Why I Don't Listen To CCM Exclusively Any More

I have had been confronted with this question more than once. I have even asked myself this question. So, I thought that I would explorer this a bit and share my opinions.

When I lived in the states I pretty much had my picks of Christian music radio stations. There was American Family Radio the Christian Right Wing radio station (not a fan), Air 1 the Alternative Christian radio station, and K Love the Contemporary Christian radio. I normally switched between Air 1 and K Love or I would just listen to my cds. At the time it was also all that my friends were listening to as well. I was apart of the praise team so it made sense to always be listening to that stuff. One of the main reasons I continued to listen to CCM was because I could relate to most of it, they sung and wrote about songs that meant something to me.

Enter Canada!

There isn't Christian radio here. I think there is one station, but that station is in Buffalo, NY. So for me to even get that channel is a challenge. So this tested my thoughts on why I listen to CCM and where I stood. As time has gone on and I have been taken out of the Christianesse vortex or the Bible Belt, I guess you could say I have gone through a detox. Anyway, I now have kindof gone through a bit of a 360, maybe not that extreme, but close. So here are the reasons I don't listen to CCM Exlclusively:

1. The lyrics. For the most part I have found a lot of CCM very cheesy. I find no depth to them.
2. The marketing factor. It seems a lot of groups and singers now come to CCM because there is money there or fame is there. Or they just mass produce some kindof music to keep the kids from listening to "worldly' music.
3. I have found songs in the "world" that speak to me about God or about my journey that I would have missed other wise. It has also helped me talk to others instead of being from some other planet type thing.

These would be my top 3 reasons. Although I still listen to some CCM, Watermark, Derek Webb and David Crowder, I just find that I don't lock myself into one thing to listen to. I think CCM can become a legallistic to the modern Christian and I also think it can be away to section ourselves off from "the world". Although there have been times that I would like to be more updated as to groups that are out there in the CCM world I have found that I'm no worse. I have found that it has been good for me to not rely on the milk that is offered out there, but to search for something meatier. I would encourage anyone to take themselves off the CCM for awhile and see what happens. I'm not encouraging anyone to drop their relationship with God, I'm saying seek Him in new and different ways and see what happens. You never know what God might use to change you, to reach you, and help you reach others.