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@drleahpayne.bsky.social is the best explainer why this resonates so deeply. CCM is derivative, yes, but add powerbrokers, “worldview”, & economics behind it. What @kkdumez.bsky.social's Jesus and John Wayne does for masculinity, she does the same for music. www.drleahpayne.com/god-gave-roc...

Introducing this xennial classic to my buddies

kinda want to find a place that does a Christian Rock Karaoke for ex-evangelical millennials just so I can scream-sing WISDOM ALWAYS CHOOOOSES THESE BLACK EYES AND THESE BRUISES at full volume

Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...

Passion was in many ways an attempt to harness the power of Charismatic music, and infuse it with Reformed ideas. The effort had mixed results!

Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...

This is actually in many ways a story about music. Reformed evangelicals started listening to and singing Pentecostal and Charismatic music. This had observable effects on their theology and ecumenical attitude. @drleahpayne.bsky.social is the real authority here.

Really enjoyed my conversation w/ Will Wright and Josh Burtram on the Faithful Politics podcast as part of their Church & State: 250 years of Faith in America series. We talked CCM & American politics from Nashville to DC - Amy Grant & DC Talk & Carman and the worship music biz were all in there!

No thank you! I’ve been trying to pull a project together about deconstruction music, especially on the perimeters of Christian metal and post hardcore, and when I found your book it felt like a miracle lol.

Wow, thank you so much!

Cracked open God Gave Rock and Roll to You by @drleahpayne.bsky.social this morning. Feel like I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years.

PRRI Affiliated Scholar and former Public Fellow @drleahpayne.bsky.social reflects on how PRRI's research has supported her research into American charismatic and Pentecostal Christians. Join us in strengthening the future of data-driven public scholarship: prri.org/data-democra...

Worship music is everywhere these days! I spoke with @bmietana.bsky.social for this segment of NPR’s All Things Considered about how songs like How Great Is Our God give political gatherings spiritual significance: www.npr.org/2026/05/27/n...

Tomorrow on SWAJ - @drleahpayne.bsky.social speaks with Dr. Jonathan Calvillo about rupture and realignment among Latine people of faith in the US:

“The Nicolae Carpathia character is really helpful because that character is a proxy for a certain evangelical critique of cosmopolitan European culture“ - I enjoyed speaking w/ @miguelpetrosky.bsky.social for his @therevealer.bsky.social piece on the Euro Antichrist therevealer.org/european-ant...

This RTDR ep is probably one of my most favorite podcast episodes of all time. I am absolutely the target audience here. I had no idea about Brecht, Mahalia Jackson, Ari Up, & so much more. Strap in. Thank you, @drleahpayne.bsky.social and @andrewgill.biz. Well done. rtdrpod.com/episodes/onl...

Mother’s Day weekend is a great weekend to think about a Mother of CCM

“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...

“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...

“Regardless of the outcome, this lawsuit illustrates why many news outlets are reluctant to break stories of abuse, and why many industry insiders were/are reluctant to speak publicly about what was, according to reporting on the subject, an open secret in CCM" www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

This week on Rock that Doesn't Roll: THE @timdillinger.bsky.social! substack.com/home/post/p-...

Congrats to Dr. Paul Anderson for his work on this annotated version of Margaret Fell's "Women's Speaking Justified!"

Tomorrow on SWAJ: @drleahpayne.bsky.social interviews @samkestenbaum.bsky.social about his jarring piece on the Hype Priest Judah Smith: www.vulture.com/article/juda...

Thanks, Ryan Lytton, for including God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music as one of 14 Books on Church History: A Guide to Your Spiritual Heritage! www.logos.com/grow/nook-be...

George Whitefield gets quite a glow up in the new film A Great Awakening

Just as a side note, with Skillet I'd suggest reading @kkramermcginnis.bsky.social's story from last year: www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/skil... Also, for more on @drleahpayne.bsky.social's book: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

"I think of his (Cooper) podcasting and media presence as an extension of the type of music that he did. It’s combative, it’s confrontational. Some people see that as a contradiction, but I see continuity,” @drleahpayne.bsky.social told me. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

There are so many fascinating details in this photo essay of the Asbury Outpouring by Dr. Lisa Weaver Swartz: lisaweaverswartz.com/2023/02/22/r...

I was happy to talk with @liamsadams.bsky.social of The Tennessean about how CCM figures like John Cooper of Skillet have emerged as conservative influencers in the 21st century: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

New from Yours Truly on Substack: reflections on my recent trip to Asbury University, with a special shout out to the gorgeous and insightful photo essay of the 2023 Asbury Outpouring by Dr. Lisa Weaver Swartz! substack.com/home/post/p-...

Thanks so much to @andrewosenga.bsky.social for talking with @andrewgill.biz and me on Rock that Doesn't Roll about The Normals, the worship biz, and so much more! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

I had never appreciated how much CCM was tied into Republicsn social and political life. In the UK the Christian scene always felt more left-wing. Bands like Eden Burning, Tribe of Dan, Fat&Frantic, Billy Penn's Brother, etc.

Thank you so much for reading!

Just finished this fascinating account of CCM by @drleahpayne.bsky.social. I stumbled across names that I'd forgotten and a whole world I never knew existed.

Great to see this in print, celebrating @drleahpayne.bsky.social 's excellent book, with @randalljstephens.bsky.social and friends.

Thank you to @randalljstephens.bsky.social, Joao Chaves, @johnmaiden.bsky.social, and David Stowe for critically engaging God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music - honored doesn't begin to cover it!

Thank you to the good people of @asburyuniversity - esp the Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy- for the invitation to speak about politics & the modern worship biz, CCM, & the Asbury Outpouring! It was lovely to connect w/ friends old & new in beautiful Kentucky! 🐎🐎🐎

What an honor to think about CCM and its many meanings with some of my favorite scholar colleagues!

Our roundtable on @drleahpayne.bsky.social ‘s excellent book just appeared in Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture.

I’m unapologetically obnoxious about how much I love the PDX airport- arrived 2 hours early because of warnings about TSA delays and was through security in 10 min with plenty of time to enjoy the carpet and live music 🎶

I’ve thought about it. It’s pavement’s cut your hair.

(deep breath) .... Saddle up your horses!

If I'm being honest to my teenage self: MxPx "I'm OK, You're OK" I'm also thinking about this song because I slept on tix for the D.C. show and it sold out :/

90s kids: what song would you choose instead of Iris for your teen photo flashbacks?

This Thursday I’ll be at Asbury University talking about the politics and power of the modern worship music business - come say hi if you’re in KY!

My Sunday Interview with @calebgayle.bsky.social about his new book Black Moses: a Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State is out now! Listen here, and pick up your copy of Black Moses wherever you buy books. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Thanks to the legendary Alex MacDougall for sharing his reflections with me on substack - Maranatha!, the Swirling Eddies, and VIP worship passes are just a few of the topic we covered! open.substack.com/pub/drleahpa...

Honored to respond to THE @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social

The inimitable Dr Andrea Johnson on Pentecostals and political prayers at the Society for Pentecostal Studies 🐍🕊️🔥