The Contemporary Christian Music Movement
Delirious? Chris Tomlin And Others Show America A New Way To Worship
Oct 28, 2009
Fifteen years ago, the average Sunday worship services included a choir, choir robes and hymnals. Most of the music was played on a piano and possibly an organ.Over the last few years, many churches have opted to try a more contemporary style of worship. Many have emptied the choir loft and hung up the choir robes. An ensemble of singers and instrumentalists, dressed in street clothes, leads the congregation in a time of praise and worship.
Hymnals are now optional or obsolete. A large screen hanging from the ceiling now displays the words to each song. What happened? What prompted hundreds of years of tradition to be cast aside? Is this just a phase or a new beginning?
The History of the Contemporary Christian Music Movement
Change in worship style actually started back in the 1960's with the Jesus Movement. Songwriters began writing lyrics that expressed a desire for intimacy with God far beyond the traditional teachings in most denominations. Coming out of the Vietnam Era and the Civil Rights Movements, during the first part of the 70's, many young people were looking for a way to connect with something, anything. Many desired a connection with God.
In an attempt to meet these needs, Pastor Chuck Smith, from Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Ca, began Maranatha Music. This was one of the first forms of what is today called Praise & Worship music. During that same period, another pastor, John Wimber, a former member of the 1960's Riighteous Brothers, helped start the Vineyard Movement. The main focus of the movement was to lead people and resource them with ways to worship Jesus. Over time, many from Maranatha combined with music leaders from the Vineyard and started what is now known as the Contemporary Christian Music Movement.
For years, there's been a major controversary at doctrine conferences around the country over which is better, traditional or contemporary. Many hold strong to the old ways.However, during the 80's and 90's, many young people began asking why?
Some churches refused to allow bands, drums or guitars as acceptable instruments for worship. Many churches found it difficult to explain why they chose to continue these long standing traditions. Churches throughout the nation soon found their numbers decreasing. As young people became adults, the Church was no longer meeting their changing needs. By the late 90's churches began realizing change was imminent or millions of young people would be lost to the world.
Influential People In The Modern Contemporary Music Movement
Maranatha and Vineyard produced and or equipped many artists that built the foundation for the Modern Chistian Contemporary Music Movement. Bands like Delirious?, Watermark and Mercy Me along with artists like Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and Matt Redmond, have taken Contemporary Praise & Worship beyond the church walls and into the mainstream.
To take it a step further, a world wide radio sensation, K-LOVE, devotes all its programming to music that inspires hope and encouragment to a lost world. That is the basic definition of Contemporary Praise & Worship music. It's a style of music that reaches people where they are at and helps connect them with God in an intimate way that breaks all traditional boundaries.
Where Contemporary Christian Music is concerned, God is not distant. God is with us and desires a close relationship with all mankind. The Contemporary Christian Music Movements strives to bring hope and inspiration to a lost world.
Praise Worship Contemporary Music Movement
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