Contemporary Christian Music

CCM
RELATED TOPICS	Contemporary Christian Songs Index, Contemporary Christian Albums Index, Contemporary Christian Song-Writers and Bands Index Related styles - Jesus Music
SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS
CONTENTS

Contemporary Christian Music (or CCM) is a term originally used in the 1970s to describe a new form of pop and rock music that was lyrically based in the Christianity. The music had its roots in Jesus Music which sprung from the hippie Jesus Movement of the early 70s. An entire Christian music industry soon sprang up, with Christian-only artists, record labels, radio stations, and record stores. By the 1980s, CCM was a large music industry with artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith selling millions of records.

Mainstream artists sometimes deal with Christian themes in their work, such as Bob Dylan and U2, but fall outside of the CCM genre.

Controversy

Contemporary Christian Music has been a topic of controversy in various ways since its beginnings in the 1960s. Some conservative Christians have felt that the medium of popular music is unholy, and thus unfit for Christian participation.

CCM also draws criticism from those who feel it is simply a "Christianized" imitation of mainstream music, thus lacking originality and creativity. On Reformation Day (October 31), 1998, in homage to Martin Luther's 95 theses, CCM artist Steve Camp sent out 107 theses calling for a "Reformation" in contemporary Christian music, challenging Christian artists to "recover Biblical Christianity in the arts" and bring a new level of excellence to the field.

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