well but as I said I only enjoy music that will bring me closer to Jesus Christ.

Is this your goal? Maybe your New Life in Christ is having a hard time letting go of the world, specifcly the worlds music. You should change your focus away from the quality of speactacles and look to quality in spirit, I think that you will see that Christian music wins hands down (or up, I should say) in this respect. God bless and here are a few of my favorite CCM songs.

YouTube - misty edwards you won't relent

YouTube - Hillsong Chapel - Hosanna

YouTube - How He Loves - David Crowder Band (Lyrics + Pictures)

YouTube - Kutless - Take me in

I agree with you, except that it seems to me that most "Prasie and Worship" music is incredibly boring. I don't mean to offend, it's just not my taste in music.

YouTube - How Great Thou Art by Becoming the Archetype (Animated Typography)

YouTube - Disciple - By God

YouTube - Brian "Head" Welch - Washed By Blood (lyrics)

 

[holyrokker]

This is my all-time favorite "Praise and Worship" song: Part 1 and Part 2

YouTube - BARNABAS- Prelude/ The Dream
YouTube - Barnabas - Breathless Wonderment

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

I agree with you, except that it seems to me that most "Prasie and Worship" music is incredibly boring. I don't mean to offend, it's just not my taste in music.

Well I guess that's your opinion and your entitled to that...I like rock also though and thanks for that Brian Welch song I was wondering when he would release some Christian music.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Alright you got me. I listen to KLOVE radio and I love that station. Hillsong has changed a lot from when I knew them from the 90s. I love Kutless Take me in....I see what you mean. I had only heard that song done more traditional, I like this version. Alright so where do you begin to find this music. I would like it for a change of pace. Day in and day out I love CCM such as KLOVE but also want to rock out now and then. Thank you for the help and prayers with this issue.

 

[holyrokker]

It's VERY hard to find good Worship music set to rock-n-roll on any radio station.

On the internet, I listen to
http://www.classicchristianrock.net

and sometimes
CARadio.net - Christian Armor Radio | Christian Alternative Radio

But most of the time I listen to music that I've accumulated over the past 30 years.