EH&SS: SG or “CCM?”
Over on AMGS, they're gearing up to wrestle over a favorite chesnut...is Ernie Haase & Signature Sound "Southern Gospel" or "Contemporary Christian?"
This question never fails to amaze me. The only people who ask it are either deliberately being rhetorical, trolling (trying to start a prolonged debate), or only have a vague idea of what really distinguishes SG from "CCM." (I put "CCM" in quotes just now, because in truth, CCM isn't one particular style.)
If you've listened either to SG or Contemporary Christian for more than a few hours, then you should already know the answer. It's quite obvious EH&SS is Southern Gospel. You have four men singing harmony in a traditional style. You have a piano player who tells silly jokes. Audiences laugh anyway.
Here's a question to ponder...what contemporary group is anything remotely like EH&SS?
Regarding this "dancing," the Statesmen did the same sort of thing in the 1950s, so that certainly can't be labeled as contemporary. (I put "dancing" in quotes, because I think there should be some sort of fluid grace to a movement before you can call it "dance." Herky-jerky marionette motions don't qualify.)
Gold City, the Hoppers, Jeff/Sheri Easter, and many other prominent SG groups have a very modern, progressive sound compared to Signature Sound, yet no one ever questions whether or not these groups are SG. EH&SS' new CD/DVD is titled "Get Away, Jordan," and yes, it's the same song the Statesmen and more recently the Dove Brothers popularized...it's hard to get more traditional than that.
Colored lights and a rat's nest for a hair-do are not enough to make a group "CCM."
It's rather funny, but also somewhat sad to read a statement about being separate from the world in the context of winning the world for Christ. Someone on AMGS recently said that about EH&SS. They shouldn't be doing this sort of stuff to get fans, because it's adopting things of the world, and that means they aren't being separate.
Yes, we are to be separate from the world in terms of our values, but one of those values we ought to hold dear is fulfilling the Great Commission. The apostle Paul tried to relate to each group of people in a context they'd best understand. As long as we maintain standards of modesty and decency in our appearance and the things we do, we ARE being separate in the way that scripture requires. It's just downright silly to gripe about groups doing "dance steps" and using dry ice on stage "like the world." How is that possibly offensive to a fellow Christian or to God?
EH&SS are entertainers. Their appearances are ticketed, and people must expect to pay if they expect to see them. Consumers must also pay if they want a CD. They wouldn't draw a crowd if they didn't possess certain skills and appeal as entertainers.
At the same time, the message of the Gospel is very clear in their concerts and on their recordings. An individual would have to be a complete dunce to miss out on the message in a song like "Oh What A Savior." This is a song some of us long-time SG fans have heard until we're tired of it, but many fans of EH&SS are hearing for the first time. If you're a long-time SG fan, do you remember the first time you heard that song? Did you remember the song or did you get distracted by Hovie, Jake, etc. cutting up during other parts of the show? Or maybe you first heard it by the Cathedrals when it was George and Glen who cut up during the show. Of course, you still remember the song.
What is the point in grumbling about insignificant stuff like lights, hair, dry ice and "dancing," if those tools are being used to attract new fans to traditional quartet music?
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As a Sr. Pastor as well as a Country Gospel artist, I have been on both ends of the spectrum. I can't see why we even need debate are they this or that! Gospel, all GOSPEL, whether it be Counrty, Southern or traditional quartet style, or CCM, the bottom line is to GOD be the glory and all efforts should be toward him. Saints there is enough pulling us apart in the world, lets refuse to let the world pull our brotherhood of christian music apart. Go On Ernie, Crabbs, Jeff and Sheri, and keep on going Hovie, Jake, and Vestal, ALL GOSPEL!!!
It seems to me that a lot of people feel they have a vested interest in what artists do on stage and with their music. But the truth is that I have no right to try to tell EH&SS;or anyone else how they should present themselves on stage or what style they should sing. That is between themselves and God. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4 that he did not know enough even to judge himself much less anyone else. And then said, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." I don't know what I'm supposed to do. How can I tell them what to do?!
- Galatians 5:25.
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