THE JESUS MUSIC
A stirring, faith-filled history of Contemporary Christian Music.
Should You Watch It?
THE JESUS MUSIC offers an impressive historical overview of Contemporary Christian Music, from its beginnings in the late 1960s and early 1970s through its growth into a multibillion-dollar, multigenre industry. Interviews with many major Christian musicians let the artists tell the story, while the documentary captures the spirit of the movement and explains its continuing popularity.
The film is also openly Christian. It speaks positively about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, worship, salvation and the way music can bring people closer to God. Its discussion includes criticism the music has received inside and outside the Church, but its overall perspective is celebratory and rooted in faith.
You should see it if you want a stirring account of an important movement within the Body of Christ, while remembering that the documentary includes brief historical footage and references to difficult subjects. WORTH THE TRIP for families and viewers of all ages.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThis documentary traces the development of Contemporary Christian Music, beginning with the Jesus Music movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Artists including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, Lauren Daigle and many others discuss the music, faith and cultural changes that shaped the movement. The film follows Jesus Music from modest beginnings into a major part of Christian life.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an impressive, effective overview rather than a flawless documentary. THE JESUS MUSIC documents its subject and captures its spirit, using numerous interviews with major figures in Christian music to tell the story of the movement.
The documentary also gives viewers interesting comments about the intersection of faith and music. Its historical scope, positive perspective and attention to the movement’s continuing influence make it a stirring document of an important part of Christian life.
The Worldview
THE JESUS MUSIC presents a very strong Christian, biblical worldview. It speaks positively about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Christian worship and salvation through Jesus. It also discusses sin and promotes positive biblical values.
The film understands music as a way to bring people closer to God and presents Christian artists as people seeking to make art illuminated by faith. It emphasizes the need for every generation to fight for and carry on the faith. The documentary also acknowledges that Christian musicians can be broken and imperfect while still being used to reach other broken people.
The film’s historical account includes the Jesus Movement, the influence of Calvary Chapel, the endorsement of the Reverend Billy Graham, and the development of Christian music across multiple genres. It also addresses criticism from within and outside the Church, but it does not abandon its positive view of Christian music or its purpose.
At its center is the conviction that Christian creativity should point people toward God and the Gospel. “It’s all about Jesus,” as one song lyric says. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview gives an overview of the history of Christian Contemporary Music, from its beginnings in the late 1960s and early 1970s to current times, with many positive references to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Christian worship along with some references to the problems of sin and promotion of positive biblical values and the positive experience of salvation through Jesus
Foul Language
A preacher uses the word “damnable” to describe Jesus Music, there’s a visual reference to the Christian metal band Stryper’s album “To Hell with the Devil,” there’s a comment that one band “caught a lot of Hell” for its musical style, and three light profanities occur
Violence
Brief newsreel footage of the Vietnam War, a brief image of a street riot, references to assassination in 1963 and 1968, and an image of a policeman in riot gear firing tear gas into a crowd of student protestors
Sex
No depicted sex or implied sex, but people tastefully mention the loose morals of the youth movement in the 1960s and in secular rock music, such as a couple mentions of the phrase “drugs, sex and rock and roll”
Nudity
No explicit nudity but there’s an instance of upper male nudity in a baptism scene
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use, but there’s mention of one star in Contemporary Christian Music who had an alcohol problems like his father before him, and who began talking about his alcoholism
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking, but there are brief references to the drug culture among people in the youth movement of the 1960s and references to use of drugs in rock music, including references to the drug overdoses deaths of major figures in rock music such as Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix (comments are made against the use of drugs in relation to this);
Miscellaneous Immorality
There is brief discussion of divorces among a few artists in Contemporary Christian Music.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The documentary says music can bring people closer to God. What songs have helped you remember God’s goodness, and how can music shape the way you worship?
Psalm 96:1–2 · Colossians 3:16The film says every generation has to fight for its faith. What does it look like for your generation to receive and live out the faith faithfully?
Jude 1:3 · 2 Timothy 1:5–7Several artists describe making art illuminated by faith. How can your own work, gifts or creativity point people toward what is true and good?
Matthew 5:16 · Philippians 4:8The documentary presents broken people creating songs that reach other broken people. How does God use imperfect people for His purposes?
2 Corinthians 4:7 · 1 Corinthians 1:27–29The Final Word
THE JESUS MUSIC is an impressive, pro-Christian history of a movement that continues to shape Christian life. It captures the subject’s spirit, celebrates music directed toward God and offers an accessible account for viewers of all ages. WORTH THE TRIP.
