Some Christians think all loud music is the devil, some rock fans think that a Christian can never listen to good music. But what if these two things can go together in the form of a Christian rock fan? There have been great Christian rock artists in recent decades, and there is no denying that the Christian rock genre has grown enormously. Read on to find out about the development of Christian rock.
The 1960s: morality
When rock began to gain popularity in the 1960s, especially among America’s youth, traditional churches were not happy about it. From the devil! That was the stamp that was left on the music. In the beginning, rock was also very associated with immoral lyrics about violence and sexuality. Just think of the well-known: ‘sex, drugs & rock ‘n roll’. That association is still often valid. It is therefore not surprising that devout Christians wanted to protect themselves and their children against this music.
The 70s and 80s: Jesus rocks
However, around the 1970s there were so many rock bands that rock actually became the pop music of the time. Christians also started making rock music, with Larry Norman being one of the first. His vision became clear in the song: ,Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?,. As a Christian, he wanted to use music for expression and also to build up his own faith and that of others. Apparently rock music can also be used for this. Then the floodgates broke and a number of Christian rock bands became known to the general public. Think of Stryper, whose band members always performed in yellow-black striped suits. They made it to MTV with their song: ,To Hell With The Devil,. One of their albums has sold more than two million times. The genre of Christian hard rock was clearly on the rise.
The ’90s and now: Christian rock is a major influence
Mainstream success was mainly achieved in the 1990s by Christian alternative rock artists such as: DC Talk, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Kutless and Relient K. Later, Switchfoot, Creed, Flyleaf, Hawk Nelson and others followed. These bands sold (and sell) many albums, have many fans and are also accessible to the secular audience. It’s mainly about calmer pop rock, with some hard rock thrown in every now and then.
Nowadays, Christian rock is expanding more and more. This is reflected in the number of Christian record labels and their size: just look at the sales figures of Tooth & Nail, Solid State or Facedown Records. The bands on those labels make really hard music, from a Christian point of view. This means that they incorporate the hope of their faith and the longing for God into their music. Underoath, As I Lay Dying, POD, Demon Hunter and Norma Jean are world famous bands on those labels. Many secular rock fans also listen to these bands.
Christian & rock music
Many Christians today listen to rock music. Some Christians still think it is unacceptable, but it cannot be denied that many Christian rock fans are passionate about their faith. Belief in Jesus Christ does not have to mean that someone only wants to listen to church organs or is no longer allowed to go crazy. Christians also participate in mosh pits, Christians also come up with cool guitar riffs and Christians sometimes also shout their lungs out. The most important thing for them is that the music brings glory to God and in any case does not go against God’s will. For example, a Christian rock band can also make music about love for a (ex-)girlfriend, they are just people. Yet the music often has a positive message and tries to help the listener.
I’d like to hear something!
If you’re interested in Christian rock, you might want to look up some of the bands I mentioned earlier. If you like rock music, then the Christian rock genre certainly has a lot to offer you ! Also check out these links for a list of Christian rock and metal http://en.wi artists, and the link to a Christian rock radio.