christian-music

Vintage CCM Vinyl

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I wrote a year and a half ago about how I love collecting all the old CCM (that’s Contemporary Christan Music for the uninitated) vinyl, especially from the 70s and 80s. It seems almost sacrilegious that in Nashville of all places these records could be so criminally undervalued and underappreciated. I mean, Nashville is supposed to be the center of the Bible belt in the United States of America.

But that’s where we are. Most people even the churches around Nashville, have no knowledge or appreciation for the history of Christian music. Most have no idea that it even exists. But for those select few who know and grew up around it, their childhoods were awesome.

I still love going to record stores and thrift stores around town to hunt for vintage CCM. There’s nothing more fulfilling than flipping through the bargain bins and pulling out one or two classic Christian artists from back in the day.

Better yet, when I drop the needle and some of those great songs hit me from the speakers, I am instantly back in time to when I first heard them. I can vividly remember what I was thinking and feeling at the time. I can usually remember all or most of the words.

I consider myself a child of the 80s because that’s when I really discovered music. I heard a lot of CCM music from my church youth group days and with much thanks to my youth pastors who went out of their way to introduce me to a better faith-based alternative to the music of the day (most of which seems tame compared to music these days).

I remember the kids I knew used to say their first concerts were to artists like U2 or Motley Crue or Ozzy Osbourne. My first ever concert was Sandi Patty. I know, I know, there goes my street cred, but there it is. That was my music growing up. I distanced myself from it for a bit, but I’ve come full circle again to loving the music that taught me so much about God and the Christian life. So much of my theology is from those songs.

I’m thankful for the music that made me who I am. I love how even though some of the artists aren’t in music anymore and some have even passed away, their music still lives on and still speaks a better word. May that be our legacy as well.

My Favorite Decade for Music

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If I had to pick a decade that had the best music, you’d think I’d go with the 80s because so many songs from that decade are tied to my memories and are part of the soundtrack to my life.

But you’d be wrong. My favorite decade for music is the 70s. There was such a diverse amount of artists and styles hitting the radio then, usually all on the same stations. So many genres were fusing with other genres to create new sounds.

I’ve been digging me some 70s Christian music, especially the early years when it was known as Jesus Music. That music has a vibe that’s both worshipful and relaxing. I honestly hope that music in heaven sounds a bit like the music from back then.

I think part of it is because I consider the 70s to be my womb years. It sounds weird even to me, but hopefully I can explain. I don’t remember much about the 70s and the memories I do have sometimes verge on the dreamlike. Sometimes I wonder if something I remember from back then actually happened or if I dreamed it.

I love the fact that there’s all sorts of new worship music being created currently. I really like some of it. But for me, sometimes it can have kind of a sameness to it and the lyrics can have a generic quality with all the references to storms and chains breaking.

So much of it is me-focused, as in “I’m gonna lift up my hands” and “I’m praising your name” and “I won’t be shaken.” I suppose that’s all well and good. But for me, it can turn into worshipping worship or worshipping the experience instead of worshipping the one true God.

70s Christian music wasn’t perfect, but it was God-honoring and God-centered. And yes, it does sound better on vinyl, which is good because most of it never made it to CDs or streaming. Maybe I’m getting older, but I do think that sometimes older is better. Not all the time, but sometimes.

Vinyl Obsession

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I used to scoff at all the people who were completely obsesses over all things vinyl. I figured that records had been replaced by CDs in the 80s and were obsolete technology. I also saw the prices of some of the newer records and decided the whole thing was ridiculous.

Then I got a record player for Christmas. Excuse me, a turntable. I have to use the correct terminology.

My favorite part is still the hunt. Going into my favorite record store, I always check out the new arrivals first. Then I’ll check out the Christian music section. Last but not least (and if there’s time), I’ll go through the bargain bins.

On rare occasion, there will be a free bin or two. That’s when I’ll really nerd out.

The best part is never knowing what you’ll find in the cheapies. There might be nothing but Mitch Miller and Lawrence Welk. That’s great for the blue-haired crowd, but I’m still a bit too young (with apologies for you if you like tiny bubble music).

This last time, I scored a couple of Morgan Cryar albums and a Geoff Moore record. That may not mean much to most, but to those of us who grew up listening to CCM back in the 80s, that’s a gold mine. Playing those records is guaranteed to bring back some instant youth group memories. Or youth group road trip memories.

Plus, watching the needle drop on the record at just the right spot before the first song is still magical. Even the pops and crackles sound good. The whole experience is just one long trip to nostalgia and simpler days.

There is one record I’m looking for that’s my new holy grail. It’s by an artist called Michael Omartian and the album is called White Horse. If you run across it, let me know. Or you can send me a link or whatever. My email is gmendel72@icloud.com.

To my fellow vinyl enthusiasts, may all your record hunts be successful and may you find that one elusive album. Happy vinyling!

Holiness and Mercy

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I was watching a podcast video with Andy Chrisman and Steve Camp talking about how Steve took such a bold stand in the late 90s against what was going on in the Christian music industry at the time. He also spoke about a couple of his songs related to the emerging AIDS crisis in the 80s. One phrase that stood out to me was “holiness never compromised, mercy never restrained.”

That’s the essence of the gospel. We’re never to tolerate sin in the name of mercy, but we’re also never to condemn the sinner in the name of holiness. The same Jesus that told the woman that He didn’t condemn her for her adultery also said, “Go and sin no more.”

Jesus never accommodated sinful lifestyles, but He also never withheld His love from those in those lifestyles who earnestly sought Him in their need. The message He proclaimed was not “I’m OK, you’re OK, just do the best you can” but “I’m calling you out of your sin into something better because I love you enough to want God’s best for you.”

I can’t say that I’m the best at balancing holiness and mercy. I can testify that I’m really good at looking down on sins that I don’t struggle with. I can be more permissive with my own faults than forgiving of others with theirs.

But I believe that Jesus is the one who perfectly embodies holiness and mercy as the 100% God, 100% man who is both just and the justifier. I believe in the gospel message that Jesus can change and transform anybody from anything into something holy. I’m seeing it in my own life and in so many lives of the people I know and love.

The challenge is to hold to both holiness and mercy, not pitting one against the other or elevating one at the expense of the other. We need both. Most of all, we all need Jesus.

More 90s CCM Goodness

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I’ve been listening to a podcast series by Andy Chrisman lately. Or more accurately, I’ve been watching Youtube videos of a podcast series by Andy Christman. They’re all centered around the Christian music industry and a lot of the stories revolve around 90s CCM.

To me, the 90s were the best decade for Christian music. There was such a diversity of talent and sounds that invaded radio stations all over the country. And that was back when radio stations had actual playlists of more than 15 songs.

For me to hear any Christian song from the 90s will take me back to the moment when I first heard it. Most likely, I can tell you the artist, the song and even the album title. I’d probably be really good at trivia centered around 80s and 90s Christian music.

But hearing the stories behind the songs from artists like 4Him and Russ Taff just makes their message more meaningful. To hear the struggles and hardships that the artists went through makes me appreciate them all the more. It also makes me want to pump up the volume on some 90s CCM at some point in the very near future.

I’m thankful that Christian music still exists. In some ways, it’s bigger than it’s ever been with a wider reach and more people buying albums and going to concerts. But compared to the rich variety of the 90s, there’s a bit of a sameness to a lot of what I hear currently. And I’m sure you could ask any Christian artist around today, and they’d probably say their inspiration came from something out of the 90s. And those from the 90s would probably point to artists in the 70s for inspiration (but that’s a discussion for another day).

I am thankful that I had all that great music to be a part of the formation and shaping of who I am today and what I believe. I’m thankful for the solid lyrics that will still come to mind to this day whenever I think of a particular artist. I’m thankful that so much of 90s CCM is part of the soundtrack to my life.