Film Review: ‘The Jesus Music’

Written by: Kelly Meade (12/28/21)

Music has the ability to break all kinds of barriers as it reaches through the noise of disagreements, social status and politics to speak straight to the heart of the listener The full impact that Contemporary Christian Music, CCM for short, has had on entertainment, culture and countless lives is impossible to measure.

The Jesus Music film takes you on a journey through the years from the early pioneers such as Maranatha! & Love Song sharing about the beginnings of the Jesus Movement that happened as people began realizing that no amount of drugs, alcohol or chasing their lustful desires would truly satisfy their souls. As more and more people became saved, the music that resulted was heavily influenced by folk & rock ‘n’ roll sounds while the lyrics were directed towards worship & sharing the love of God.

As the movie continues, we see one of CCM’s biggest booms in the 80’s which brought not only the pop-crossover hits of artists like Amy Grant but also the rise of Christian metal with bands such as Stryper & Petra whose music and looks more closely resembled their secular counterparts at first glance. Both were met with mixed reactions by the church and their peers within the industry.

With the 90’s, CCM’s reach expanded even more as Christian rap & hip-hop artists emerged such as DC Talk. By this time, the diversity within Christian music ranging from pop to country to rock to rap to gospel influences meant there was something for just about every listener to find and enjoy. Some critics, including many religious leaders, remained firm in their opinions aginst this music and at times the artists themselves.

Throughout the film we see interviews with Michael W. Smith, Tobymac, Michael Tait, Amy Grant, Kirk Franklin, Michael Sweet of Stryper, Skillet’s John Cooper and more as they share their personal experiences through the years as CCM grew into what we hear today. Viewers are given a very eye opening look into what was going on off stage and inspiring stories of how their faith and drive to bring the message of the Gospel to others was ultimately strengthened as a result of the artists’ highs and lows.

If you are a fan of music in general or have been curious about what happens behind the scenes in the music industry, The Jesus Music is a great film to watch. You can find it on DVD and many streaming outlets now!

Rating: 4.5/5