Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) also called Inspirational Music is a genre of music that is focused on the Christian faith. Contemporary Christian Music began in the 1960’s with the outpouring of the “Jesus Music” or the “Jesus Movement”.
CCM is controversial to say the least. Some Christians believe the music is unholy, shallow, deceptive and degrading the traditional perception of God. They believe that CCM glorifies man and not Jesus Christ. Some Christians believe rock music has satanic roots and the emotions it creates are misleading. On the other hand, some Christians believe that CCM is a way of evangelizing the youth, but others say that music in the bible was never used to evangelize the lost.
As I've said in the previous page, I don't believe that all of the Christian music is really Christian. I have seen music videos on Christian networks that come across as satanic. If I didn't know I was on a Christian network, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the worldly music and some of the music that is calling itself Christian. Of course, I can't say that all of CCM music falls into this category. There are really powerful songs in CCM that glorify Jesus. Thank God for the anointed songwriters.
There are many forms of CCM such as Christian Alternative Music, Christian Bubblegum Pop, Christian Rave and Dance Music, Christian Hardcore, Christian Hip Hop, Christian Metal, Christian Punk, Christian Rock, and Christian Soft Rock.
According to Wikipedia...
Christian Alternative Music is a form of alternative rock music lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview. Unlike Contemporary Christian music, ACM generally emphasizes musical style over lyrical content.
Christen Bubblegum Pop is a genre of Christian popular music and Christian rock and roll. Some of the defining characteristics of bubblegum pop include catchy melodies, simple three-chord structures, simple harmonies, and repetitive riffs or "hooks." Christian bubblegum pop is also characterized by its lightweight lyrics, often surrounding themes of Christian romance and courtship.
Christian Rave and Dance Music refers to Christian music with a club-style sound, which may be adopted from electronic dance music, techno, house, trance, or another style of electronic music. Electronic music refers to music that emphasizes the use of electronic musical instruments or electronic music technology as a central aspect of the sound of the music.
Christian Hardcore (also known as Christcore) is a form of hardcore and metalcore music and a subgenre of punk rock played by bands where the musicians promote Christian beliefs. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands.
Typically, Christian hardcore and metalcore bands perform music influenced by their faith and see their audience as the general public. More recently Christian hardcore bands may avoid specific mention of God or Jesus in their lyrics and from stage as well as rejecting the Christian pop label. However, at the same time some bands strive to convey a blatant Christ-based message.
Christian Hip Hop (originally Gospel Rap, also known as Holy Hip Hop or Christ Hop) is a form of hip hop music which uses Christian themes to express the songwriter's faith. Only during the 1990s did the term "Christian hip hop" become descriptive of this type of music. While the audience is typically Christian, the music is also used in missions work for the purpose of evangelization. Christian rap and hip hop artists are professed Christians who often use their background as a positive issue to spread their religion.
Christian Metal is a form of heavy metal music and its many subgenres with Christian lyrics and themes. “Christian metal” is more like a movement rather than a style of music. However, it is nowadays relatively common to use it as a genre term. Christian metal bands exist even in the more extreme subgenres, which is contrary to general belief that Christian metal represents softer styles of heavy metal music.
Christian Punk (or Christ punk as it is also called as a reference to crust punk) is a form of Christian alternative music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands.
Christian punk bands that target a Christian audience explicitly state their beliefs and use Christian imagery in their lyrics may be considered a part of the contemporary Christian music (CCM) industry; some observers would consider this music to fall outside the scope of Christian punk.
Christian Rock (occasionally abbreviated CR) is a form of rock music played by bands whose members are Christian and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands. Much Christian rock has ties to the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) scene, while other bands are independent. The Christian rock genre is most popular in the United States, although some Christian bands have worldwide popularity. Related subgenres of Christian music include Christian alternative rock, Christian metal, Christian industrial, Christian punk, and Christian ska.
Christian Soft Rock, (also referred to as Christian lite rock, Christian easy rock, and Christian mellow rock) is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock and roll to compose a softer, supposedly more ear-pleasing sound for listening, often at work. Like soft rock, Christian soft rock is usually sung with higher-pitched vocals. It replaces the somewhat outdated Christian contemporary music as when CCM first came out; it was less poppy, and more inclined to soft rock. Christian soft rock differs from soft rock because lyrics focus on God, Jesus or encouraging topics.
Christian Music-Does It Glorify Jesus?
Return to Praise and Worship Home Page
