I’ve been listening to Contemporary Christian Music since before it was CCM. I’ve been interested in the moves and transitions that the genre has gone through over the years. I’m not a big fan of the Dove awards simply because I’m not a big proponent of any of the industry awards. I guess they have their place, but just give me the list of winners, don’t disrupt the regular television viewing season to make me watch industry people fawn over each other—in a variety of the new “black tie” look. I would like to congratulate those who have been recognized with awards, it is an accomplishment. I just don’t want to have to watch it.

One of the trends that I really like that is going through CCM today is the tendency to write songs that are more worship oriented, songs that don’t require people to be divas to sing them, songs that lend themselves to being sung in a corporate worship setting. Thank you to song writers like Matt Redmon, Chris Tomlin, and Aaron Schust (this year’s song writer of the year) for leading the way. Several years ago Chris Rice shared this one with us:

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on
Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Another trend, that I’m still withholding judgment on is the one that Steven Curtis Chapman actually played a pioneering role in CCM circles. That trend is the love song. One of the great things about SC2 and his approach is that he includes a message about the relationship being part of his relationship with Christ. That’s what is often missing from the new songs. Now, this element is not required for a good love song—there are hundreds out there that are really great, but it is interesting to me that “Christian” songs are missing it.

This week, one of the top twenty CCM songs is one of these love songs that don’t include Jesus. CCM song (?) or just love song, I got a chance to really listen to the words today. The song is really good, it even brought a tear to my eyes. Here’s the story-song from CCM artist Mark Shultz:

Walking Her Home
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call
Her dad said son
Have her home on time
And promise me you’ll never leave her side
He took her to a show in town
And he was ten feet off the ground

(Chorus)
He was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him
Down that old road
With the stars up above
He remembers where he was the night he fell in love
He was walking her home

Ten more years and a waiting room
At half past one
And the doctor said come in and meet your son
His knees went weak
When he saw his wife
She was smiling as she said he’s got your eyes
And as she slept he held her tight
His mind went back to that first night
(Chorus)

He walked her through the best days of her life
Sixty years together and he never left her side
A nursing home
At eighty-five
And the doctor said it could be her last night
And the nurse said
Oh Should we tell him now
Or should he wait until the morning to find out
But when they checked her room that night
He was laying by her side

Oh he was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end
And just for a while they were eighteen
And she was still more beautiful to him than anything
He was walking her home

He was walking her home
Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call