CCM Quotes

Since Lucifer is the author of rock music, and its roots stem from Babylon and Egypt, there is no way that the God of heaven has any connection with this kind of beat music in the least degree. Yet the Contempory Christian Music (CCM) band "Petra" declares - "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Song: God Gave Rock and Roll to You, from their Beat the System album), because "'The Christian Rocker's Creed'" is "We hold these truths to be self-evidence, that all music was created equal, that no instrument or style of music is in itself evil--that the diversity of musical expression which flows forth from man is but one evidence of the boundless creativity of our Heavenly Father." CCM Magazine, November, 1988, p. 12.

"I want to play hardball in this business. I want to be on the same level professionally with performers in all areas of music. I love to hear Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, and the Doobie Brothers. Why not? I aim to bridge the gap between Christian and pop." Time Magazine, March, 1985.

"It seems to me that people who are most adamantly against premarital sex have experienced some kind of pain in their own lives. Like the people who say absolutely NO to rock 'n' roll. Chances are it has something to do with a past sadness". Ladies Home Journal interview with Amy Grant, December 1985, p. 210.

"The hair is long and the screams are loud'n'clear. The clothes are tight, earrings dangling from their ears. No matter how we look, we'll always praise His name. And, if you believe, you've got to do the same." Stryper from Loud'n'Clear, quoted in http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/CCM/cr.htm.

"If you had to guess their name, you might think of the Devil's Disciples or the Beelzebubs. Or perhaps the Killer Bees, which is what the four young men on stage look like in their tight leather-and spandex costumes crisscrossed with garish black and yellow stripes. Piles of makeup, spikey hair, and enough dangling chains to tie up half the elephants in Africa complete the picture of the up-to-date heavy metal rock group. Even the music, the sound of a swarm of angry insects electronically amplified several thousand times, fits the image." Time Magazine, March, 1985.

"We're not religious fanatics who are trying to convert everybody we meet. . .We honestly believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, but we're about the most unreligious Christian band you could imagine..." Robert Sweet, of Strvper, quoted in Hit Parader Magazine, November, 1986, p 21.

"A new album, Between Heaven'N'Hell (their eighth), recently hit the streets, and with it, Rez begins its campaign aimed at winning over the secular mainstream rock audience....Rez has made a number of other moves designed to facilitate their transition to the secular market. They've pacted with a New York-based management/marketing firm on a four-month trial basis. They have signed with the venerable Diversified Management Agency (DMA) out of Detroit who will be handling concert bookings. (Other heavy DMA clients include the Scorpions, Quiet Riot, and Autograph.)...In order to do that, Rez is all too aware, they're going to have to 'play by certain rules,' as Herrin puts it. They've already stopped the practice of altar calls in concert, and they're toning down overt references to the Lord. In general, they want to present themselves, first and foremost, as a rock band." Contempory Christian Magazine, April, 1986.

"The people coming into the concerts are ready to rock. They come out and want to have a good time. Some people need to get out there and preach to them. Ask them for a decision at the end, but that's not my calling. The kids I see are just ready to kick it out and have fun." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, June, 1986.

"I appeared on the Dove Awards last year and I still feel uncomfortable about it. I really don't belong there because I'm not really part of that Gospel mainstream. Sure, I'm a Christian and that influences the way I write songs but that's just being honest, everybody pushes a point of view." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, February, 1986.

"Our music is rock and roll. We don't even tell anybody it's contemporary Christian music...We are a rock'n'roll band. We sound like one, we look like one, and at the end of the night we smell like one....Its a rock'n'roll show that is a ministry. You can't separate the two. Rock'n'roll is what I do. I put on a good show. I entertain those people, I have a good time with them.......One of the things Mylon may be referring to is a new album due out soon from CBS. He and the band are going by the name, Look Up. 'It's a Christian album, but you really have to know the Word to know it. CBS ain't gonna know it. Every song on there - every note on there - is played by born- again, Spirit-filled Christians. We had a good time making the record. It's an anointed record and it's got a good message, but it's very shallow. We really avoided certain words and phrases, you know. It's just about themes." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, March, 1986.

"I want to sneak into their hearts with the music. 'Be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves' you know....He (Jesus) didn't tell them the whole truth....I think we kinda gotta do that too. Contemporary Christian music needs to branch out a little more, get a little sneakier." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, May, 1987, p 11.

"A lot of intelligent guys out there are real headbangers. They love metal, but they've had enough. They're tired of hearing every sleazy metal band from Anaheim to Zimbabwe brag about how much they drink, drug, and screw.' Not exactly churchy language, but then Stryken professes to be a band not for the pulpit but for the streets." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, March, 1987.

"I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians take themselves too seriously. They should have more fun, and they should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, April, 1987, p 12.

"A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you have to pccm quoteut the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many bands get almost anti-'Jesus'in their lyrics, even though they're Christians..." HM magazinekim, March/April, 1997 p. 21.

"The lyrics of a good number of the songs don't say anything specifically Christian -they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential part of the gospel that's not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that? That's a part of the message, too, and if that's taken out -and it frequently is in Christian music- it ceases to be the gospel." Christianity Today, May 20, 1996, p. 25, article titled: Can't Buy Me Love, quoted in http://www.av1611.org/question/cqtool.html

"We believe all music comes from God, and that liberates us to express ourselves in a wider range of artistic expression than some others". Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, February, 1989, p. 21.

In speaking of an imaginary encounter with God: "'Wait a minute Kid' [supposedly God speaking to John]. 'Leave it [the radio] on You know, I kind of like this stuff [rock].' I watched in shock as He smiled at me through a casual puff of cigar smoke and swayed His head ever so slightly with the music". Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, July, 1984, p 20.

"Sometime people give us a hard time because we don't mention God onstage. . . I know that a lot of other bands and people are called to talk about God onstage a lot more than we do, and that's great, but we just feel that our calling is to get people interested in our MUSIC, interested in US". HM magazine, Issue #67, p 34-35.

"There's one way I won't write. I won't write a song that says, 'You better get right with God.' From my own experience I find that way sometimes makes people defensive..." Christian Activities Calendar, Spring/Summer, 1989, p 111.

"Music is a very powerful force...Why can't we take that same powerful force — music — put positive lyrics [Not Jesus] to it and begin shaping values that way?" Charisma Magazine, Feburary 1986, p 43.

"I'm not a fundamentalist Christian either, no. I mean, you know, I'm not a member of those born-again people--those Christians that are going to heaven while other people go to hell". What About Christian Rock?, p 123, by Dan and Steve Peters, Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1986.

"Christians can be judgmental about this and say it's not right, but I feel it doesn't matter what a song's message might be, as long as it comes from a Christian heart. And, conversely, a song is not a Christian song just because it comes from a Christian viewpoint." She pauses. "For example, take M.C. Hammer's 'Pray.' I don't know where M.C. Hammer is coming from. But why didn't a Christian artist write this song! It's very cool and it says something. I don't know if he is a Christian or not — I've heard it said he is but the point is that he can say anything he wants just because he's the hottest thing around." HM magazine, January/February, 1991, p 14, quoted in http://www.av1611.org/question/cqtool.html, accessed 5-21-26.


	"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries \| home \| Music CCM Quotes \| Country Quotes \| Rock Artist Quotes CONTEMPORY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST Quotes Since Lucifer is the author of rock music, and its roots stem from Babylon and Egypt, there is no way that the God of heaven has any connection with this kind of beat music in the least degree. Yet the Contempory Christian Music (CCM) band "Petra" declares - "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Song: God Gave Rock and Roll to You, from their Beat the System album), because "'The Christian Rocker's Creed'" is "We hold these truths to be self-evidence, that all music was created equal, that no instrument or style of music is in itself evil--that the diversity of musical expression which flows forth from man is but one evidence of the boundless creativity of our Heavenly Father." CCM Magazine, November, 1988, p. 12. Here are some other quotes from bands, artists and others closely connected with CCM: AMY GRANT "I want to play hardball in this business. I want to be on the same level professionally with performers in all areas of music. I love to hear Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, and the Doobie Brothers. Why not? I aim to bridge the gap between Christian and pop." Time Magazine, March, 1985. "It seems to me that people who are most adamantly against premarital sex have experienced some kind of pain in their own lives. Like the people who say absolutely NO to rock 'n' roll. Chances are it has something to do with a past sadness". Ladies Home Journal interview with Amy Grant, December 1985, p. 210. STRYPER "The hair is long and the screams are loud'n'clear. The clothes are tight, earrings dangling from their ears. No matter how we look, we'll always praise His name. And, if you believe, you've got to do the same." Stryper from Loud'n'Clear, quoted in http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/CCM/cr.htm. "If you had to guess their name, you might think of the Devil's Disciples or the Beelzebubs. Or perhaps the Killer Bees, which is what the four young men on stage look like in their tight leather-and spandex costumes crisscrossed with garish black and yellow stripes. Piles of makeup, spikey hair, and enough dangling chains to tie up half the elephants in Africa complete the picture of the up-to-date heavy metal rock group. Even the music, the sound of a swarm of angry insects electronically amplified several thousand times, fits the image." Time Magazine, March, 1985. "We're not religious fanatics who are trying to convert everybody we meet. . .We honestly believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, but we're about the most unreligious Christian band you could imagine..." Robert Sweet, of Strvper, quoted in Hit Parader Magazine, November, 1986, p 21. REZ BAND "A new album, Between Heaven'N'Hell (their eighth), recently hit the streets, and with it, Rez begins its campaign aimed at winning over the secular mainstream rock audience....Rez has made a number of other moves designed to facilitate their transition to the secular market. They've pacted with a New York-based management/marketing firm on a four-month trial basis. They have signed with the venerable Diversified Management Agency (DMA) out of Detroit who will be handling concert bookings. (Other heavy DMA clients include the Scorpions, Quiet Riot, and Autograph.)...In order to do that, Rez is all too aware, they're going to have to 'play by certain rules,' as Herrin puts it. They've already stopped the practice of altar calls in concert, and they're toning down overt references to the Lord. In general, they want to present themselves, first and foremost, as a rock band." Contempory Christian Magazine, April, 1986. MICHAEL W. SMITH "The people coming into the concerts are ready to rock. They come out and want to have a good time. Some people need to get out there and preach to them. Ask them for a decision at the end, but that's not my calling. The kids I see are just ready to kick it out and have fun." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, June, 1986. STEVE TAYLOR "I appeared on the Dove Awards last year and I still feel uncomfortable about it. I really don't belong there because I'm not really part of that Gospel mainstream. Sure, I'm a Christian and that influences the way I write songs but that's just being honest, everybody pushes a point of view." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, February, 1986. MYLON LeFEVRE "Our music is rock and roll. We don't even tell anybody it's contemporary Christian music...We are a rock'n'roll band. We sound like one, we look like one, and at the end of the night we smell like one....Its a rock'n'roll show that is a ministry. You can't separate the two. Rock'n'roll is what I do. I put on a good show. I entertain those people, I have a good time with them.......One of the things Mylon may be referring to is a new album due out soon from CBS. He and the band are going by the name, Look Up. 'It's a Christian album, but you really have to know the Word to know it. CBS ain't gonna know it. Every song on there - every note on there - is played by born- again, Spirit-filled Christians. We had a good time making the record. It's an anointed record and it's got a good message, but it's very shallow. We really avoided certain words and phrases, you know. It's just about themes." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, March, 1986. JON GIBSON "I want to sneak into their hearts with the music. 'Be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves' you know....He (Jesus) didn't tell them the whole truth....I think we kinda gotta do that too. Contemporary Christian music needs to branch out a little more, get a little sneakier." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, May, 1987, p 11. STRYKEN "A lot of intelligent guys out there are real headbangers. They love metal, but they've had enough. They're tired of hearing every sleazy metal band from Anaheim to Zimbabwe brag about how much they drink, drug, and screw.' Not exactly churchy language, but then Stryken professes to be a band not for the pulpit but for the streets." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, March, 1987. RICH MULLINS "I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians take themselves too seriously. They should have more fun, and they should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, April, 1987, p 12. JASON MARTIN "A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you have to pccm quoteut the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many bands get almost anti-'Jesus'in their lyrics, even though they're Christians..." HM magazinekim, March/April, 1997 p. 21. MICHAEL CARD "The lyrics of a good number of the songs don't say anything specifically Christian -they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential part of the gospel that's not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that? That's a part of the message, too, and if that's taken out -and it frequently is in Christian music- it ceases to be the gospel." Christianity Today, May 20, 1996, p. 25, article titled: Can't Buy Me Love, quoted in http://www.av1611.org/question/cqtool.html LESLIE PHILLIPS "People are tired of Christian songs that are only praise and worship. The church forced the 'old' taste in music on kids. We're breaking the stereotype." Amy Grant, p 112, by Carol Leggett. HOLY SOLDIER "We're just trying to show that it doesn't need to be pretentious or preachy to be Christian." Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, July, 1992 p 54-56. PHIL DRISCOLL "God is the King of Soul; He’s the King of all rhythm". Battle for Christian Music, p. 82, by Tim Fisher. BEBE WINANS "We believe all music comes from God, and that liberates us to express ourselves in a wider range of artistic expression than some others". Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, February, 1989, p. 21. JOHN FISCHER In speaking of an imaginary encounter with God: "'Wait a minute Kid' [supposedly God speaking to John]. 'Leave it [the radio] on You know, I kind of like this stuff [rock].' I watched in shock as He smiled at me through a casual puff of cigar smoke and swayed His head ever so slightly with the music". Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, July, 1984, p 20. GHOTI HOOK "Sometime people give us a hard time because we don't mention God onstage. . . I know that a lot of other bands and people are called to talk about God onstage a lot more than we do, and that's great, but we just feel that our calling is to get people interested in our MUSIC, interested in US". HM magazine, Issue #67, p 34-35. WAYNE WATSON "There's one way I won't write. I won't write a song that says, 'You better get right with God.' From my own experience I find that way sometimes makes people defensive..." Christian Activities Calendar, Spring/Summer, 1989, p 111. SANDI PATTI "Music is a very powerful force...Why can't we take that same powerful force — music — put positive lyrics [Not Jesus] to it and begin shaping values that way?" Charisma Magazine, Feburary 1986, p 43. B.J. THOMAS "I'm not a fundamentalist Christian either, no. I mean, you know, I'm not a member of those born-again people--those Christians that are going to heaven while other people go to hell". What About Christian Rock?, p 123, by Dan and Steve Peters, Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1986. KIM BOYCE "Christians can be judgmental about this and say it's not right, but I feel it doesn't matter what a song's message might be, as long as it comes from a Christian heart. And, conversely, a song is not a Christian song just because it comes from a Christian viewpoint." She pauses. "For example, take M.C. Hammer's 'Pray.' I don't know where M.C. Hammer is coming from. But why didn't a Christian artist write this song! It's very cool and it says something. I don't know if he is a Christian or not — I've heard it said he is but the point is that he can say anything he wants just because he's the hottest thing around." HM magazine, January/February, 1991, p 14, quoted in http://www.av1611.org/question/cqtool.html, accessed 5-21-26.