Matthew 7:18 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” 

Previously, I mentioned my love for CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) and Southern Gospel as a young man. The pastor who led me to the Lord, though, preached a few messages against CCM. My response, like others, was anger. As the Lord would have it, though, right around this time, a prominent scandal came out in the GMA (Gospel Music Association). I had faithfully watched the entire Dove Awards that year. Michael English who sang both CCM and Southern Gospel (a member of Bill Gaither vocal band) won the “Male Vocalist of the Year” Award and his song “In Christ Alone” also won “Best Song of the Year”. “In Christ Alone” was an instant hit being proclaimed by famous athletes and such and being sung in churches around the world. Just a couple of days later, my family and I were heading out the door for a soccer game one of us was to play. We had left the TV on, and as I headed out the door the name Michael English caught my attention. I intently watched the news as I was shocked to hear of Michael English’s adultery with a CCM singer even during the night of the awards. I was heartbroken. But I was to find later that scandals were to be the norm in CCM and Southern Gospel. 

Many people try to defend CCM and Southern Gospel. As we have already revealed, music is powerful. It is addictive, and when someone is addicted to something others around you get hurt especially when they try to take it away from you. As we have already mentioned, CCM and Southern Gospel are wrong on many accounts. The scandals simply reveal the truth for what it is. Jesus made it very plain in our text, Mt. 7:18-19: a good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. There is a very definite reason why CCM and Southern Gospel continues to produce bad fruit. The tree is bad to begin with. 

Christianity never heard of scandals from our hymnwriters. Why? Because the music they wrote, the songs they sang, and the lives they lived were pure. Most of our hymns came from times of revival. The good tree produced good music. 

CCM and Southern Gospel have been filled with scandals that the GMA (Gospel Music Association) have tried hiding as quickly as possible. From Steven Curtis Chapman’s (“His Strength Is Perfect”, “Be Still and Know”, “I Will Be Here”) drug addiction in his early years to Amy Grant’s (“El Shaddai”, “Grown-Up Christmas List”, “Thy Word”) multiple divorces, adultery, profanity, nudity, drugs, and vulgarity, CCM is awash with filth. Included are the sodomites mentioned in “CCM and Sodomy” as well as Sandi Patti’s (“Via Dolorosa”) divorce, adultery, remarriage, and singing for sodomites. 

Friend, do not surround yourself with such people. As Jesus said in our text, vs. 19, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” 

Get back to the old paths and the old hymns.