Chevy's Pedal to CCM Metal

I tend to agree with Smoke-Eater: Steve Camp was one of the major CCM artists of the eighties.

I'm not sure what is driving his latest incarnation as a CCM critic and watchdog of sorts. I think he really does see himself as something of a voice crying in the wilderness,and his motives seem to be pure.

There's no question that he's alienating many of his fellow artists with his approach,though. Conversely,Charlie Peacock...who has raised many of the same concerns...appears to be doing so without alienating the people he's criticizing. Maybe Peacock comes off as raising concerns without being judgmental, while Camp seems more strident...I don't know.

The viewing of Christian music primarily as an "industry" is unsettling and disturbing to me as well. Until reading some of the comments in this thread,though, I was OK with the Chevrolet sponsorship...now I'm not so sure.

 

I think in many ways Camp is very similar to the late Keith Green who was a lightning rod for controversy in his criticism of CCM in it's early years and both men I think come across as abraisive while Peacock and Card do not for maybe taking a differant approach.

I don't think it is jealously on Steve Camp's part in that his pastor John MacArthur has been a major critic of modern day Christianity for years and no doubt he is influenced by his pastor on this. If some major artist like a Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James or a Stephen Curtis Chapmen would speak out I do think the Industry would listen more but for now it is just a few lonely voices.

 

I don't think I have a problem with it. The view of several here seems to be that corporate sponsorship of a "concert" would be fine, but not of a "worship experience". I have been to a number of concerts in which I worshipped (Gaither concerts and all-night sings come to mind),
but I always realized it was not church.

We often complain that "the world" is antagonistic to Christians, but then we complain that something good is made available in a way that actually keeps ticket prices down.

On a much smaller level, I come from a region of MO and OK in which GROCERY stores and other businesses often bring in Southern Gospel groups as part of special activities.
Not too long ago, my parents had a great time at a Speer Family concert, held at the 35th anniversary celebration of a grocery store.
They worshipped God at the concert, did not have to pay admission, enjoyed themselves hugely, and never once confused it with a worship service in a church.

Karen

 

Ok. God should most definitely be put first in CCM. But they still need to live!!! They need money to tour, money for instruments, money for studio time etc...Plus food and a house and clothes. They still need to be paid somehow. So they sell cd's, they get money for tours from sponsors (like Chevrolet) and people buy tickets to go see them play. We have to support them if we want them to continue to exist as they do. CCM has to be a business, as well as being a ministry.

God Bless

Matt

 

The point is, if a concert is a means for the artist to make a living, it should be billed as a concert, not a worship meeting. Concerts are legitimate venues for making profit. Worship meetings are not.

 

My problem isn't where we worship or even Chevy's underwriting of it.

It's that you're paying for a worship service.

I hope this doesn't sound too overblown, but to charge people money to attend a worship service sounds awfully close to the moneychangers who charged people lareg amounts of money for the sacrficial animals and the Bible tells us that Jesus didn't really see the humor in that.

If it was just a regular MWS concert, I would think it was fine to charge as much as the market would bear, and if worship broke out at a for-profit concert, that would fine too. But to pay for the priviledge of worshipping, I just can't get behind that.

 

So what will come out next, Amy Grant pontificating about marital fidelity?

I like Steve Camp but he couldn't carry Smitty's water bucket. The Chevy sponsorship could be a mixed bag for Christian music in general. For the record, I'm in favor of getting the message that Smith and 3rd Day bring by almost any means possible.

 

Did Amy Grant repent of marital infidelity? I hadn't heard.

 

Evidently not. She was on a Barbara Walters special a couple of weeks ago and still insists that there was nothing wrong with her cheating on her husband and divorcing him for unbiblical reasons, refusing his pleas for her to seek reconciliation through counseling.

 

Evidently not.

And that, then, is the reason Steve Camp is worth listening to when he speaks on the state of the CCM industry, and Amy Grant is worth not listening to when she speaks on marital fidelity.

[ November 13, 2002, 01:22 PM: Message edited by: Ransom ]

 

Jonathan said,

For one thing Steve Camp repentance or change of heart was regarding the way he conducted his music ministry not committing adultery as Grant did. So you are comparing Apples and Oranges.

You said,

So if one is a better singer, he is more qualified to be a spokesperson for CCM.

The CCM industry as a whole I do not believe is trying to get out a message but is more about the almighty dollar. It is a sad testimony for CCM when Oneness Pentecostals: Philips, Craig and Dean are promoted by CCM magazine despite their denial of the Trinity and being members of Churches that teach work salvation. What will be next for CCM? Jehovah Witnesses musicians singing for "Jesus". If the bucks flow in probably so.

I wonder if the late Keith Green, who believed so strongly that CCM not mix with the world. was alive today, what would he think of the music industry he helped pioneer?

 

Here's a very good review of this Concert/Worship Experience that takes into consideration Steve Camp's open letter. It's good reading for all that are interested in this topic.

http://www.cmcentral.com/concertreviews/183.html

Grace and Peace,
WW2'er

 

We are so funny. Almost every major music publisher is owned by a secular company....one of the most talented writer of Christian music of a few years ago is Jewish...some of the most talented arrangers and composers are gay....

I remember years ago when I was at OBU and the Bison Glee Club was singing at some Baptist function...the speaker told about how he had sat on the plane next to an intoxicated passenger. As they discussed what the speaker did, the passenger insisted on giving him a large sum of money for his ministry. The speaker said..."Now you may say that is 'tainted' money. I agree, 'taint enough." (Well, it was funny then.)

If the world wants to bankroll a sacred concert, I say more power to them. It is only if their money begins to influence the message that the witness is weakened.