Wikipedia on CCM

According to the Wikipedia there are 4 types of CCM. These four types are different and we can pretty much classify most "Christian" albums in one of these categories. I love that our culture creates genres as soon as it can. We love to classify everything. From our Religion to personality types. We think that it helps us to understand ourselves and the world around us. Lately I have been re-thinking this whole compartmentalizing and will post soon on it. For now, what do you think of these four categories and for what categories do you feel the strongest. Do you think there is a need for these kind of assessments? Do you think that is good for us to know which category we fall under. How would you categorize Five Cent Stand's music pertaining to these categories. I am seriously interested in your thoughts. Amber and I have some decision to make in the next few months and some of our decisions will be contigent on how we fit into these categories or if we do, so opions and suggestions are appreiciated.

Category 1. The purists position
In this view, Christians should use music as a tool of spreading the gospel of Christ to others. The views of the Purist can be summed up with the words of Martin Luther. "I am not of the opinion that all arts are to be cast down and destroyed on account of the Gospel, as some fanatics protest. On the other hand, I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them. I therefore pray that every pious Christian would be pleased with this [the use of music in the service of the gospel] and lend his help if God has given him like or greater gifts. As it is, the world is too lax and indifferent about teaching and training the young for us to abet this trend. God grant us his grace. Amen."


Category 2. "The 'spiritually reflective' position"
This position states that Christians should embrace pop and rock music more as an art form than a preaching tool. T-Bone Burnett, a Christian musician and producer, summed up this view well when he said that "You can sing about the Light, or you can sing about what you see because of the Light. I prefer the latter" [6]. Musicians known to hold this position include MxPx, Danielson Famile, and Sufjan Stevens. Many artists who hold this view experience frustrations with the CCM industry for a lack of originality, creativity, and depth; in fact, some have cut ties with the industry altogether (e.g. Sam (Leslie) Phillips), questioning the need for a separate Christian music "ghetto".


Category 3. The incidental position
This position holds that the artists' intent is irrelevant. In other words, Christians can find beauty and truth in certain music, regardless of the author's intent or spiritual stance. An example of this is Jeff Buckley's cover version of "Hallelujah" (originally written and recorded by Jewish singer Leonard Cohen), a song that resonates with many Christians but was sung by an artist not normally associated with the CCM industry. Eakins explains that music of this sort "is allied to no spiritual or Christian tradition and may form its inspiration from any source. Where as the purist or spiritually reflective positions have inspiration in God, any Christian music produced from the incidental position is precisely that, incidentally created." (my note)- Also, it might interest some that the Jackey Valesquez song "I get On My Knees" Was written by an orthodox Jew and never mentions the name of Jesus. It might fall under this category


Category 4.The separatist's position
This position states that Christians should not be listening to or making pop/rock music at all. Many that embrace this argument trace rock's roots to Satanism, and claim that any association with it is wrong. (my note)-uh huh...