What Contemporary Christian Music Means to Me

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Way back in 1979, when I first started going to Bible College (Baptist Bible College to be specific in Springfield, Missouri) I was introduced to the idea of Contemporary Christian Music through Amy Grant. Not a bad start given her phenomenal success that would come along later. The issue was that I really enjoyed my rock music and it was causing some consternation with my fellow students and the administration.


My good room mate, Marty was kind enough to turn me on to the sweet sounds of Amy Grant and others in this burgeoning genre of music. I also picked up on Contemporary Jazz through Chuck Mangione (I did have a tendency to stumble on to the greats in the genres of choice) but that is for another day. I also started listening to Keith Green, Tim Shephard, the Cruse Family, Petra, etc. which gave me music I could actually relate to not like the rock music of the day. Never did drugs, slept around or crashed cars (Detroit Rock City for you Kiss fans never really applied to me).


So, even now these 40 years later I still listen and enjoy Amy Grant and all the rest. Should I ever get down and feel my walk with God is faltering, I run right back to this music which is so uplifting and renews my spirit.


CCM does seem to be making a comeback of sorts, I always thought it was such a wonderful way to reach those of us who were so engrained in pop styles and rock music. Given my current age when country music beckons I still long for a good pop song with fine string orchestrations with piano.

Now, I realize how much I have missed since I left Bible College. One song in particular that really speaks to me is Amy Grant’s “Better than a Hallelujah” from her “Somewhere Down the Road” album. So many times I think I just don’t realize that there is a beauty in our frailty. No matter how well thought out our intentions, I know I am closest to God in my most vulnerable moments. A broken heart is a very powerful means to realize how much we need the Lord.


So many new songs to be discovered since I last frequented the Contemporary Christian Music catalog which gives me such joy to rediscover the old songs and discover all the new material. Some songs just seem to be so timeless and so many others just speak to me so clearly.

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