Directory of Contemporary Worship Musicians - Way of Life Literature

e reason that statement doesn’t bother a CCM defenderis because he sees Jesus as a rock & roll party Dude who lovesa good time.“ose who envision God as a special friend, a kind of lover,with whom they can have fun, see no problem in worshippinghim by means of physically stimulating music. On the otherhand, those who perceive God as a majestic, holy, and almightyBeing to be approached with awe and reverence will only usethe music that elevates them spiritually” (Samuele Bacchiocchi,e Christian and Rock Music).ose are mix the holy Rock Jesus Christ with the unholyrock of this world are worshiping a false god.Fischer, JohnJohn Fischer (b. c. 1947) is a CCM performer/writer andhas had wide influence. He was involved in the pioneer daysof Christian rock music, and he believes that God told himthat it is not wrong to listen to groups like the Beatles:“[In 1963] I was in high school hearing a Beatles’ song andloving the music and feeling guilty about it. I was raised as aChristian not to like that kind of music, that that music wasbad, [but I was] HAVING A SENSE THAT GOD DIDN’TTHINK IT WAS BAD. I [HAD A SENSE OF] GOD SAYING,‘Do you like this music? Well, how does it make you feel? Howdo I make you feel? e same way? I make you feel happy? Imake you feel upset? Well then, why don’t you write the musicabout Me?’ You know, it was just plain as day. And so I juststarted doing it. I had my first contract to record in late ‘69.And I would say 1970 is when everything exploded, as far as Iremember ... Groups just suddenly came out of the woodworkeverywhere. Many of them were musicians already who werebecoming Christians, and they were just being saved—almostas if Christ had just plucked them out and saved them and sentthem out singing new music” (John Fischer, cited by AprilHefner, “Don’t Know Much about History,” CCM Magazine,April 1996).105