Solomon Ray’s first album, Faithful Soul, launched him overnight into the bestselling and most-played charts. Within days, the album hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top 100 Christian and Gospel chart. Two tracks — “Find Your Rest” and “Goodbye Temptation”…
Evangelical worship is the sugar that helps the poison of power go down
In today’s world of white supremacist politics, white evangelical worship is the sugar that helps the poison of power go down. And perhaps no event has put this more clearly on display than the Charlie Kirk memorial service. When many…
Why I’m taking a break from Christian media
The Newsboys’ Going Public was one of the first CDs I bought as a teenager. Then I discovered DCTalk and the Christian music scene of the 1990s. I was all in — subscribed to the magazine and read all the…
Finally, an honest conversation about CCM and Gospel music
One recurring story in recent years has been Christian nationalist worship leaders wielding worship as a weapon for dominating their neighbors rather than as a vehicle for liberating them. The insurrection of January 6 unfolded as New Apostolic Reformation charismatics sang worship…
Larnelle Harris is still making music
After 50 years in ministry, Larnelle Harris still feels called to make music. Harris has garnered accolades for his music, including four Grammy Awards, 11 Dove Awards (three for Male Vocalist of the Year) and a Stellar Award for Best…
Before evangelical males went after Taylor Swift, they hated on Amy Grant
“There is a difference between being secular and being ANTI-CHRISTIAN,” wrote Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen director for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. The anti-Christian culprit he had in mind was not one of the many examples of…
New history sees CCM as a ‘soundtrack’ for white evangelicalism
“What can one learn about the development of evangelicalism by looking at CCM, one of the largest, most profitable forms of mass media produced in the 20th century?” asks Leah Payne in her new book, God Gave Rock and Roll…
What Sean Feucht meant for evil, Flamy Grant experienced as good
Sean Feucht, former worship leader at Bethel Church, founder of the pandemic-era Let Us Worship movement and unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate, didn’t intend to send a drag queen to the top of the Contemporary Christian Music charts. But when Feucht…
Brentwood Benson Music announces sudden closing and the end of an era
The owner of the world’s largest Christian music publishing catalog is closing its business, citing the effects of COVID-19 as the reason. Brentwood Benson Music — which reportedly owns about 60,000 copyrights and is a storied Christian music business based…
How did an openly queer artist climb to No. 1 on the Christian music charts?
The openly queer Christian artist Semler was elated to report the breaking news that the parking attendant at a Switchfoot concert supports gay rights. And that wouldn’t be the only surprise of the night. As they drove to their parking space, Semler…
My journey through purity culture and Christian worship music
The year was 1993. I was a sweaty junior high kid who had recently gotten my first stick of deodorant and had begun experiencing sensations in my body that felt both good and confusing. But one night, as my brothers…
I don’t think you know what that means
A popular misconception about professional Christianity is that most of us with business cards reading “pastor” love talking about church. I can’t tell you how many breathless conversations I’ve had with people about the font size of a worship guide,…